Yokohama Rubber opens new PCR tyre plant in Hangzhou

Yokohama Rubber recently held a ceremony commemorating the opening of its new passenger car plant in Hangzhou City, China.

The new plant is the first plant to be built under Yokohama Rubber’s “one-year plant” challenge, as it aims to construct plants in just one year that achieve low-cost and highly efficient production.

Construction of the new China plant began in December 2024, with the plant’s start of production beginning in November 2025.

The new plant is a response to the Hangzhou government’s request for the relocation of a previously existing plant as part of the city’s environmental measures.

The new plant will have an annual production capacity of nine million tyres, about three million units greater than that of its predecessor.

Full-scale production is expected to start by the second quarter of 2026.

Yokohama Rubber said the new plant will increase its local production of tyres for electric vehicle as well as high-inch tyres.