COLUMBUS, Ohio (June 28, 2013) — Kenda Rubber Industrial Co. plans to increase its global production capacity for passenger car tires by 50 percent in order to meet rising market demand.
The production boost will translate to 38,000 units a day by year-end, according to the tire maker.
Kenda said it plans to raise its capacity in Taiwan by 4,000 units a day. The company's new plant in Tianjin, China, is expected to increase capacity by 5,000 tires a day by year-end, while its new factory in Shanghai will increase its production by 2,500 tires a day, according to a report in the Taipei Times.
Currently, the tire maker produces 22,500 tires daily in its Kunshan, China, plant and 4,000 units a day in its Yunlin, Taiwan, facility.
"Kenda's new plant in Tianjin is operating on a trial basis and likely to become fully operational next month, instead of by the end of next quarter as we previously expected," said Chairman Yang Ying-ming.
He added that Kenda launched a subsidiary in Europe last month to promote its brand and conduct marketing in a bid to enter the European market in the near future.
The company did not disclose the cost of ramping up production at its facilities this year.