Bridgestone Announces New Investments in Bahia Plant
Bridgestone Brazil announced an additional investment in its tyre manufacturing plant in Camaçari, Bahia. To meet the increased market demand for high-performance tyres, the firm is investing more than R$ 270 million in the factory's modernisation and expansion, bringing the company's total investments announced since 2021 for the Bahia plant to more than R$ 970 million.
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 tires for more sustainable and electric/hybrid vehicles, which reinforces our commitment and the country's strategic position for the company’s global business. This expansion is also a major capability play for Bridgestone, as we look to deliver on the sustainable solutions journey with products that will be incorporated with digital readiness.”
This second phase of the Bahia plant's expansion and modernisation will increase production capacity, creating 126 new permanent jobs. Tyre production will rise as a result of new manufacturing technologies and the expanding use of industry 4.0 principles, such as artificial intelligence control technology that boosts productivity and the use of knowledge and data in a digital manufacturing environment.
Bridgestone's Camaçari facility is prepared for increased demand for electric/hybrid and sustainable vehicles, as well as the high-performance tyres that go with them, in line with the company's objective of delivering social and customer value.
Bridgestone's Bahia facility, which opened in 2006, employs about 1,300 employees. It manufactures tyres for passenger vehicles, vans, and pickup trucks for the original equipment manufacturer, replacement, and export markets.
The Bahia plant achieved another milestone with its earlier expansion in 2016, undertaken 10 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 has another tyre facility in Santo André (SP), as well as two Bandag retread factories in Campinas (SP) and Mafra (SC).
Bridgestone’s latest investment in Brazil aligns with the Bridgestone E8 Commitment, which defines the eight values to which the company commits to co-creating together with society, its partners, and customers toward a sustainable society. This investment in manufacturing supports the “Extension” and “Economy” values of the Bridgestone E8 Commitment.
Source: Bridgestone
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