Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. (TYO:5101) will release the Advan Fleva V701, a new product under the company’s global flagship Advan series, in Japan starting in August. The new tire will be sold in 24 sizes, with more to be added in the future. Built upon Advan Sports V105, the Advan Fleva V701 is a sport tire that offers steering stability...
Products
Goodyear Tires Adopted on Peugeot Compact SUVs
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.’s Vector 4Seasons all-season tire has obtained official technical approval from Peugeot for use on the automotive manufacturer’s 2008 Cross City, a compact SUV that has been available at certified Peugeot dealers in Japan since March 7, 2016. Developed in Europe, the all-season tire boasts exceptional snow traction that allows vehicles to run on highways in...
Condoms Contribute to Okamoto’s Increased Sales
Japan’s largest condom manufacturer, Okamoto Industries Inc. (TYO:5122), enjoyed strong sales and profit growth for the financial year ending March 2016. Condom sales increased significantly due to the launching of new lines, overseas market expansion and active demand from overseas visitors to Japan. The company’s gross sales were 88.38 billion yen ($810.26 million) for a 9.3 percent increase over the...
Fujikura Expands Vietnamese Subsidiary, Expects Rising Demand
Fujikura Rubber Ltd. (TYO:5121) is expanding the second plant of its Vietnamese subsidiary, Fujikura Composites Haiphong Inc. The company intends to raise the production capacity at the subsidiary in anticipation of further increasing demand for industrial materials with the growth of ASEAN economies. It is envisioned spending $6.4 million on an expansion plan that will allow sales to increase by...
Rubber Goods Shipments Down 4% in February, Fall for Eight Straight Months
Shipment value of rubber goods in Japan declined in February by 4 percent year-on-year to 179.4 billion yen ($1.61 billion), sliding for the eighth consecutive month, according to Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). Production volume of automobile tires were 12.11 million tires, down 5 percent on-year, marking the 15th consecutive month of year-on-year decreases. Meanwhile, the value...
Toyota First to Use Biohydrin Rubber in Engine and Drive System Hoses
Toyota Motor Corp. (TYO:7203) has announced that it will be the world’s first automobile manufacturer to employ biohydrin rubber in its engine and drive system hoses. These special rubber components must be highly resistant to oil and heat. Toyota will begin using biohydrin rubber in vacuum sensing hoses (used in engine intake systems) this May, with usage expected in all...