Toyo Tire & Rubber Launches Prototype Tire Production at American Subsidiary

Tokyo Oct 22, 2005; Aki Tsukioka writing for JCN reported that Toyo Tire & Rubber has launched prototype tire production at Toyo Tire North America, its new tire production subsidiary in Georgia, on October 10, just a year from its groundbreaking ceremony held in October 2004.

Upon completion of product quality checks and performance tests, the subsidiary will launch commercial production in early 2006. Incorporating Toyo Tire's proprietary Advanced Tire Operation Module (ATOM) production system, which boasts high-quality, reduced space, flexible production and automation, the new plant will be able to flexibly adjust production schedules in accordance with market trends and needs.

The subsidiary has an annual production capacity of 2 million tires for use in passenger vehicles and light trucks