Toyo Tire & Rubber Company opened its new giant tire plant in Malaysia, world’s best rubber producer.

A local ceremony celebrating the opening was held to commemorate the occasion, which was attended by around 350 people. Invited guests included Ambassador Shigeru Nakamura of the Embassy of Japan in Malaysia and parties involved in the plant’s construction.

Using ATOM, Toyo Tires’ proprietary tire production system, the plant is capable of producing 2.5 million tires annually by the end of this year, and by 2015, the plant will aim to boost its annual supply capacity to 5 million tires.

The plant is taking full advantage of Japanese technology in order to achieve Japanese quality in Malaysia and supply other countries with world-class, high-performance, fuel-efficient tires, and the company has plans to further expand in the future.

Toyo Tires is achieving success in North America, Asia and the Middle East, particularly the Gulf region. The new Malaysian plant will provide the Saudi market with Toyo tires known as TEO Plus, which is available in different sizes. Toyo Tires TEO Plus features smooth and comfortable driving for passenger vehicles and sports cars, and Plus control on wet roads.

Abdullatif Al-Amoudi, CEO of Al-Amoudi Holding Company and the exclusive agent for Toyo Tires in the Kingdom, said: “Toyo’s new plant in Malaysia was one of the major steps taken by Toyo Company recently to meet the increased demand for Toyo tires particularly in our region, as the plant in Japan was not able to meet all the demands of the global market. Now with the new plant in Malaysia it’s possible to receive larger quantities.’’

He added: “The new price for Malaysian-made Toyo tires will be competitive and we expect increase in demand.”

A diversified company, Al-Amoudi Holding Company has been the exclusive distributor of Toyo tires for more than 60 years with more than 18 branches around the Kingdom.