CYPRESS, CA – October 30, 2015 – TOYO TIRE & RUBBER CO., LTD., and its U.S. subsidiaries (“Toyo Tires”) announced today that the United States District Court for the District of Nevada granted Toyo Tires’ Motion for Default Judgment and Permanent Injunction against Kabushikiki Kaisha Tokyo Nihoon Rubber Corp., a Beijing-based holding company, and its associated business, Japan Toyomoto Tire Corp. (collectively, “Toyomoto”).  

In addition to granting a permanent injunction against Toyomoto prohibiting their use of the “Toyomoto” mark, the District Court awarded Toyo Tires $300,000 in statutory damages.

“Toyomoto has merely piggy-backed off of Toyo’s success; Toyomoto markets its counterfeit products on various deceptively named websites, passes itself off as being a Japan-based company, and even exhibited its products at SEMA, a trade show that drew 60,000 buyers and that Toyo also attended,” according to the ruling.

Toyo Tires first learned that Toyomoto was infringing its marks when the two companies attended the annual Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) trade show in Las Vegas exactly a year ago.

“We are pleased the court ruled in our favor,” said Iori Suzuki, Senior Vice President and General Counsel. “We take counterfeiting and trademark infringement by companies such as Toyomoto very seriously and remain committed to vigorously protecting our long established and highly reputable “TOYO” trade name and trademark.”

About Toyo Tire Holdings of Americas Inc.

Toyo Tire Holdings of Americas Inc. (“TTHA”) is the wholly-owned North American subsidiary of TOYO TIRE & RUBBER CO., LTD. of Osaka, Japan. Headquartered in Cypress, California, TTHA and its group companies manufacture, import, sell and distribute Toyo and Nitto brand tires in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

Toyo Tires maintains its commitment to innovation, quality, performance, and excellent customer service. Significant and continuous investments are made in its U.S.-based manufacturing facility and support operations in order to produce high-quality tires. The company’s tire portfolio covers a broad range of applications, including high-performance racing-inspired tires, rugged off-road tires for light trucks and SUVs, luxury-touring tires, and commercial truck tires.