Japanese tire manufacturing behemoth The Yokohama Rubber Company, Limited is a well-known and celebrated brand in the tire industry. However, many might not be aware of Yokohama off highway tires (YOHT).
A global business, fully owned by The Yokohama Rubber Company (YRC) of Japan, YOHT specializes in tires for off-road vehicles in applications such as agriculture, forestry, mining, and construction.
The company has a state-of-the-art green field facility in Atchutapuram, Visakhapatnam which was established in 2022 with an investment of Rs 3100 crores.
In an exclusive interview to Vizag Industrial Scan YOHT’s global COO, Mr Anil Gupta, highlighted the importance of the Vizag plant and its overall operations.
How is Yokohama’s plant in Vizag progressing since its launch in 2022?
Since its launch in 2022, the Yokohama plant in Vizag has seen robust progress. We’ve expanded both production capabilities and workforce significantly. The plant has steadily ramped up operations and helped us gain share across markets with our high-performance off-highway tires.
How important is this plant in Yokohama’s overall global strategy?
The Vizag plant is a key pillar in Yokohama’s global manufacturing footprint. It has played a strategic role in catering to growing demand from global markets, particularly in agriculture, construction, and industrial sectors. We have put in place a dedicated passenger car radial line, and started production for the same.
What is the total investment that has been put in the plant as of date? Also are you looking to invest further in this plant or any other new investment in the state of AP?
Yokohama has invested approximately Rs 3,100 crore (~$370 million) in the Vizag plant to date. We have also invested in a passenger car line and initiated production for the same. We remain committed to the region and are exploring phased expansion in line with market demand. Any future investment will be focused on enhancing automation, sustainability, and capacity expansion.
How much employment has this plant generated as of date? How is the plant dealing with recruitment & skill training?
As of now, the plant has generated employment for over 2000 individuals, both directly and indirectly, positively impacting the socio-economic fabric in the region. We have a skill development centre in our facility to help new hires with holistic training and skilling, preparing them for the job.
Would you want to highlight some of your digital and green initiatives being undertaken at the plant?
As part of our Forever Forest programme, every person who visits the manufacturing facility, plants a tree. In line with our global goal, we aim to collectively plant 1.5 million trees by 2030. Moreover, our commitment to sustainability is aligned with the growing demand for eco-friendly products, and we are focused on developing tires that are more energy-efficient, durable, and made from sustainable materials.
Could you help us understand the products better and who your end clients are?
We are proud manufacturers of Alliance, Galaxy, and Primex brands. Under the umbrella of these brands, we offer application specific high-quality tires to cater to the needs of our customers across agriculture, construction, mining, and industrial sectors. Our end users include farmers, contractors, and OEMs across over 120 countries.
