Tokyo—The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., today announced that DaimlerChrysler rated the company as an A-grade supplier as a result of the multinational conglomerate's own program for supplier evaluation for 2001. The top rating was given with regard to Yokohama Rubber's delivery of GEOLANDAR H/T G038, which is the original equipment tire for the G500, a cross-country vehicle from DaimlerChrysler's Mercedes-Benz unit. MAGNA STEYR, an Austrian company in charge of manufacturing the G500, undertook rating work.

DaimlerChrysler's supplier evaluation program uses the following 4 standards: Cost (the ability of price adjustment, etc.), Delivery (just-in-time delivery, quality storage system, etc.), Quality (rejection rate, after sales service network, etc.), and Communication (communication in case of emergency, partnership in developmental work, etc.). In overall, the company received 92 out of a possible 100 and won the position of an A-grade supplier, which is given to the suppliers receiving more than 90 points in total. No supplier has ever attained full marks and only a few can reach the A status in overall judgment.