Company History

Group History.

1909 The company constructed its first modern tire factory in the city of Kobe.

1913 Passenger automobile tire production started. World's first Japanese tire was produced.

1917 The company gained legal entity as a Japanese company.

1954 Japan's first tubeless tire was produced.

1960 The Sumitomo Group became a stockholder from the company's capital.

1963 The company name was changed into "Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd".

1976 Japan's first F-1 race car tire is developed.

1984 The company bought 6 factories in England, Germany, France and a Tire Research & Development Center.

1986 The company bought "Dunlop" .

1995 Because of the Kobe Earthquake, the Kobe factory was shutdown.

1997 Production started in the new factory in Indonesia.

1999 A cooperation agreement was made in the tire industry, with the American Goodyear company.

2004 Production started at the company located at Chanshu city in China.

2006 Production started at the new factory in Thailand.

2012 Production started in the new factory at the city of Hunan in China.

2013 Production started in the new factory in Brasil.