The Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. has merged two divisions to create a company dedicated to racing tires. Yokohama Motorsports International Co. Ltd. begins operations on April 1, 2013, with Tetsuya Kuze, who is a director and corporate officer of Yokohama Rubber, as president.
Yokohama Motorsports International plans, develops, designs racing tires and takes responsibility for negotiation and contracting with racing organizers and teams as well as for supplying racing tires in the form of commissioned work from Yokohama Rubber. The new company plans to expand businesses by developing consumer tires based on racing tire technology.
Headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo, Yokohama Motorsports International is capitalized at 10 million yen wholly invested by Yokohama Rubber. With approximately 20 employees, it plans to begin a full-fledged operation in July this year.
To strengthen its tire technological development capability and promote tire sales, Yokohama Rubber is emphasizing motorsports activities in Japan and overseas. In recent years, the company has been increasing tire supply to and support activity for races and rallies held in Europe, North America and Asia, including the Super GT series in Japan and FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC).
Previously, Yokohama Rubber engaged in motorsports activities through a technology division that planned, developed and designed racing tires, and a planning division responsible for contracts with race organizers and teams, circuit events and public relations/advertising activities. The company says it has integrated the two divisions into an independent company to further strengthen and sustain motorsports activities.
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