Bridgestone Begins Run-Flat Production in South Africa

Bridgestone’s wholly owned South African subsidiary Bridgestone South Africa has become the country’s first tyremaker to begin the commercial production of run-flat tyres. The tyres will be manufactured at the company’s Brits plant in South Africa’s North West Province, a facility that has received a R700 million (£48 million) expansion and upgrade over the previous five years.

The first OE deal for the new South African run-flats was officially approved by carmaker BMW in June. At this stage, however, Bridgestone South Africa chairman and CEO Yasuhiro Ito reports that BMW is the only manufacturer fitting run-flats to locally assembled cars, and Bridgestone is not involved in talks with any other OEM.

The Brits facility is one of only four Bridgestone plants globally to produce run-flats. The others are Tosu in Japan, Poznan in Poland and Wilson in the US. The factory’s expansion has, according to Mr. Ito, created 50 new jobs and lifted Bridgestone’s total investment in South Africa to R1.5 billion (£104 million). And while the Brits plant will firstly supply local demand – Mr. Ito reported that “Bridgestone South Africa’s focus is primarily in the SADC (Southern African Development Community) region” – export sales are also an important part of business, although still a small part in comparison.