Bridgestone investing $304 million to expand plants in India

A total of US$304.3 million has been earmarked for the expansion of two Bridgestone tyre factories in India. Over a period of five years, Bridgestone India Pvt. Ltd.’s Pune and Indore plants will be upgraded to accommodate the growth of India’s car parc. Production capacity at the two facilities is expected to rise by an estimated 15,000 tyres per day, giving a combined daily capacity of approximately 41,000 tyres by 2022.

The project will result in the creation of an additional 450 skilled positions, and in addition to boosting capacity at the Pune and Indore sites, the investment will enhance both plants’ production mix capability in order to help it better match the vehicle models that will be released in the Indian market in future years.

“This investment affirms our commitment to expand Bridgestone’s footprint in India, which is one of the fastest growing markets in the world, and will enable Bridgestone India to be equipped with advanced manufacturing technology and processes that will allow us to better serve our customers with products of superior quality,” comments Kazutoshi Oyama, executive director of Bridgestone India. “I am also excited about the benefits it will bring to our local community and team members, as further evidence of Bridgestone’s commitment to contribute to the evolution of the societies in each region in which we operate in.”

The Indore plant in the state of Madhya Pradesh commenced volume production in 1998, manufacturing passenger car and light truck radials for the domestic market.  Truck and bus radial production capacity was added later. The Pune plant, 100 miles southwest of Mumbai, began producing car tyres at the start of 2013 and truck and bus radials later that year.