Yokohama India to Expand Tyre Manufacturing Capacity to 6.3 Million Units for SUV Segment
Yokohama India is expanding its tyre manufacturing capacity from 4.5 million to 6.3 million units to meet rising demand for SUV tyres. The company has identified space at its existing plants to add the required machinery, with the expansion to be rolled out in stages as demand grows.
Nitin Mantri, Member of the Board and Senior Managing Officer at Yokohama, indicated that if demand exceeds this new target, the Japanese parent company is prepared to invest further in India. The company estimates that roughly 80% of SUVs sold in India are monocoque models, and it is bringing its Geolandar tyres to smaller diameters, including 16-inch sizes, to target high-volume vehicles such as the Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos.
Alongside the capacity expansion, Yokohama has launched its new Geolandar X-CV tyre range, adapting technology originally developed for luxury SUVs with 18-inch wheels to the crossover segment. The new range spans 32 sizes from 16 to 20 inches, covering models such as the Maruti Suzuki Brezza, Tata Nexon EV and Mahindra XUV700.
Yokohama has invested over ₹3,000 crore in its Vizag facility over the past four years, with total investment across its passenger car and off-highway tyre operations in India now approaching ₹7,000 crore over the last five to six years. The company has also announced plans for a new investment in Odisha.
As additional capacity comes online, Yokohama plans to expand its original equipment manufacturer (OEM) business. The company currently supplies mainly to Maruti Suzuki and intends to add premium vehicle brands to broaden its market positioning.