Yokohama India’s first manufacturing plant will start operations in November, in Haryana. The plant is built on an investment of more than Rs 300 crore and has an annual capacity of 7,20,000 units a year.
The plant will manufacture two tyres: the Earth 1, a tyre focused on providing comfort, and the S Drive, focused on providing a sportier drive. The Earth 1 will be made available in 13-, 14- and 15-inch measurements, while the S Drive will be available in 14- and 15-inch options.
The Earth 1 has been designed to tackle the diverse road conditions found in India, and at the same time provide a quiet ride on smooth roads. The S Drive, on the other hand, is built specifically to enhance performance and grip on regular cars.
Tyre plants generally need to mix large quantities of rubber to get the right blend, but this new Yokohama plant employs a compact process of manufacturing for a smaller plant size, that can be expanded quite easily at a later stage.