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Yokohama Rubber Company

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The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
Native name
横浜ゴム株式会社
Yokohama Gomu Kabushiki gaisha
Company typePublic K.K.
TYO: 5101
IndustryManufacturing
FoundedOctober 13, 1917; 107 years ago (1917-10-13)
Headquarters
Hiratsuka
,
Japan
Key people
Masataka Yamaishi [jp] (President, Chairman of the Board)
ProductsTires, wheel, golf equipment
Brands
  • Advan
  • BluEarth
  • Geolandar
  • IceGuard
  • Parada
  • PRGR
  • S.drive
RevenueIncrease US$5.93 billion (2022)
Increase US$483.69 million (2022)
Increase US$325.38 million (2022)
Number of employees
27,222 (as of December 2021)
Websitewww.y-yokohama.com
Yokohama fender, produced as a part of the company's series of maritime industry products.
Yokohama Advan racing tires

The Yokohama Rubber Company, Limited (横浜ゴム株式会社, Yokohama Gomu Kabushiki gaisha) is a Japanese manufacturing company based in Hiratsuka, Japan.[1] The company was founded and began on October 13, 1917, in a joint venture between Yokohama Cable Manufacturing and BFGoodrich. In 1969, the company expanded to the United States as Yokohama Tire Corporation. It primarily produces tires, rims and golf equipment.

The company has two manufacturing facilities in the United States: one in Salem, Virginia, and another in West Point, Mississippi.[2]

History

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  • 1917 - Established in Yokohama as 橫濱護謨製造株式會社 (Yokohama Rubber Manufacturing Co., Ltd.), a joint venture between 橫濱電線製造 (Yokohama Electric Cable Manufacturing Company, currently Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.) and BF Goodrich Company.[3]
  • 1920 - Built a factory in Hiranuma, Yokohama. Installed US-made refining equipment and manufacturing equipments. Started manufacturing rubber belts, tires, hoses, etc.[3] (At this time, tires of this company are sold in Japan under the "Goodrich" brand)
  • 1929 - Built a new Yokohama Factory in Heian-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama.[3]
  • 1937 - Changed the tire brand to "Yokohama".[3]
  • 1942 - Built a rubber factory in Singapore.[3]
  • 1943 - Built a factory in Mie prefecture.[3]
  • 1946 - Built a factory in Mishima, Shizuoka Prefecture.[3]
  • 1950 - Stocks listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange and the Osaka Securities Exchange.
  • 1963 - Company name changed from 横浜護謨製造株式会社 (Yokohama Rubber Manufacturing Co., Ltd.) to 横浜ゴム株式会社(Yokohama Rubber Company, Limited).[3]
  • 1964 - Built a factory in Shinshiro, Aichi Prefecture.[3]
  • 1969 - Established Yokohama Tire Corporation in the United States.[3]
  • 1974 - Launched the Yokohama Wheel brand.[4]
  • 2007 - Established Yokohama India.[3]
  • In 2016 Yokohama Rubber acquired farm tire maker Alliance Tire Group for $1.18 billion.[5]
  • On March 25, 2022, Yokohama Rubber announced it would be acquiring Trelleborg Wheel Systems from Trelleborg for 2.1 billion euro ($2.31 billion), its largest acquisition to date.[5]

Sponsorship and motorsports

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From 2015 to 2020, Yokohama was the main sponsor of Premier League football club Chelsea.[6]

Yokohama Tire sponsors the NBA teams the Boston Celtics and the San Antonio Spurs.[7]

An example of Yokohama sponsorship in racing at a Nitro Rallycross event.

Yokohama is the official tire supplier of the Super Formula Championship since 2016.[8] It was the official tire supplier of the Macau Grand Prix Formula 3 race from 1983 until 2019, with an exception in 2016, when Pirelli was chosen for the tire supplier that year.[9] The company was the supplier of the World Touring Car Championship and World Touring Car Cup from 2006 until 2019.

In the United States, Yokohama was a tire supplier in the American Le Mans Series, including PTG (from 2005 to 2009) and Alex Job Racing. It was the official tire supplier of the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge.[10] It has also participated in Red Line Time Attack, Nitro Rallycross and Stadium Super Trucks.[11]

Logos

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The Yokohama Rubber logo was first displayed in the Tokyo Asahi Shimbun newspaper in 1917. The company used it until 1977. Since that time, a modern logo has been used. Like the old logo, the new one is the first letter in the brand name, but the letter itself is more dynamic and expressive. A similar style logo is used by the Taiwanese tire company Nankang Rubber Tire.[12]

  • Yokohama Tire company logo through 1976
    Yokohama Tire company logo through 1976
  • Yokohama Tire company logo since 1977
    Yokohama Tire company logo since 1977
  • Nankang Rubber Tire logo
    Nankang Rubber Tire logo
  • Yokohama Tire company logo in China (Chinese: 优科豪马轮胎; pinyin: Yōukēháomǎlúntāi)
    Yokohama Tire company logo in China (Chinese: 优科豪马轮胎; pinyin: Yōukēháomǎlúntāi)

Wheels

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Under the Yokohama Wheel brand, Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. began making rims in 1974.[4] The Yokohama Wheel brand currently produces the Advan Racing wheel brand for performance and motorsport applications, the AVS brand for premium applications, and the Kreutzer brand for luxury applications.[13]

References

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  1. ^ "Yokohama Rubber Co to buy Alliance Tire Group for $1.2 billion". The Economic Times. March 26, 2016. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  2. ^ "Made in the USA". Yokohama Tire Corporation. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "沿革". 横浜ゴム株式会社/The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. Archived from the original on February 3, 2024, "Company History". The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. Archived from the original on January 16, 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Yokohama Wheel". yokohamawheel.jp. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  5. ^ a b Shizuka Tanabe (March 26, 2022). "Yokohama Rubber pursues biggest acquisition with $2.3bn Trelleborg deal". Nikkei Asia. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
  6. ^ "Yokohama Rubber to become Official Shirt Partner". Chelsea Football Club. February 27, 2015. Archived from the original on July 3, 2017.
  7. ^ "Yokohama continues NBA sponsorships". Modern Tire Dealer. December 30, 2008. Archived from the original on August 18, 2022.
  8. ^ "Super Formula Series Outline". Super Formula. Archived from the original on June 6, 2017.
  9. ^ "Yokohama Joins Macau Grand Prix 2009". Yokohama Tires. Archived from the original on March 14, 2012. Retrieved October 21, 2010.
  10. ^ "IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohoma". imsachallenge.com. Archived from the original on December 23, 2011.
  11. ^ "Yokohama Tire Corporation Onboard as Stadium SUPER Trucks Series Sponsor". Yokohama Rubber Company. April 4, 2013. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  12. ^ "About Yokohama Tires". Autoset. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  13. ^ "Yokohama Wheel | All Brand List". www.yokohamawheel.jp. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
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