Yokohama started building a new plant in China
On December 16, Yokohama Rubber held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new passenger car tire plant in Hangzhou, China, attended by Mayor of the city Yao Gaoyuan, President and CEO of the company Masataka Yamaishi, and President of the tire manufacturer Shinji Seimiya.
The facility will be the first built under the new "One-Year Plant" plan, which is part of Yokohama Rubber's medium-term management plan, Yokohama Transformation 2026 (YX2026). The plan calls for the company to build new plants in just one year to provide new low-cost and high-efficiency production and enhance competitiveness. To achieve this goal, the company intends to combine its expertise with the know-how of local partners with a good reputation in the regional market.
As Yamaishi noted, the Hangzhou plant will provide the company with excellent opportunities against the backdrop of the rapid development of China's automotive industry, and the facility will utilize the latest equipment and advanced automation and digitalization technologies, thanks to which "Yokohama Rubber will be able to meet the demand for high-quality tires from local car enthusiasts in just one year and contribute to the development of the region".
The new production complex will replace another Yokohama plant currently operating in Hangzhou, and its capacity will be increased by 3 million tires to 9 million tires per year, which is due to the expected growth in demand for passenger car tires in the Chinese market in the coming years. Full-scale production is scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2026, and the new plant will allow for an increase in the production of large-size Yokohama tires from the flagship ADVAN line and the Geolandar family for SUVs and pickups, with a special focus on tires for electric and hybrid vehicles, which are becoming increasingly popular in China.
The YX2026 strategy is aimed not only at building new plants but also at increasing sales of high-value-added products, such as models from the ADVAN and Geolandar lines, as well as winter tires and tires with a diameter of 18 inches or more. In addition, the company aims to develop and offer tires that meet the requirements of individual regional markets.