KUNSHAN, China — Cooper (Kunshan) Tire Co., part of Goodyear since 2021, is planning to invest $200 million to increase production capacity for radial passenger tires at its plant in Kunshan, according to information from Kunshan Development Zone.
The project will include upgrading the existing production line and adding capacity for up to 2.6 million high-performance radial "silent tires" for new-energy vehicles, the documents state.
The plant in Kunshan opened in 2006 as a Cooper-Kenda Rubber Industrial Co. Ltd. joint venture. Cooper bought out Kenda's 50% ownership stake in 2011. Goodyear acquired Cooper in 2021.
Citing Cooper officials, the Kunshan agency statement added that the tire maker intends to build "a green tire production model workshop" to Industry 4.0 and "intelligent manufacturing 2025" standards.
The workshop, according to a translation of the Chinese-language statement, will adopt "an automated three-dimensional warehouse and an intelligent logistics system for transportation."
According to Tire Business' Global Tire Report 2022, the Cooper Kunshan plant has a capacity to make 12 million passenger and light vehicle tires per year.
Goodyear declined to comment on the report.
