Bridgestone to expand Indian tire plants

PUNE, India — Bridgestone Corp. plans to expand capacity at its plants in Pune and Indore, India, over the coming five years with a combined investment of $304 million.

The projects will boost daily capacity nearly 60 percent by 2022 to about 41,000 tires, Bridgestone India Pvt. Ltd. said.

The investment also will enable Bridgestone to enhance the size production mix capability of both plants in order to match more closely the evolution of car models being released to the local market.

It is also expected to add 450 jobs to the 2,500-plus already employed at the two plants.

“This investment affirms our commitment to expand Bridgestone's footprint in India,…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,” Bridgestone India Executive Director Kazutoshi Oyama said.

Mr. Oyama also noted the projects will bring undisclosed benefits to the local community and employees, reflecting Bridgestone's “commitment to contribute to the evolution of the societies in each region in which we operate.”

Both factories produce passenger, light and medium truck tires. Indore is the larger of the two in both capacity and employment. It opened in 1998; Pune opened in 2013.

Bridgestone did not disclose how the project would affect the plants individually.