Toyo Tire to open R&D centre in Serbia, shift European operations

Tokyo – Toyo Tire has announced plans to establish an R&D facility within its Serbian factory site in Indija, set to start operations in January 2027.

The company will transfer its existing R&D functions from Germany during 2026, making the new “Serbia R&D centre” its European technology hub.

This, said Toyo, will complete a 'three-pole global R&D structure' spanning Japan, the US and Europe.

The Japanese tire & rubber group opened a North American R&D centre in early 2019, followed by a European facility in Germany later that year, forming its global R&D “triad”.

In a 2 Oct statement, Toyo said demand had increased for energy efficiency, safety, durability, low rolling resistance, improved grip, weight reduction and wear resistance.

Such demands, it said, require closer cooperation between its R&D units in Japan, the US and Europe.

Spanning an area of 4,600 sq.m., the Serbia centre’s functions will include materials and compound design, process-technology development, raw-material research, and information gathering.

With a test track located within the factory grounds, Toyo expects to “begin real-vehicle testing immediately,” shortening development cycles and accelerating new product launches.

Toyo said it viewed processing technology as a key focus area within its European R&D structure.

The tire maker intends to improve productivity at the Serbian site “by developing new formulations and materials, and advancing mixing technology.”