YRC plant in Miss. could quadruple over time

WEST POINT, Miss. (April 29, 2013) – Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd.'s plan for a truck tire plant in West Point eventually could reach four times the project's original size — and investment — company executives said during a signing ceremony today in West Point.

The plant will be built over the coming two years with a startup capacity of 1 million units and 500 employees, the company said, at an initial investment of $300 million. The plant's size could grow to 4 million units a year and employment up to 2,000. The eventual investment could top $1 billion long term.

The 931,000-sq.-ft. plant will be built on a 500-acre plot of land within the West Point city limits. Ground breaking is expected to take place in June or July, with construction to start by September, company officials said.

Hikomitsu Noji, YRC's president and representative director, called this an "historic day" for Yokohama.

The decision to build this plant "re-affirms our commitment to the North American market and to the continued mutual success of Yokohama and its business partner—our dealers," he said at a press conference held after the signing ceremony.

"This new plant will have a tremendous impact on the Golden Triangle region and on our state as a whole," Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant said, "and I welcome this highly respected company to Mississippi and look forward to our partnership in the years to come."

"Yokohama's decision to locate in West Point is a testament to our eager and hard-working community," said Joe Higgins, CEO for the Golden Triangle Development LINK. "We're thrilled to welcome them to the Golden Triangle and look forward to a long, successful relationship."