India, Oct. 10 -- Japan's Toyo Tire Corporation said it would establish a new research and development centre at its Serbian factory by January 2027, whilst shutting its German facility by the end of 2026, as part of efforts to streamline its European operations.

The new R&D laboratories, to be built on the premises of Toyo Tire's Serbia factory in the municipality of Indjija, will span approximately 4,600 square metres and serve as the company's European hub for tyre development and materials research.

The move marks a strategic consolidation for the Itami City-based manufacturer, which currently operates R&D centres in Japan, the United States and Germany. The Serbian facility will complete what the company describes as a "global tril...