Yokohama celebrated its 100th anniversary on October 13. The company originated near Tokyo, Japan, back in 1917. Its history is a tale of overcoming challenges and adversity.
In the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, Yokohama lost its production lines and again in the bombing of World War II, but rebuilt them anew each time and went on to achieve renewed growth.
Similarly, the company’s resilience carried it through the financial panic of 1965, the bursting of Japan’s economic bubble at the outset of the 1990s, and the fallout from the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers in 2008. Today Yokohama Rubber employs around 25,000 employees worldwide.
Pioneering products developed during the first 100 years include Japan’s first corded tire, the Hama Town Cord (1921), and the first snow tire, the Y-29 (1954), as well as the G.T. Special (1967), which contributed to the popularity of radial tires in Japan.
Yokohama has also pioneered new segments with its sport radial tire, the Advan HF (1978), and the eco-friendly DNA series (1998).
October 18, 2017
