Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd. held a ground-breaking ceremony for its first tire production factory in South America on Jan. 27, 2012.
The ceremony was carried out on the construction site of the passenger tire factory in Fazenda Rio Grande City, Parana State, Brazil. Approximately 120 guests and people were on hand, including the governor of the Parana State, mayor of Fazenda Rio Grande City and Japanese consul general in Curitiba.
Sumitomo Rubber CEO and President Ikuji Ikeda and Sumitomo Rubber do Brasil Ltda. President Ippei Oda hosted the ceremony.
"In Brazil and other countries in Central and South America, the auto industry is rapidly expanding under the steadily growing economies," says the company.
"Accordingly, the demand for automotive tires is also increasing. Sumitomo Rubber will strengthen its tire supply by establishment of the new factory."
Sumitomo plans to begin producing passenger tires at the plant in October 2013. Production capacity will be 15,000 tires a day by the end of 2016.
(For more information, click on "Sumitomo will produce passenger tires in Brazil.")
