Tag: Japan
Another Caterpillar platinum award for Yokohama
Yokohama Tire Corporation has been awarded Caterpillar’s premier supplier award for the seventh year in a row. The award – Platinum Level Recertification in its Supplier Quality Excellence Process (SQEP) – went to Yokohama’s factory in Onomichi, Japan. The plant produces òriginal equipment and replacement off-the-road (OTR) tyres for a wide range of equipment.
Global motorsport participation ‘crucial’ part of Yokohama technology strategy
Yokohama’s broad support for global motorsport series and events in 2019 are “crucial” to its positioning in the vanguard of new tyre technology development, the tyre manufacturer states. The importance of motorsport was outlined in the company’s three-year management plan implemented in 2018, the “Grand Design 2020” (GD2020) technology strategy. Yokohama HPT, the company’s UK division outlined its support for events at all levels at Autosport International in January – a strategy that reflects the presence of the brand in its domestic Japanese and global markets too. Its headline series in Japan include the Super Formula Championship, Formula 3, TCR touring cars events, and national rallying and karting championships, while GT racing will play a significant role globally for the company.
Yokohama supporting Chelsea FC pre-season match
This year, Chelsea FC will play a pre-season match in Japan, an event sponsor Yokohama Rubber has previously requested. The tyre maker has now announced its support of the fixture, which is scheduled for 19 July – it intends to “work closely with Chelsea” while the team is in Japan to “bring Japanese fans closer to the ‘Blues’ ahead of the 2019/20 season.”
Nokian launching summer tyres in Japan
Nokian has announced that it is introducing its Hakka summer tyre range in Japan. The product line will be available to Japanese consumers beginning in April.
Ghosn’s gone
Roughly two decades after taking the helm at Nissan (and later chairing the Japanese firm’s alliance with Renault and Mitsubishi), the carmaker’s board voted to remove company boss Carlos Ghosn following his arrest in Japan for underreporting his salary.
Apollo Tyres’ Onkar Kanwar receives Japanese Imperial honour
In its 2018 Autumn Imperial Decorations, the Government of Japan has conferred upon Onkar S Kanwar the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star. The chairman of Apollo Tyres Ltd. received this recognition for his contributions towards strengthening the economic relations between Japan and India, and for promoting Japanese company’s entry into the Indian market.
Asahi Kasei: “We have an ambitious plan for Europe”
Close customer proximity can provide measurable and also intangible benefits. Japanese chemical company Asahi Kasei aims to achieve both with its newly-established research and development presence in Europe. Tyres & Accessories recently visited the facility to find out more.
Yokohama opens indoor winter tyre test facility
With the opening of a new indoor facility for testing winter tyres, Yokohama Rubber says it can improve the accuracy of its test data and thus develop more advanced technologies. The indoor test centre is located at Yokohama Rubber’s Tire Test Center of Hokkaido (TTCH) facility in Asahikawa City, Japan, and began testing tyres on 5 January ahead of its official inauguration on 30 January.
Toyo exhibits global racing pedigree with Ken Block, BJ Baldwin at Tokyo Auto Salon
Toyo Tire & Rubber Co kicked off its year at the annual Tokyo Auto Salon in mid-January at Makuhari Messe in Chiba City. Exhibiting its eponymous and Nitto brands, the tyre manufacturer presented its motorsport pedigree with guests Ken Block and BJ Baldwin, while Toyo Tires president, Takashi Shimizu, and managing director, Tomoshige Mizutani, were on hand to talk about the company’s history and North American automobile culture.
Bridgestone announces Japan management changes
The remits of a number of the Bridgestone Corporation management team in Japan will alter from the end of March. Minoru Shimizu, currently senior vice-president and senior officer responsible for Bridgestone’s Japan Tire Business, chief executive officer of its Japan Tire strategic business unit and chairman of Bridgestone Tire Japan Co., Ltd., will hand over the last of these roles to Masahiro Isobe.
Toyo Tokyo Auto Salon stand features Block and Baldwin
Toyo is aiming to turn heads at the Tokyo Auto Salon. The headliners are Ken Block and BJ Baldwin, who, if you are into motorsports and have access to YouTube, need no introduction. Between the two of them, they are not only responsible for millions of views on their extraordinary videos, but are simultaneously two of the most successful racers in their respective sports.
Artificial muscles: Bridgestone working on walking machine
Bridgestone Corporation doesn’t just make tyres. In fact, the company says it is committed to helping people realise an “active and healthy lifestyle” through the utilisation of technologies and expertise in a whole range of rubber-related fields. This commitment can be seen in a joint development venture it is undertaking to improve the health of senior citizens.
DTM, Hankook to guest star at Super GT finale
Following the season finale at the Hockenheimring in Germany last month, the DTM touring car championship and exclusive tyre partner Hankook are heading for extra time in the land of the rising sun. On 11 and 12 November, the three competing manufacturers, Audi, BMW and Mercedes AMG, will be present at the final of the Super GT series in Motegi/Japan, returning the visit to Hockenheim made by Super GT.
Toyo Proxes OE for Mazda CX-8
The new Mazda CX-8 crossover SUV is scheduled for release in Japan in December. Toyo Tire & Rubber shares that its Proxes R46 tyre has been selected as an original equipment fitment in that market. The Toyo Proxes R46 will be fitted to the CX-8 in size 225/55 R19 99V.
Brexit OE tyre red-alert
Is Brexit going to wreak havoc on the automotive business or is it all just another millennium bug flash-in-the-pan? If a no-deal withdrawal does spell havoc, is it going to impact the tyre business as much as the OEMs?
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