Yokohama starts commercial production in India

Yokohama India has started the first phase of commercial production at its manufacturing facility in Haryana. Located at HSIIDC, Bahadurgarh, the plant has a daily production capacity of 2,000 tyres. The company can increase this capacity three to four folds in the next phases of growth.

Yokohama India, which started its operation in 2007, had been considering setting up a manufacturing facility in the country to gain benefits in taxes and duties. The company decided to build the Haryana facility in 2012.

Yokohama has also introduced the Earth -1 Tyres in India for B, B+ and C segment cars in the comfort and economy segment. The company claims that Earth - 1 tyres feature a wear control shoulder design which are vertical and horizontal grooves that reduce uneven wear and enhance quietness as the tyres wears. The Earth-1 comes with thicker side rubber, for enhanced durability. The tyre also has a centre rib in the tread pattern to improve handling performance and wide straight groves to control hydroplaning on wet roads. Additional characteristics include controlled noise for a quieter ride and better drainage performance.

At present Yokohama India hold 2% of the total market share and competes in the tubeless tyre market only. It has around 600 sales points including 23 Yokohama Club Network (YCN), a specialized network based on Yokohama’s global philosophy.