The Yokohama Rubber Co, Ltd announced that it would dissolve its subsidiary, Yokohama Motorsports International Co, Ltd (YMI) that was dedicated to motor sports activities, effective on 30th June, 2017 and transfer the subsidiary’s operations to a new internal Motorsports Department that was established on 1st May.
Yokohama Rubber Establishes Internal Unit to Enhance Motor Sports Engagement
YMI was established in April 2013 to promote and supervise Yokohama’s motor sports activities, including the development and supply of tyres for motor racing competitions. Since its establishment, the subsidiary contributed to a diverse range of motor sports events by supplying Yokohama tyres, including many competitions that adopted Yokohama tyres as their control tyre, such as the Japanese Super Formula Championship series, GT Asia, Sepang 12 Hours endurance race, All-Japan Formula 3 Championship Series, FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) and other racing series, including the Super GT races. Given the company’s plans to expand and broaden its motor sports activities around the world, it was decided that an internal organisation would be better able to effectively supervise and coordinate these activities. Hence, the subsidiary is being dissolved and replaced by an internal organisation, the Motorsports Department.
Yokohama Rubber’s worldwide motor sports activities are said to contribute to the globalisation of its tyre business and greater recognition of the Yokohama brand. It also promotes the growth, development and revitalisation of the motor sports market and the automobile industry as a whole.
