TOKYO (Feb. 3, 2000) — Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. will phase out production of truck and bus tires at its Hiratsuka, Japan, plant by early 2002, consolidating production of radials at the larger Mie, Japan, plant and allowing for expansion of non-tire products at Hiratsuka.
The consolidation is part of Yokohama´s ``Action 21 Business Reform´´ plan designed to make the company´s manufacturing facilities more efficient, the company said.
The plan also calls for a halt to production of bias-ply truck tires at Hiratsuka—which now account for up to one-third of the plant´s output — by March 2001.
Capacity for radial truck tires at Mie will expand 20 percent to 6,000 units a day to accommodate the Hiratsuka production.