Toyo Tire breaks ground on Serbia R&D centre to boost European operations

Hyogo, Japan – Toyo Tire Corp. has broken ground on a new R&D centre in Serbia, as part of a strategy to strengthen its European and consolidate research, production and sales functions at a single site.

In a 23 March statement, the Japanese group said the groundbreaking ceremony, held 19 March at its Serbia factory in Indjija, was attended by around 100 guests including Serbian president Aleksandar Vucic and Japanese diplomatic representatives.

Set for operation in January 2027, the new facility will serve as a “core hub for the development of advanced technologies.”

The unit will support Toyo’s efforts to enhance “global competitiveness” through closer collaboration with its R&D centres in Japan and the US.

The centre will “refine cutting-edge processing technology from the ground up” and help establish “a European operational model that coordinates R&D, production, and sales functions,” said Satoru Moriya, director and VP R&D.

The activities of the centre will also be focused on boosting the competitiveness of Toyo brands including Proxes premium passenger-car brand.

Toyo opened its first European R&D centre in Germany in 2019 as part of a global R&D framework to work alongside tire technical centres in Japan and North America.

However, to further strengthen its competitiveness in Europe, Toyo said it decided to consolidate its European R&D functions in Serbia, where it also operates its production plant and sales functions.

Located adjacent to the existing plant, the facility will focus on “cutting-edge processing technology,” including the development of new rubber compounds and materials, as well as material design and raw material evaluation.

The site will also leverage an on-site proving ground to enable “seamless” development through to driving tests, improving efficiency and helping to “shorten time to market.”