Bridgestone not talking with Amtel

Shigeo Watanabe, head of Bridgestone Corp., has categorically stated that the company was not discussing a production deal with Russia’s Amtel, which has threatened to dump partner Nokian Renkaat. Russian tyre maker Amtel told Reuters last week that relations between it and Finland’s Nokian were frozen and their venture could end.

Nokian, in which Bridgestone owns about 20 per cent, has said its 50-50 joint venture with Amtel was still intact. Amtel Vice President Anatoly Volnov, however, has stated Amtel and Bridgestone plan to produce a quarter of a million tyres this year under the Bridgestone brand at the Kirov plant..