ULYANOVOSK, Russia — Bridgestone Corp. is planning a ceremonial opening May 25 for its first plant in Russia, in Ulyanovosk, that originally was due on stream about a year ago.
The passenger tire plant represents an investment of $375 million, and is located in the Zavolzhye industrial zone in Ulyanovsk Oblas in eastern Russia. It has been in pre-production for the past several months.
The plant's capacity is expected to reach around 12,000 units a day in 2018 and mainly will comprise winter tires for the Russia/CIS market, Bridgestone said in the past. Bridgestone broke ground on the project in April 2014 and completed construction last September.
Ulyanovosk is a city of more than 600,000 residents in central Russia, located on the Volga River about 100 miles north of the Togliatti car manufacturing region.
Around 800 jobs will be created at the plant, operated by Bridgestone Tire Manufacturing CIS L.L.C., a manufacturing company jointly established by Bridgestone and minority partner Mitsubishi Corp., with a 10-percent equity holding.
The plant is Bridgestone's ninth tire factory in Europe and 48th worldwide.
With the commencement of production at the plant, Mitsubishi also will take a 20-percent equity stake in Bridgestone CIS L.L.C., a sales company established in Moscow by Bridgestone.