The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., has officially commenced the construction of its new passenger car tire plant in Mexico, marked by a groundbreaking ceremony held on April 15. The event was graced by numerous local government officials and representatives from the community, including Coahuila Governor Manolo Jiménez Salinas and Saltillo Mayor Jose Maria Fraustro Siller. Notable figures from Yokohama Rubber, such as Chairman & CEO Masataka Yamaishi and Member of the Board and Senior Managing Officer & Co-COO Nitin Mantri, were also present, alongside Shinichi Takimoto, Chairman and CEO of Yokohama Corporation of North America (YCNA), and Jeff Barna, President and CEO of Yokohama Tire Corporation (YTC).
In their opening remarks, Yamaishi and Barna expressed gratitude for the efforts to be undertaken in constructing the plant and underscored its significance in localising Yokohama Rubber’s operations in the North American market.
The new facility will augment Yokohama Rubber’s tire production capacity in North America, allowing the company to meet the anticipated rise in demand by producing tires locally. With an annual production capacity of 5 million tires, the Mexico plant is scheduled to commence construction in the second quarter of 2024, with production slated to begin in the first quarter of 2027. Additionally, the company intends to explore options for expanding the plant’s capacity in the future.
The consumer tire strategy outlined in Yokohama Rubber’s new three-year medium-term management plan, Yokohama Transformation 2026 (YX2026), focuses on maximising the sales of high-value-added tires. This strategy involves expanding sales of YOKOHAMA’s flagship ADVAN brand, the GEOLANDAR brand for SUVs and pickup trucks, winter tires, and tires sized 18 inches and larger. Furthermore, Yokohama Rubber will continue to implement “Product and Regional Strategies” aimed at enhancing the development, supply, and sales of tires tailored to specific trends in regional markets.