SUZHOU CITY, China (Oct. 24, 2008) — Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. has started commercial-scale production of steel radial truck and bus tires at its plant in Suzhou City more than a year later than originally planned.
The $90 million plant run by subsidiary Suzhou Yokohama Tire Co. Ltd. has a manufacturing capacity of 340,000 tires a year with employment expected to hit 400 at full capacity, Yokohama said. The company plans to continue additional investments to expand the capacity in accordance with future sales growths, although it didn't disclose details of those plans.
The plant is Yokohama's second factory in China and fourth truck and bus tire unit worldwide.