For over three decades, SCI Pneus has exemplified the spirit of the Brazil-Japan partnership as Yokohama Rubber Co.’s exclusive distributor in the country. Set against the backdrop of 130 years of bilateral relations, SCI has transcended the role of a traditional distributor — introducing premium tire technology while fostering the industrial partnerships and long-term commercial relationships that continue to drive Japanese-Brazilian trade today.
Founded with international trade at its core, SCI Pneus strategically expanded into the automotive and logistics sectors before identifying tires as a natural avenue for growth.
“The tire division was a natural development,” said Pedro Abreu, director at SCI Pneus. “It aligned perfectly with our existing expertise in foreign trade and representing global brands.”
This expertise proved instrumental in the early 1990s when Japan’s Yokohama Rubber sought entry into Brazil’s newly opened market.
“Through affiliated companies, we were chosen to launch Yokohama’s commercial presence in Brazil,” Abreu recalled. “Becoming Yokohama’s exclusive distributor marked a turning point. It combined our local knowledge with the strength of a brand globally recognized for its quality and technology.”
The decades-long partnership that emerged reflects that deeper principles are driving the success of these bilateral business relationships: sustained investment, technical excellence and cultural adaptation. Today, SCI manages Yokohama’s comprehensive Brazilian operations, from marketing campaigns and motorsports sponsorships to a nationwide reseller network that spans diverse regional markets.
Central to SCI’s business model is balancing global standards with Brazilian market realities.
“Our commitment is to uphold Yokohama’s brand excellence in Brazil with the same rigor applied in the world’s most demanding markets,” Abreu said. “At the same time, we tailor our strategies to the local consumer — whether in product mix, lead times or communication.”
This localization strategy extends to technical operations, where SCI’s Japan-trained specialists provide diagnostics, training and field support to resellers and fleet operators. SCI Online Systems, the company’s proprietary business-to-business platform, integrates with robust logistics infrastructure to ensure consistent service delivery across Brazil’s challenging geography.
Despite technological sophistication, SCI prioritizes relationship-building as its competitive advantage. “Beyond systems, we value close and transparent relationships,” Abreu explained. “We’ve built long-term partnerships on trust and consistent results.”
Beyond systems, we value close and transparent relationships. We’ve built long-term partnerships on trust and consistent results.
Pedro Abreu, Director at SCI Pneus
Looking ahead, SCI positions itself for industry transformation as automotive sectors embrace digitalization and sustainability.
“The industry is moving toward smarter, more integrated solutions — and Yokohama is investing globally in that direction,” Abreu said. “Our goal is to accelerate this momentum in Brazil, while deepening our role across the supply chain.”
After three decades, the SCI-Yokohama partnership demonstrates that enduring international business success requires more than market access — it demands mutual respect, shared vision and patient capital investment in long-term relationships.
