Retreading at former Bridgestone plant: Mobivia & Black Star partner in Béthune project

Major European vehicle maintenance and mobility firm Mobivia and French retreading specialist Black Star have signed an agreement covering the collection, sorting and retreading of passenger car tyres at the site of Bridgestone’s former Béthune plant in France. Bridgestone is lending its support to the project, which will commence in January and is expected to create nearly 200 jobs by 2025, thus providing employment for many former Bridgestone workers.

Mobivia subsidiary iWip and Black Star will develop an integrated tyre recycling ecosystem that occupies around 25 per cent of the Béthune site. Used tyres will be collected from Mobivia’s auto centres, including Norauto, Midas and Carter Cash-branded outlets. Tyres that pass entry control inspection will be retreaded and then offered for resale. According to Mobivia, each retreaded tyre will save 9 kilogrammes of rubber and steel.