Report: Sumitomo to expand China production

Hunan, China – Japanese tire-maker Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) is planning to upgrade its production factory in Hunan, according to the Japanese press.

In a news report on 19 July, Nikkei Asian Review said Sumitomo was planning to increase production capacity in China by 60% to 100,000 units per day within the next three years.

To that end, said the Nikkei report, the Japanese tire manufacturer is spending Yen30 billion (€232 million) by 2020 to increase production of passenger car tires at the plant.

The company, which owns Dunlop brand rights in China, will also increase the number of shops offering the brand by 10% to 7,000 units within the next few years, the report added.