Bridgestone Americas Announcing More Tires and Jobs for BrazilInvestment in Bahian tire manufacturing facility will increase production to more than 10,000 units per day and create nearly 100 new jobs in the country
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Dec. 16, 2013) – In an effort to better serve consumer demand and build on previous investments in the country, Bridgestone do Brasil Industria e Comercio Ltda. (BSBR), is committing approximately US$63 million to expand its tire manufacturing plant located in the city of Camaçari in the State of Bahia, Brazil. The increased production, expected to start in May 2015, will deliver an additional 2,100 passenger car radial tires (PSR) and light truck radial tires (LTR) daily raising the plant’s total rated production capacity to over 10,000 tires per day. As a result of the expansion, nearly 100 new jobs will be created.
“We are investing in key market segments and the growing ultra-high performance and light truck/SUV tires categories will be the first to benefit from this capacity expansion,” said Ariel Depascuali president, BSBR. “Over the long-term the versatility and flexibility of the Bahia plant will help the company address direct customer needs by improving fill rates of these tires,” Depascuali added.
The expansion of Bridgestone’s tire production in Bahia enhances the growth of the local automotive industry which, with record vehicle sales across Brazil, is expected to continue an upward trend for the next five years.
"New auto plants from new entrants, continued investment from auto companies already operating in Brazil and the government’s Inovar Auto Program are indications that this market has much potential. Both the original equipment market and the aftermarket will likely remain heated," says Lino Beltrami Neto, industrial director of Bridgestone’s Bahia plant.
Bridgestone continues to optimize its production and supply systems in order to respond to rapidly changing global market trends and provide customers with high-quality products in a timely manner.
Last October, Bridgestone Brazil broke ground on an expansion project related to AGR tire (agricultural radial) at its tire plant in Santo André (SP), Brazil. The company intends to invest more than US$14 million to double its production capacity to 60 tires/day by July 2015.
With this investment Bridgestone will be able to build higher performance radial tires to meet increasing demand, satisfy heavier load requirements and/or reduce compaction to the soil. The company will initially enable the addition of six new AGR tires in its production mix.
About Bridgestone do Brasil Industria e Comercio Ltda.(BSBR):
With more than 80 years in business, Bridgestone do Brasil Industria e Comercio Ltda. (BSBR) is a major participant in the South American tire market. BSBR manufactures and markets passenger, light truck, truck and bus, agricultural and off road tires at two plants and has three commercial offices. The São Paulo plant excels in original equipment and aftermarket sales for car, truck, light truck, bus and farm machinery manufacturers. The newest BSBR plant, which opened in 2007 in Bahia state, produces tires for the car and light truck markets. Brazil is also home to one of three Bridgestone Americas proving grounds, the South American Technical Center located in São Pedro. Through Bandag do Brasil Ltda., the company manufactures and markets pre-cure retread for truck and bus tires primarily for the Brazilian market.
About Bridgestone Americas, Inc.:
Nashville, Tenn.-based Bridgestone Americas, Inc. (BSAM) is the U.S. subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, the world’s largest tire and rubber company. BSAM and its subsidiaries develop, manufacture and market a wide range of Bridgestone, Firestone and associate brand tires to address the needs of a broad range of customers, including consumers, automotive and commercial vehicle original equipment manufacturers, and those in the agricultural, forestry and mining industries. The companies are also engaged in retreading operations throughout the Western Hemisphere and produce air springs, roofing materials, and industrial fibers and textiles. The BSAM family of companies also operates the world’s largest chain of automotive tire and service centers. Guided by its One Team, One Planet message, the company is dedicated to achieving a positive environmental impact in all of the communities it calls home.