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Native name | 横浜ゴム株式会社 |
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Romanized name | Yokohama Gomu Kabushiki-gaisha |
Type | Public K.K. |
TYO: 5101 | |
Industry | Manufacturing |
Founded | October 13, 1917 |
Headquarters | , |
Key people | Masataka Yamaishi (President, Chairman of the Board) |
Products | Tires |
Revenue | ![]() |
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Number of employees | 27,222 (as of December 2021) |
Website | www.y-yokohama.com |
The Yokohama Rubber Company, Limited (横浜ゴム株式会社, Yokohama Gomu Kabushiki-gaisha) is a tire company based in Tokyo, Japan.[1] The company was founded and began on October 13, 1917, in a joint venture between Yokohama Cable Manufacturing and B.F. Goodrich. In 1969, the company expanded to the United States as Yokohama Tire Corporation. The Aspec A300 was the driving force behind its tremendous rise. Branding, especially in Japan, will often use Advan instead of Yokohama. Advan wheels and tires have a strong presence in the aftermarket scene worldwide.
The company has two manufacturing facilities in the United States: one in Salem, Virginia, and another in West Point, Mississippi.[2]
From 2015 to 2020, Yokohama was the main sponsor of Premier League football club Chelsea.[6]
Yokohama Tire sponsors the NBA teams the Boston Celtics and the San Antonio Spurs.[7]
Yokohama is the official tire supplier of the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge,[8] the World Touring Car Championship and Japanese Super Formula.[9] Yokohama has also been the official tire supplier of the Macau Grand Prix Formula 3 Intercontinental Cup race since 1983, with an exception in 2016, when Pirelli was chosen for the tire supplier that year.[10] Yokohama is also the official tire partner of former American Le Mans Series GT2 team PTG from 2005 to 2009.
In the United States, Yokohama Tire Corporation has participated in ALMS, Red Line Time Attack, Nitro Rallycross and Stadium Super Trucks.[11]
The Yokohama Rubber logo was first displayed in the Tokyo Asahi Shimbun newspaper in 1917. The company used it until 1977. Since that time, a modern logo has been used. Like the old logo, the new one is the first letter in the brand name, but the letter itself is more dynamic and expressive. A similar style logo is used by the Taiwanese tire company Nankang Rubber Tire.[12]
Yokohama Tire company logo through 1976
Yokohama Tire company logo since 1977
Nankang Rubber Tire logo
Under the Yokohama Wheel brand, Yokohama Rubber Co.,Ltd. began making wheels in 1974.[4] The Yokohama Wheel brand currently produces the Advan Racing wheel brand for performance and motorsport applications, the AVS brand for premium applications, and the Kreutzer brand for luxury applications.[13]