Bridgestone increases production of premium tires in India
The Bridgestone Corporation has announced that it will make strategic investments to expand its premium passenger tire production capabilities in India at its plants in Pune and Indore (in the states of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, respectively). The total investment amount will be $85 million, and the project is scheduled to start in the first quarter of 2025.
It is expected that the Pune plant's capacity will be increased by 1.1 million tires per year, while Indore will create new opportunities for the production of premium-level tires. Earlier, the French company Michelin also announced plans to launch the production of premium passenger tires in India.
In addition to increasing capacity, in Pune, the Japanese company will also open a new technology center next year, which will enable the production of tires using Enliten technology (which reduces rolling resistance by reducing tire weight), adapted to the requirements of the Indian market. It is noted that the new complex will accelerate the process of developing new technologies throughout the entire chain from material planning to product design and manufacturing.
"Bridgestone considers India as a market where there are opportunities for expanding the premium passenger tire business," says Bridgestone, adding that, according to recent trends, the country has good prospects for stable economic growth, which will lead to an increase in the number of both vehicles in operation and vehicles produced. In the medium term, an increase in demand for tires with a larger rim diameter is also expected, as mentioned by Michelin.
Bridgestone's Indian subsidiary (BSID, Bridgestone India Private Ltd.) was established in 1996, and its total workforce is 3,100 employees.
The Pune plant was opened in January 2013 and currently produces 11,000 passenger/light truck and 1,900 truck tires per day. Production in Indore was launched in March 1998, and the enterprise currently produces 19,500 passenger and light truck tires daily.