Japanese tire companies are reaping higher profits in the North American market with the help of a livelier U.S. economy. That help is coming in the form of strong sales of large vehicles in the U.S. that is creating major demand for large tires fitted onto pickup trucks and SUVs. Bridgestone Corp. (TYO:5108) has responded to this demand by announcing...
Hikomitsu Noji, president of Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. (TYO:5101), recently spoke with the Japan Rubber Weekly about the direction of the tire and non-tire businesses under the company’s current medium-term management plan. Noji said his company will concentrate on leveraging its advanced technological prowess based on three pillars: (1) focus on the global OE market; (2) achieve a stronger presence...
Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. (TYO:5101) is increasing production of high-performance passenger car tires (18-plus inches in diameter) at its Shinshiro Plant, Aichi Prefecture. The company will commence construction on a new line this May and, with a launch planned for June 2017, is in position to have full production possible by April 2018. With an investment of 3.7 billion yen ($32.76...
Ikuji Ikeda, president and CEO of Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd. (TYO:5110), said in a recent interview with the Japan Rubber Weekly that he expects major progress in his company’s global strategy. The dissolution of the alliance agreement with The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company of the U.S. will free Sumitomo Rubber of constraints in the North American and European markets...
The Japan Automobile Tyre Manufacturers Association (JATMA) announced that automobile tire production volume (in terms of rubber volume) in 2015 (January–December) in Japan was 1.06 million tons. This marks a 6 percent year-on-year decrease and the fourth consecutive year of negative growth. Looking at product category, production volume was down year-on-year across the board. Truck and bus tires decreased by...
Sumitomo Rubber (TYO:5110) plans to use its Ultra Pure Natural Rubber (UPNR) in truck and bus (TB) tires for the first time with the ENASAVE SP688 Ace, an all-season TB tire product line featuring improved fuel efficiency. A successive sales launch of size-13 ENASAVE tires is set to begin in March.
