Yokohama Rubber Company

The Yokohama Rubber Company, Limited (横浜ゴム株式会社, Yokohama Gomu Kabushiki-gaisha) is a tire company based in Tokyo, Japan.[1] The company was founded and began on October 13, 1917, in a joint venture between Yokohama Cable Manufacturing and B.F. Goodrich. In 1969, the company expanded to the United States as Yokohama Tire Corporation. The Aspec A300 was the driving force behind its tremendous rise. Branding, especially in Japan, will often use Advan instead of Yokohama. Advan wheels and tires have a strong presence in the aftermarket scene worldwide.

"Advan" redirects here. For the smartphone brand, see Advan (brand).

The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
Native name
横浜ゴム株式会社
Yokohama Gomu Kabushiki-gaisha
TypePublic K.K.
TYO: 5101
IndustryManufacturing
FoundedOctober 13, 1917 (1917-10-13)
Headquarters
Tokyo
,
Japan
Key people
Masataka Yamaishi (President, Chairman of the Board)
ProductsTires
RevenueIncrease US$5.93 billion (2022)
Increase US$483.69 million (2022)
Increase US$325.38 million (2022)
Number of employees
27,222 (as of December 2021)
Websitewww.y-yokohama.com
Yokohama Fender (boating), produced as a part of the company's series of maritime industry products.
Yokohama Advan racing tires

The company has two manufacturing facilities in the United States: one in Salem, Virginia, and another in West Point, Mississippi.[2]

History
  • 1917 - Established in Yokohama as 橫濱護謨製造株式會社 (Yokohama Rubber Manufacturing Co., Ltd.), a joint venture between 橫濱電線製造 (Yokohama Electric Cable Manufacturing Company, currently Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.) and BF Goodrich Company.[3]
  • 1920 - Built a factory in Hiranuma, Yokohama. Installed US-made refining equipment and manufacturing equipments. Started manufacturing rubber belts, tires, hoses, etc.[3] (At this time, tires of this company are sold in Japan under the "Goodrich" brand)
  • 1929 - Built a new Yokohama Factory in Heian-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama.[3]
  • 1937 - Changed the tire brand to "Yokohama".[3]
  • 1942 - Built a rubber factory in Singapore.[3]
  • 1943 - Built a factory in Mie prefecture.[3]
  • 1946 - Built a factory in Mishima, Shizuoka Prefecture.[3]
  • 1950 - Stocks listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange and the Osaka Securities Exchange.
  • 1963 - Company name changed from 横浜護謨製造株式会社 (Yokohama Rubber Manufacturing Co., Ltd.) to 横浜ゴム株式会社(Yokohama Rubber Company, Limited).[3]
  • 1964 - Built a factory in Shinshiro, Aichi Prefecture.[3]
  • 1969 - Established Yokohama Tire Corporation in the United States.[3]
  • 1974 - Launched the Yokohama Wheel brand.[4]
  • 2007 - Established Yokohama India.[3]
  • In 2016 Yokohama Rubber acquired farm tire maker Alliance Tire Group for $1.18 billion.[5]
  • On March 25, 2022, Yokohama Rubber announced it would be acquiring Trelleborg Wheel Systems from Trelleborg for 2.1 billion euro ($2.31 billion), its largest acquisition to date.[5]

Sponsorship and motorsports

From 2015 to 2020, Yokohama was the main sponsor of Premier League football club Chelsea.[6]

Yokohama Tire sponsors the NBA teams the Boston Celtics and the San Antonio Spurs.[7]

An example of Yokohama sponsorship in racing at a Nitro Rallycross event.

Yokohama is the official tire supplier of the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge,[8] the World Touring Car Championship and Japanese Super Formula.[9] Yokohama has also been the official tire supplier of the Macau Grand Prix Formula 3 Intercontinental Cup race since 1983, with an exception in 2016, when Pirelli was chosen for the tire supplier that year.[10] Yokohama is also the official tire partner of former American Le Mans Series GT2 team PTG from 2005 to 2009.

In the United States, Yokohama Tire Corporation has participated in ALMS, Red Line Time Attack, Nitro Rallycross and Stadium Super Trucks.[11]

Logos

The Yokohama Rubber logo was first displayed in the Tokyo Asahi Shimbun newspaper in 1917. The company used it until 1977. Since that time, a modern logo has been used. Like the old logo, the new one is the first letter in the brand name, but the letter itself is more dynamic and expressive. A similar style logo is used by the Taiwanese tire company Nankang Rubber Tire.[12]

  • Yokohama Tire company logo through 1976
    Yokohama Tire company logo through 1976
  • Yokohama Tire company logo since 1977
    Yokohama Tire company logo since 1977
  • Nankang Rubber Tire logo
    Nankang Rubber Tire logo

Wheels

Under the Yokohama Wheel brand, Yokohama Rubber Co.,Ltd. began making wheels in 1974.[4] The Yokohama Wheel brand currently produces the Advan Racing wheel brand for performance and motorsport applications, the AVS brand for premium applications, and the Kreutzer brand for luxury applications.[13]

References
  1. "Yokohama Rubber Co to buy Alliance Tire Group for $1.2 billion". The Economic Times. March 26, 2016. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  2. "Made in the USA". Yokohama Tire Corporation.
  3. 横浜ゴム公式サイト「沿革」 , (Yokohama Rubber Company official website, "Company History".)
  4. "YOKOHAMA WHEEL". www.yokohamawheel.jp. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  5. "Yokohama Rubber pursues biggest acquisition with $2.3bn Trelleborg deal". Nikkei Asia. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
  6. "Yokohama Becomes Official Chelsea Shirt Partner". ChelseaFC.com. February 27, 2015.
  7. "Yokohama continues NBA sponsorships". Modern Tire Dealer. December 30, 2008.
  8. "IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge". imsachallenge.com.
  9. "Super Formula Series Outline".
  10. "Yokohama Joins Macau Grand Prix 2009". Archived from the original on March 14, 2012. Retrieved October 21, 2010.
  11. "Yokohama Tire Corporation Onboard as Stadium SUPER Trucks Series Sponsor". Yokohama Rubber Company. April 4, 2013. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  12. "About Yokohama Tires". Autoset. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  13. "YOKOHAMA WHEEL | All Brand List". www.yokohamawheel.jp. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
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