The Mitas plant in Prague will be closed

Yokohama has announced the closure of the Mitas plant in Prague, which was launched over 90 years ago. The facility produces tires for specialized equipment, including agricultural machinery. Production will be relocated to other Yokohama facilities, although the company does not specify where, and Czech media, citing their sources, report that it will be "mainly to Asia".

The plant was opened in 1933 as a subsidiary of Michelin, with the French company holding a 75% stake, while the remaining shares belonged to Czech banks. In 1937, production reached its peak, with around 300 car and motorcycle tires being produced daily.

After the start of World War II, the plant was requisitioned and engaged in the rubberization of metal parts for German equipment. In 1945, tire production for civilian use was resumed, and soon the company was merged with tire manufacturers Bata and Rubena, resulting in the creation of the Barum holding.

The following year, a contest was announced for a new name for the plant, which had been nationalized, and in 1947, the plant was officially renamed Mitas after the Michelin and Veritas (a manufacturer of RTI from Hradec nad Nisou, which was also part of Michelin) brands.

In 2004, Mitas acquired the rights to use the Continental, Semperit, and Euzkadi brands under license in the agricultural tire segment and also produced products under its own Mitas and Cultor brands. In 2015, Trelleborg acquired ČGS Holding, which included Mitas, and in 2024, Yokohama became the new owner of the company, paying around $2 billion for the Swedish company's tire assets.

"Yokohama TWS, a major subsidiary of the YRC group, is taking targeted measures to address current issues in the special tire segment," the statement from Yokohama reads. "In a cyclical market and changing customer requirements, the company is launching a comprehensive strategic program aimed at improving efficiency and service levels, as well as enhancing competitiveness in the long term."

The plant is expected to be closed by June 2025. There are also two other Mitas facilities in the Czech Republic, located in Zlin and Otrokovice. The Prague plant employs around 270 people.