WHITE, Georgia. (Oct. 20)--Toyo Tire & Rubber Co. Ltd. has broken ground for its $150 million U.S. passenger tire plant near Cartersville, Ga., putting the project on schedule for production startup by the first quarter of 2006.
The 1.03 million-sq.-ft. facility, on a 150-acre site in rural Bartow County northwest of Atlanta, will have an initial annual production capacity of 2 million passenger and light truck/sport-utility vehicle tires.
Toyo Tire North America Inc., a newly created subsidiary, will own and operate the Georgia plant, which will employ 350.
Toyo eventually could invest another $250 million in the factory and create 550 more jobs in two phases, depending on demand and other market conditions, according to Shozo Kibata, president of Toyo Tire (USA) Corp.
In addition to breaking ground for the new facility, Toyo donated $10,000 to the Bartow County Board of Education to help support tutorial programs for county high school students. The tutoring funds will focus on assisting students with SAT preparation and other academic needs to provide local youth with a greater chance to participate in higher learning, Toyo said.
