Archive · 12 Aug 2026
Yokohama India targets deeper OEM tyre supply growth
Tyres are the rubber wheels that cars ride on.
Some tyres are sold in shops when old ones wear out and need replacing.
Yokohama is a big tyre company that started in Japan.
Its India branch wants to start selling more tyres to car factories for brand-new cars.
This is called OEM supply.
Right now, most of its business is selling replacement tyres to car owners.
Leaders at the company are talking to car makers about future models.
Many new cars in India are SUVs, which are big family cars, and they need special premium tyres.
Because so many SUVs are being sold, Yokohama expects to grow very fast this year.
The company makes millions of tyres every year in two Indian factories.
Yokohama India, a wholly owned subsidiary of Japan's Yokohama Rubber Co, is prioritising expansion in the OEM tyre supply segment, where industry estimates peg its business at roughly 5-10 per cent.
Vice Chairman Anil Gupta said the company is in multiple discussions with major OEMs, noting that deals are planned for car models launching three to four years from now.
The company launched its new Geolander X-CV tyre in Visakhapatnam and expects to grow at 18 per cent in 2026 after similar growth in 2025, the highest in the Indian organised tyre market.
Chairman Nitin Mantri said rapid SUV adoption, with SUVs now accounting for nearly 60 per cent of cars sold in India, is driving demand for Yokohama's premium tyres.
Yokohama has an annual production capacity of 4.5 million tyres across plants in Haryana and Visakhapatnam, with about $700-800 million invested in India overall.
- Who
- Yokohama India, the Indian subsidiary of Japan's Yokohama Rubber Co, led by Vice Chairman Anil Gupta and Chairman Nitin Mantri.
- What
- Yokohama India announced plans to expand its OEM tyre supply business, which currently accounts for an estimated 5-10 per cent of its operations, and launched a new Geolander X-CV tyre.
- When
- Announced in August 2026, with the tyre launch in Visakhapatnam on a Wednesday before publication on August 12, 2026.
- Where
- India, with a product launch in Visakhapatnam and manufacturing facilities in Haryana and Visakhapatnam.
- Why
- The company aims to grow its OEM presence as a key priority, supported by strong demand for premium tyres driven by SUV popularity in India.
- Parent company
- Yokohama Rubber Co (Japan)
- Aftermarket market share
- About 10 per cent
- Estimated OEM business share
- 5-10 per cent
- Expected growth in 2026
- 18 per cent
- Annual tyre capacity
- 4.5 million tyres (Haryana 2.8 million, Visakhapatnam 1.7 million)
- SUV share of car sales in India
- Nearly 60 per cent
- Total investment in India
- About $700-800 million
- India's global market rank
- Fourth largest after the United States, Japan and China