Yokohama Rubber Company Explained

The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
Native Name:横浜ゴム株式会社
Native Name Lang:ja
Romanized Name:Yokohama Gomu Kabushiki-gaisha
Type:Public K.K.
Location City:Hiratsuka
Location Country:Japan
Key People: (President, Chairman of the Board)
Num Employees:27,222 (as of December 2021)
Industry:Manufacturing
Products:Tires, wheel, golf equipment
Revenue: US$5.93 billion (2022)
Operating Income: US$483.69 million (2022)
Net Income: US$325.38 million (2022)

is a Japanese manufacturing company based in Hiratsuka, Japan.[1] The company was founded and began on October 13, 1917, in a joint venture between Yokohama Cable Manufacturing and BFGoodrich. In 1969, the company expanded to the United States as Yokohama Tire Corporation. It primarily produces tires, rims and golf equipment.

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

History

Sponsorship and motorsports

From 2015 to 2020, Yokohama was the main sponsor of Premier League football club Chelsea.[5]

Yokohama Tire sponsors the NBA teams the Boston Celtics and the San Antonio Spurs.[6] Yokohama is the official tire supplier of the Super Formula Championship since 2016.[7] It was the official tire supplier of the Macau Grand Prix Formula 3 race from 1983 until 2019, with an exception in 2016, when Pirelli was chosen for the tire supplier that year.[8] The company was the supplier of the World Touring Car Championship and World Touring Car Cup from 2006 until 2019.

In the United States, Yokohama was a tire supplier in the American Le Mans Series, including PTG (from 2005 to 2009) and Alex Job Racing. It was the official tire supplier of the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge.[9] It has also participated in Red Line Time Attack, Nitro Rallycross and Stadium Super Trucks.[10]

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.[11]

Wheels

Under the Yokohama Wheel brand, Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. began making rims in 1974.[12] 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]

Notes and References

  1. News: 2016-03-26. Yokohama Rubber Co to buy Alliance Tire Group for $1.2 billion. The Economic Times. 2020-06-17.
  2. Web site: Made in the USA . Yokohama Tire Corporation . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20201125193644/https://www.yokohamatire.com/about-yokohama/made-in-the-usa . November 25, 2020 .
  3. Web site: 沿革 . 横浜ゴム株式会社/The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. ., . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240203104944/https://www.y-yokohama.com/profile/history/ . Feb 3, 2024 . Web site: Company History . The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240116005604/https://www.y-yokohama.com/global/profile/history/ . Jan 16, 2024 .
  4. Web site: Yokohama Rubber pursues biggest acquisition with $2.3bn Trelleborg deal . subscription . March 26, 2022 . Shizuka Tanabe . 2022-03-26 . Nikkei Asia . en-GB.
  5. Web site: 27 February 2015. Yokohama Rubber to become Official Shirt Partner . Chelsea Football Club . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170703084627/http://www.chelseafc.com/news/latest-news/2015/02/yokohama-rubber-to-become-official-shirt-partner.html . July 3, 2017 .
  6. Web site: December 30, 2008. Yokohama continues NBA sponsorships. Modern Tire Dealer . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220818105312/https://www.moderntiredealer.com/articles/1531-yokohama-continues-nba-sponsorships . August 18, 2022 .
  7. Web site: Super Formula Series Outline . Super Formula . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170606073728/http://superformula.net/sf/en/about/ . June 6, 2017 .
  8. Web site: Yokohama Joins Macau Grand Prix 2009 . Yokohama Tires . October 21, 2010 . March 14, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120314002322/http://www.yokohamatire.ph/index.php?page=news_200911 . dead .
  9. Web site: IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohoma . imsachallenge.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111223102630/http://www.imsachallenge.com/ . December 23, 2011 .
  10. News: Yokohama Tire Corporation Onboard as Stadium SUPER Trucks Series Sponsor. Yokohama Rubber Company. April 4, 2013. January 12, 2021.
  11. Web site: About Yokohama Tires. 2020-11-11. Autoset.
  12. Web site: Yokohama Wheel . 2023-03-07 . yokohamawheel.jp.
  13. Web site: Yokohama Wheel All Brand List . 2023-03-07 . www.yokohamawheel.jp.