Skip to main content
EVENT TRACKER
Keep track of rescheduled, canceled industry events with our COVID-affected event tracker - Powered by Snap Finance
Close
Sister Publication Links
  • Rubber & Plastics News
  • European Rubber Journal
tb-logo
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • News
    • OPINION
    • CORONAVIRUS
    • AUTO INDUSTRY
    • BUSINESS/FINANCIAL
    • COMMERCIAL TIRE
    • FACTORY FIXES
    • GOVERNMENT & LAW
    • INTERNATIONAL
    • MOTOR SPORTS
    • NEW PRODUCTS
    • RETAIL TIRES
    • SERVICE ZONE
    • SEMA/AAPEX
    • SMALL BUSINESS
    • TIRE MAKERS
    • SPONSORED CONTENT
    • Tire Cologne canceled; rescheduled until 2022
      New round of Paycheck Protection Program funding opens
      Vaccine may usher sense of normalcy
      Cover-up: More retailers requiring face masks to curb COVID
    • Sumitomo adds treadwear-detection to 'Sensor Core' toolkit
      New Porsche 911 GT3 to feature Michelin fitment
      U.S. high-performance tire sector hit harder than overall market
      New McLaren supercar incorporates Pirelli's Cyber Tyre system
    • Yokohama sets ambitious goals through 2023
      Conti recalling 94,000 Conti-, General-, Barum-brand LT/SUV tires
      TravelCenters plans 6 TA Express sites in California in 2021
      Trade groups oppose minimum wage increase proposal
    • TravelCenters plans 6 TA Express sites in California in 2021
      Carlisle TyrFil broadens recycling technology options
      U.K. retreader Vaculug to promote tread rubber supplier Vipal
      TMC moves spring conference online, sets trade show for September
    • Conti recalling 94,000 Conti-, General-, Barum-brand LT/SUV tires
      Cooper expands recall of Cooper, Mastercraft grand-touring tires
      DOT issues 13 tire plant ID codes in 2020
      Commerce reduces import duty for Cheng Shin/Maxxis
    • Yokohama sets ambitious goals through 2023
      OK Tire secures exclusivity for Blackhawk tire brand
      U.K. retreader Vaculug to promote tread rubber supplier Vipal
      Execs: Goodyear acquisition of Cooper will benefit dealers
    • Bridgestone World Solar Challenge canceled due to pandemic restrictions
      Pirelli, Goodyear ink sedan racing series contracts in Canada, Europe
      Goodyear extends partnership with Nürburgring race circuit
      BFG to support ATV/UTV racers in WORCS series
    • Martins Industries launches products in 3 categories
      Carlisle TyrFil broadens recycling technology options
      New McLaren supercar incorporates Pirelli's Cyber Tyre system
      Hunter Engineering teams with Xtime inspection platform
    • OK Tire secures exclusivity for Blackhawk tire brand
      NPW hires Switzer as national sales manager
      Tire dealers see possibilities in Goodyear, Cooper deal
      Cooper expands recall of Cooper, Mastercraft grand-touring tires
    • Martins Industries launches products in 3 categories
      Marinucci: Effective road test may eliminate issues
      Our View: Shops must alter ways to attract, retain talent
      Openbay integrates messaging platform with Shop Boss
    • SEMA scholarships and loan forgiveness now available
      WTC hosting webinar Jan. 20 on load-capacity standards
      Denver's Brian Sump named AAPEX Shop Owner of the Year
      DUB, TIS Wheels founder Myles Kovacs is SEMA Person of the Year
    • Trade groups oppose minimum wage increase proposal
      New stimulus package fixes PPP loan confusion
      Vaccine may usher sense of normalcy
      2020 Review: PPP loans give boost to small businesses
    • Goodyear promotes Helsel to senior VP, global operations role
      Tire dealers see possibilities in Goodyear, Cooper deal
      USW: Goodyear-Cooper deal elicits concern, optimism
      Execs: Goodyear acquisition of Cooper will benefit dealers
    • Sponsored By Yokohama Tire Company
      7 questions to ask consumers when they need tires for a crossover SUV
      Sponsored By Yokohama Tire Company
      Stocking Tires for Crossover SUVs
      Sponsored By AppointmentPlus
      Three Important Lessons Learned for the Tire Business During a Pandemic
      Sponsored By Yokohama Tire Company
      7 questions to ask consumers when they need tires for a crossover SUV
  • SHOP FLOOR
    • BALANCING
    • DEMOUNTING
    • SAFETY
    • TIRE REPAIR
    • TPMS
    • TRAINING
    • VEHICLE LIFTING
    • WHEEL TORQUE
    • Video: Balancing Tire
      Choosing the right balancing equipment
      Safety tips for wheel balancing
      An introduction to wheel balancing
    • Video: Demounting
      Demounting Equipment
      Making rims ready for a tight seal
      Tire changer types, tips and trends
    • Video: Safety
      Making friends with OSHA
      Ergonomics on the shop floor
      Customers
    • Video: Tire Repair
      Tire repair: Shining a light on visual inspections
      Staying safe when repairing a tire
      Essential tools, materials and equipment for tire repair
    • Video: TMPS Service
      Decoding sensor data for TPMS diagnosis
      Replacement TPMS sensor overview
      The life-saving work of TPMS
    • Video: Training
      Advantages of apprentice program partnerships
      Options and resources for CE tech training
      Internship ideas to attract tech talent
    • Video:Vehicle Lifting
      All types of lifts for all types of work
      Tips and recommendations for lifting safety
      The gravity of proper lift points
    • Video: Wheel Torque
      Using torque sticks to speed service times
      The danger of too much, too little torque
      The importance of torque specifications
  • Multimedia
    • VIDEOS
    • PHOTOS
    • PODCASTS
  • Events
    • ASK THE EXPERT
    • LIVESTREAMS
    • WEBINARS
    • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
  • Data
    • DATA STORE
  • Resources
    • DIRECTORY
    • CLASSIFIEDS
  • ADVERTISE
  • DIGITAL EDITION
  • Awards
    • Tire Dealer Humanitarian Award
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
October 05, 2015 02:00 AM

Yokohama holds grand opening for Miss. plant (Update)

Kathy McCarron
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print
    Yokohama Tire Corp. photo
    Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant (left to right); Hikomitsu Noji, president and representative director of Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd.; Takaharu Fushimi, CEO of Yokohama Corp. of North America & Yokohama Tire Corp.; and Tadaharu Yamamoto, president of Yokohama Tire Manufacturing Mississippi (YTMM), stand by the first tire produced at YTMM, a RY617 in size 295/75R22.5.

    WEST POINT, Miss. (Oct. 5, 2015) — Yokohama Tire Manufacturing Mississippi (YTMM) held the grand opening today for its $300 million commercial tire plant in West Point with more than 300 dignitaries and guests in attendance.

    The 1 million-sq.-ft. plant, Yokohama's largest in the U.S., is expected to reach full capacity of 1 million truck and bus tires annually by year-end 2018.

    The factory will mainly produce 22.5- and 24.5-inch truck tires for the North American market. The tire maker, which broke ground on the greenfield plant two years ago, said the facility shows its OEM customers that “Yokohama is committed to this marketplace.”

    What the project means to the company's tire dealer customers is that “the tires they need will literally be a call away,” Takahuru Fushimi, CEO of Yokohama Corp. of North America — an entity that oversees all Yokohama-related operations in North America — told journalists during a press conference.

    (Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. photo)
    Takaharu Fushimi

    Rick Phillips, vice president of sales, consumer, commercial and OTR for Yokohama Tire Corp. (YTC), added that the plant will help Yokohama speed up the lead time for order fulfillment from months — when the tire maker relied on offshore tire shipments — to a few days with the new domestic production it gains.

    “It's one of the most efficient plants Yokohama has in the world,” Mr. Phillips claimed.

    Yokohama officials said the plant will enable them to eventually phase out their sourcing of truck tires from the GTY joint venture facility in Mount Vernon, Ill., where the company shares production with Continental Tire the Americas LLC.

    The Mississippi plant's opening marks YTC's completion of Phase One of construction. If demand increases in the future, Yokohama said it will consider implementing a Phase Two expansion project at the site.

    “The grand opening of our first U.S.-built plant is truly a historic day for Yokohama,” said Tadaharu Yamamoto, president of YTMM.

    Rick Phillips

    “Thanks to Gov. Bryant, the great state of Mississippi, the entire community of West Point, the Golden Triangle Region and the incredible Mississippi workforce, the plant site was developed to a fully operational state-of-the-art facility in record time.”

    YTMM said thus far it has hired more than 260 employees and plans to eventually reach a workforce of 500. The plant, built on more than 500 acres of land, houses manufacturing, warehousing and operations facilities.

    Among the speakers at the Oct. 5 ceremony were Hikomitsu Noji, president and representative director of Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd., (YTMM's parent company in Tokyo) and Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant, who said the manufacturing facility's opening “brings full circle a project that broke ground just two short years ago.

    “I appreciate the Yokohama team, the Mississippi Legislature and state and local officials who have worked hard from day one to expedite this project and create so many jobs for the residents of West Point and the Golden Triangle region.”

    The governor went on to congratulate Yokohama “on this milestone event, and the state of Mississippi looks forward to many more years of partnership with this great company.”

    Related Articles
    Yokohama settling into new Calif. HQ, warehouse
    Yokohama's domestic production to rise OE accounts update Sales company in Me…
    Yokohama launches dealer training tour
    Five U.S. tire factory projects proceeding, with production due this year or 20…
    Video: Yokohama Miss. plant grand opening
    Video: Phillips discusses the truck tire industry
    Conti confirms plan for commercial tire plant in Miss.
    Miss. courting new tire plant project
    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Do you have an opinion about this story? Do you have some thoughts you'd like to share with our readers? Tire Business would love to hear from you. Email your letter to Editor Don Detore at [email protected].

    SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Newsletter Center

    Staying current is easy with Tire Business delivered straight to your inbox.

    SUBSCRIBE TODAY

    Subscribe to Tire Business

    SUBSCRIBE
    Connect with Us
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • RSS

    Our Mission

    Tire Business is an award-winning publication dedicated to providing the latest news, data and insights into the tire and automotive service industries.

    tb-logo
    Reader Services
    • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • Site Map
    • Industry Sites
    • Order Reprints
    • Customer Service: 877-320-1716
    Partner Sites
    • Rubber & Plastics News
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Automotive News
    • Plastics News
    • Plastics News China
    • Urethanes Technology
    RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    • Terms of Service
    • Media Guide
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Classified Rates
    • Digital Edition
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    Copyright © 1996-2021. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • OPINION
      • CORONAVIRUS
      • AUTO INDUSTRY
      • BUSINESS/FINANCIAL
      • COMMERCIAL TIRE
      • FACTORY FIXES
      • GOVERNMENT & LAW
      • INTERNATIONAL
      • MOTOR SPORTS
      • NEW PRODUCTS
      • RETAIL TIRES
      • SERVICE ZONE
      • SEMA/AAPEX
      • SMALL BUSINESS
      • TIRE MAKERS
      • SPONSORED CONTENT
    • SHOP FLOOR
      • BALANCING
      • DEMOUNTING
      • SAFETY
      • TIRE REPAIR
      • TPMS
      • TRAINING
      • VEHICLE LIFTING
      • WHEEL TORQUE
    • Multimedia
      • VIDEOS
      • PHOTOS
      • PODCASTS
    • Events
      • ASK THE EXPERT
      • LIVESTREAMS
      • WEBINARS
      • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
    • Data
      • DATA STORE
    • Resources
      • DIRECTORY
      • CLASSIFIEDS
    • ADVERTISE
    • DIGITAL EDITION
    • Awards
      • Tire Dealer Humanitarian Award