A new Yokohama plant has been launched in China

On November 22, Yokohama Rubber held an official opening ceremony for its new passenger car tire plant in Hangzhou, China. The facility was built in response to a request from the city administration to relocate the previously existing production as part of measures to improve the environmental situation, and its capacity is 9 million tires per year, which is approximately one-third more than that of its predecessor.

Full-scale production at the new plant is expected to start by the second quarter of 2026, and its opening will allow the company to increase the production of high-margin tires for vehicles on new energy sources, such as electric cars, as well as large-diameter tires.

The new complex is the first production site built by Yokohama as part of the "factory in one year" program, which is part of the company's medium-term development plan. In line with its strategy, Yokohama aims to build new plants within 12 months to "create low-cost and high-efficiency production, allowing us to improve our competitiveness". Construction of the plant in Hangzhou began in December 2024, and its launch took place in November 2025, a month ahead of schedule.

The opening ceremony of the plant was attended by Yokohama's President and Operating Officer, Shinji Saemiya, who noted that this project is of great importance for the company's sustainable growth, and "every effort will be made to quickly launch mass production and start supplying high-quality products to the Chinese market".

Yokohama's strategy also implies that the company is working to increase sales of high-margin products such as ADVAN and Geolandar tires, as well as winter models and tires with a diameter of 18 inches or more. In addition, the company aims to develop products that meet the specific requirements of each regional market in which it operates.