Toyo Tires to expand facility in Bartow County

Increase in production capacity will add more than 100 jobs

ATLANTA— Governor Sonny Perdue today announced that Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd., will increase production capacity at its North American manufacturing subsidiary, Toyo Tire North America, in Bartow County near Cartersville. The company’s expansion will add more than 100 jobs to its 370 existing jobs and involve a $50 million investment in capital improvements.

"I am proud every time an existing Georgia business announces plans for new investment and the creation of more jobs for our citizens," said Governor Sonny Perdue. "The success Toyo Tires has experienced at its Bartow County facility has encouraged the company to invest even more in the local economy."

Toyo Tire North America, Toyo’s first consumer tire production plant in the United States, began commercial production of passenger car and light truck tires in March 2006. The facility’s leading-edge technology makes it among the most advanced tire production plants in the world.

Toyo’s present workforce of 370 already exceeds its initial plan to employ 350 workers, and the 100 new jobs bring the company closer to its stated goal of increasing employment to as much as 900, based on future demand in the North American tire market. The Bartow plant produces approximately two million passenger car and light truck tires a year.

"The cooperation and assistance from the state of Georgia and QuickStart helped to make our new plant start-up successful and on time," said Carlos Kibata, CEO and President of Toyo Tire NA. "We are confident that we made the right choice and are excited about our plans to accelerate the growth of our business in Georgia."

"We are very pleased that Toyo has experienced success in our community and that its long-term plans for growth are coming to fruition," said Commissioner Clarence Brown, Bartow County’s chief elected official. "It is an honor to have such a great corporate citizen in Bartow County, and we look forward to partnering with the company as it continues to thrive."

Toyo Tire North America uses a new, proprietary, highly-automated "Advanced Tire Operation Module (A.T.O.M.)" system, which is designed to enable multi-item, small-lot production of high-quality products within a much smaller space. The A.T.O.M. will be upgraded as part of the announced capacity expansion so as to help achieve higher product quality, while boosting output to the target of about 3.3 million units per year by 2009.