South Africa launch for Bridgestone agri tyre range

Farmers and agricultural contractors in South Africa are now able to fit their equipment with the Bridgestone tyre range that’s available to their counterparts in the UK and Europe. Bridgestone’s launch offering in South Africa comprises of the VT-combine, VT-Tractor and VX-Tractor.

At the Bridgestone brand’s debut in this demanding agricultural market, Willie Stander, agriculture manager at Bridgestone Southern Africa, states that the agriculture range is in line with Bridgestone’s emphasis on providing solutions for targeted industry sectors. “Bridgestone entered the agricultural sector in Europe as far back as 2013. Backed up by Bridgestone’s usual high-quality research and development (R&D), the Bridgestone agriculture range has gained a significant share of the market serving the larger, most powerful agricultural vehicles and equipment,” he says.

“Bringing this brand into the South African agricultural sector makes great sense given the fact that our farmers are renowned for adopting the latest and best technology to improve their profitability. South African farmers receive substantially less protection and financial support than many competitor countries, so their success is due in no small part to their ability to use technology to overcome the challenges of farming under challenging conditions.”

Catering to top end of market

Bridgestone’s Firestone brand has been active in South Africa’s agricultural sector for a number of years. The introduction of the Bridgestone brand widens the company’s solution offering to take in the top end of the market. Bridgestone’s established team will support the products with a full range of training, product clinics and on-site product analysis as needed by customers.

Bridgestone considers itself “renowned for its commitment to R&D” due to its investments in “staying ahead of the technology curve.” In 2019, the tyre maker announced the creation of Bridgestone Innovation Park in Japan, which aims to expand the company’s existing R&D capabilities. It says its agricultural tyre range “benefits enormously” from this R&D.

Further products coming

In addition to the three products available at launch, Bridgestone says it will expand the range it offers in South Africa over time in line with market demand. “The Bridgestone agriculture tyre range offers solutions to many important challenges facing South Africa’s farming community,” Stander concludes. “We are confident that South African farmers will respond positively to the benefits our technological innovations, and excellent support offered to them over the long term.”