Bridgestone Brazil has announced an investment in the company’s tire manufacturing plant in Camaçari, Bahia, Brazil. With the demand for premium tires increasing in the country, Bridgestone has decided to invest more than R$700m (US$139m) to expand and modernize the plant, with production capacity expected to increase by more than 20%.
“This investment is part of Bridgestone’s mid-term business plan for sustainable growth in Brazil, focused on the premium tires market and production of tires for electric/hybrid vehicles, and reinforces our commitment and the strategic importance of Brazil for our company,” commented Fabio Fossen, president of Bridgestone Latin America South. “I would also like to thank and recognize our valued customers and our incredible and dedicated employees, without whom this investment in Bahia would not have been possible.”
The site expansion and modernization will see annual production increase from 3.5 million to 4.3 million tires, aided by the latest manufacturing technologies and the application of Industry 4.0 concepts. With the company’s vision to generate social and customer value, the Camaçari plant will also gear up to meet the growing demand for specialist tires needed for eco-friendly electric and hybrid vehicles.
Originally opened in the Bahia region in 2006, the Camaçari plant has over 900 employees producing tires for passenger cars, vans and pick-up trucks. In 2016, the facility was expanded, and since its inauguration, the site has benefitted from R$1bn (US$199m) in investments.
This latest investment comes as part of Bridgestone’s mid/long-term business plan to become a sustainable solutions company by 2050. The site expansion is expected to begin by the end of this year and will create around 420 new jobs in the region.
