Sumitomo Rubber has become the first company to use resource-circulating carbon black, made from chemical recycling of used tires and other rubber materials, in some of its mass-produced passenger car tires. Production of these tires has begun at the Miyazaki plant in November 2025, accelerating the company’s efforts toward resource circulation. Resource-circulating carbon black is produced through the chemical recycling...
Industry
METI Revises Eco-Car Subsidy in Line with US-Japan Tariff Agreement
The Eco-Car Subsidy is set for a revision. According to an announcement made by the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) on December 18, 2025, the subsidy cap for electric vehicles (EVs) will be raised by 400,000 yen, bringing it to 1.3 million yen ($8,300). Meanwhile, the subsidy for fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) will be reduced by ¥1.05 million...
Yokohama Rubber Launches Tire Solutions Service for Taxi Operators
Yokohama Rubber and its group company, Okinawa Yokohama Tire, have announced the launch of a tire solutions service for taxi fleets in collaboration with the Okinawa East Traffic Business Cooperative Association. This service began in mid-December 2025 and integrates air pressure sensors with the next-generation tire management system, “T.M.S.” The service aims to enhance safe operation, reduce tire-related costs and...
Bridgestone and AIST Develop Technology to Chemically Recycle Used Tires
The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) announced that a research team led by Senior Researcher Yoshihiro Ueda, in collaboration with Bridgestone, has developed a chemical recycling technology for tire rubber. By combining chemical decomposition at near room temperature with a subsequent thermal decomposition process, the team successfully recovered isoprene and carbon black. The technology paves the...
Flooding in South Asia: Minimal Impact on Japanese Rubber-Related Firms
The late-November floods that struck Southeast and South Asia have resulted in a major disaster, with the death toll exceeding 1,300. Amid the widespread damage, Japan Rubber Weekly surveyed Japanese rubber-related companies operating in the region. While some firms were temporarily forced to adjust production, most have since returned to normal operations, and overall damage appears to have been limited....
Sumitomo Rubber Achieves Exponential Acceleration of Nonlinear Equation Computation Using Quantum Computers
Sumitomo Rubber has successfully achieved exponential acceleration in solving nonlinear equations using quantum computers, as a result of joint research with Quemix. This breakthrough was made possible by a newly developed method that enables fast and low-cost readout of quantum computation results, an advancement that significantly enhances the practicality of quantum computing. By further advancing their joint research, the companies...
