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Bridgestone Europe to Build Truck and Bus Radial Tire Plant in Poland

Tokyo (June 6, 2006) - Bridgestone Corporation announced today that its European subsidiary, Bridgestone Europe NV/SA (BSEU), has resolved to build a plant in Poland to produce radial tires for trucks and buses. Approximately €200 million (¥28 billion*1) has been earmarked for the project.

The new plant in Poland will be operated by a wholly-owned subsidiary of BSEU planned for establishment there. Construction will begin in the first half of 2007, with production expected to get underway in the first half of 2009. Production capacity is projected to be around 5,000 tires a day.

This will be Bridgestone’s second truck and bus radial tire plant in Europe following the Bilbao Plant in Spain. Securing another truck and bus tire production site will enhance the company’s degree of self-sufficiency in the region and contribute to the creation of a strategic product supply system.

In addition to the Poznan Plant in Poland, which is already in operation, and a facility in Hungary currently under construction, the new plant will be the company’s third tire plant in Eastern Europe. The new plant will be the 51st plant in Bridgestone’s global production network for tires, which spans 24 nations, including Brazil, Mexico, China and Hungary.

Outline of new truck and bus radial tire plant in Poland

1. Planned location:

Stargard Szczeciński city suburbs,
Zachodniopomorskie province, Poland

2. Planned start of Production:

First half of 2009

3. Site:

About 100 hectares

4. Product:

Radial tires for trucks and buses

5. Investment:

About €200 million (about ¥28 billion*1)

6. Production capacity:

About 5,000 tires/day in the first half of 2011

7. Ownership:

Bridgestone Europe NV/SA 100%


*1: €1 = \140 (reference value)

Bridgestone Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo, is the world’s largest tire and rubber company. In addition to tires for use in a wide variety of applications, it manufactures a broad range of diversified products, which include industrial rubber and chemical products and sporting goods. Its products are sold in over 150 nations and territories around the world.