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.
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Native name | 横浜ゴム株式会社 |
|---|---|
Romanized name | Yokohama Gomu Kabushiki-gaisha |
| Company type | Public K.K. |
| TYO: 5101 | |
| Industry | Manufacturing |
| Founded | October 13, 1917 |
| Headquarters | , |
Key people | Masataka Yamaishi (President, Chairman of the Board) |
| Products | Tires, wheel, golf equipment |
| Brands |
|
| Revenue |  US$5.93 billion (2022) |
| US$483.69 million (2022) | |
| US$325.38 million (2022) | |
Number of employees | 27,222 (as of December 2021) |
| Website | www.y-yokohama.com |
The company has two manufacturing facilities in the United States: one in Salem, Virginia, and another in West Point, Mississippi.[2]
History
edit- 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
editFrom 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]
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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
editThe 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]
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Yokohama Tire company logo through 1976 -
Yokohama Tire company logo since 1977 -
Nankang Rubber Tire logo -
Wheels
editUnder 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
edit- ^ "Yokohama Rubber Co to buy Alliance Tire Group for $1.2 billion". The Economic Times. March 26, 2016. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
- ^ "Made in the USA". Yokohama Tire Corporation. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b "Yokohama Wheel". yokohamawheel.jp. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
- ^ a b Shizuka Tanabe (March 26, 2022). "Yokohama Rubber pursues biggest acquisition with $2.3bn Trelleborg deal". Nikkei Asia. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
- ^ "Yokohama Rubber to become Official Shirt Partner". Chelsea Football Club. February 27, 2015. Archived from the original on July 3, 2017.
- ^ "Yokohama continues NBA sponsorships". Modern Tire Dealer. December 30, 2008. Archived from the original on August 18, 2022.
- ^ "Super Formula Series Outline". Super Formula. Archived from the original on June 6, 2017.
- ^ "Yokohama Joins Macau Grand Prix 2009". Yokohama Tires. Archived from the original on March 14, 2012. Retrieved October 21, 2010.
- ^ "IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohoma". imsachallenge.com. Archived from the original on December 23, 2011.
- ^ "Yokohama Tire Corporation Onboard as Stadium SUPER Trucks Series Sponsor". Yokohama Rubber Company. April 4, 2013. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
- ^ "About Yokohama Tires". Autoset. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
- ^ "Yokohama Wheel | All Brand List". www.yokohamawheel.jp. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
External links
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