Bridgestone invests further in Brazilian tyre plant

Bridgestone invests further in Brazilian tyre plant

Bridgestone Brazil has announced an additional investment in its tyre production plant in Camaçari, in the state of Bahia, Brazil. Keeping up with the growing market demand for high-performance tyres, the company is investing more than R$270 million in the modernisation and expansion of the factory, which brings the company’s total investments announced since 2021 to more than R$970 million for the Bahia plant.

This second phase of expansion and modernisation of the Bahia plant will allow for an increase in production capacity, generating 126 new permanent jobs. Tyre production will increase, thanks to new manufacturing technologies and the growing application of industry 4.0 concepts, including artificial intelligence control technology that increases productivity and the application of knowledge and data in a digital manufacturing environment. Aligned with the company’s vision of generating social and customer value, Bridgestone’s plant in Camaçari is preparing for growth in demand for electric/hybrid and sustainable vehicles – and the high-performance tyres to equip them.

Vicente Marino, President of Bridgestone Latin America South, said, “This investment is part of our strategic plan for sustainable growth in Brazil, focused on the premium tyre market and the production of tyres for more sustainable and electric/hybrid vehicles, which reinforces our commitment and the country’s strategic position for the company’s global business.”

The Bridgestone plant in Bahia, which opened in 2006, employs more than 1,300 people. It produces tyres for passenger vehicles, vans and pick-up trucks, intended for the original equipment manufacturers, replacement and export markets. The Bahia plant achieved another milestone with its earlier expansion in 2016, undertaken ten years after it began operations. Bridgestone has already invested nearly R$1.5 billion in expanding the facility’s production structure from 2006 to 2020.

Bridgestone Brazil operates another tyre factory in Santo André (SP) and two Bandag retread factories, located in Campinas (SP) and Mafra (SC).