Langley, BC (April 19, 2024) – Yokohama is enhancing its tire capacity for the North American market with the construction of a new plant at the Alianza Industrial Park in Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico, the groundbreaking of which took place April 15.

Dignitaries on hand for the ceremonial event included Yokohama Rubber Company Ltd. (YRC) Chairman and CEO Masataka Yamishi; Yokohama Corporation North America (YCNA) CEO Shinichi Takimoto; and Yokohama Tire Corporation (YTC) President and CEO Jeff Barna.

Chairman Yamishi emphasized how the new plant’s location provides strategic advantages in responding to market needs by reducing logistical delays, and improving the supply chain for passenger car and light truck tires, for North American markets.

“Without the commitment to the Yokohama brand of the best employees and the devotion to the brand of the best customers in the world, the expansion promised by this groundbreaking event would not have been made possible,” commented Diana Colosimo, Brand Development Manager for Yokohama Tire (Canada) Inc. “With the establishment of this facility we are bringing our products closer to our customers, granting them ready accessibility to our offerings and supplying them in a timely fashion with the quality they expect.”

Also on hand for the ceremony were state and local officials Manolo Jimenez, governor of the state of Coahuila and Jose Maria Frausto Siller, the mayor of the city of Saltillo.

Construction of the $380 million US plant on the 61-hectare site will begin soon, with production expected to begin in 2027. The annual output of the plant is expected to be 5 million tires.