Bridgestone to open Russian tyre plant

Bridgestone is open its first tyre production plant in Russia later in 2016, according to Russian news reports. The Russian Tass news agency reports that Bridgestone will invest the equivalent of US$147.7 million in the plans, which should take shape in the second half of the year.

“Currently, the equipment assembly and pre-commissioning activities are being completed on the site, after that the required paper work must be done” Tass quoted “a local official” as saying. The official said that the plant should hit 2 million tyres a year by 2019, but that this can be doubled to 4 million tyres annually if there is sufficient demand.

The plans are expected to create around 800 jobs for regional residents. The plant will be built in cooperation with Mitsubishi Corporation.