Yokohama Rubber to Build Thai Plant for SUV and Light Truck Tires

Tokyo Aki Tsukioka writing for JCNN reported today that Yokohama Rubber announced its decision to manufacture sport utility vehicle and light truck tires in Thailand.

The company will invest 11.5 billion yen ($ 107 mil) to build a manufacturing plant in the Amata City Industrial Estate, Rayong Province. Construction will begin in October.

The new facility will employ 430 people and have an annual output capacity of 1.4 million tires when production starts in November 2006.

The new plant will be part of overall efforts at this company to boost production capacity in Japan, the Philippines, and Thailand in response to rising global tire demand.