Sumitomo Rubber Opens a Branch Office in Changsha

As the sixth largest tire company in the world, Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd., Japan set up its first factory on the land of China in Changshu City of Jiangsu Province in 2002.

The Sumitomo Tire project is located in Xingsha Industrial Base of Changsha EDZ (Economic Development Zone). With an investment of 680 million US dollars and an area of 600 mu (40 hectares) the project mainly produces radial tires for luxury cars and will be put into operation in July, 2012. After reaching the optimal capacity, 10.5 million tires will be manufactured every year with the output value of 3 billion yuan. At that time, Changsha will become the largest production base of Dunlop tires in China. The cooperation between Sumitomo Rubber and Xingsha Industrial Base will further improve the automobile industrial chain in Changsha. By the year of 2015, it is expected to produce 1.2 million finished automobiles in Changsha, and the output value of vehicles and components is estimated to exceed 250 billion yuan.

Before the groundbreaking ceremony, Secretary Chen Run'er met with Tetsuji Mino, president of the Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. and his delegation.

Translator: Zhang Minsi