Bridgestone’s India plans receive a boost

Not to be pushed to the background after Michelin’s ambitious $866Mn plan, Bridgestone India has announced that it is expanding its manufacturing capacity and dealer network in India to achieve its target market share of 33%.

Bridgestone’s Asia Pacific general manager for consumer marketing Yoshihiro Tanabe said, “The Indian market is our top priority in the Asia-Pacific region. We are going to put more focus on the Indian market than ever and are considering and discussing many possibilities for expansion.”

Bridgestone will invest Rs 259 crore to expand its Pithampur facility (near Indore) to increase production by 40% to 15,000 tyres a day by mid-2010. Bridgestone will recruit 300 more workers and add 300 dealers to its existing 2000 strong dealer network. Bridgestone India senior deputy general manager, marketing Vaibhav Saraf said, “The global meltdown has not affected India as much as it hurt the Western economies. Demand is growing and so we want to capture more than one-third of its passenger car market by 2012.”

Bridgestone will bring its new range of radials namely the Turanza GR-90, Pilot Sport and the Adrenaline Potenza RE001 to cater to the premium car and SUV market in 2010.

Press Release

“Bridgestone rank India as “Top” Asia-Pacific PriorityUps capacity by 40%

Mumbai November 18, 2009- Leading Japanese tyre-maker Bridgestone Corporation wants to capture a third of the growing passenger car market in India and is currently ramping up manufacturing capacity and dealership network across the country.The world’s largest tyre and rubber manufacturer has identified India as a significant growth market in the Asia-Pacific region, but has, however, adopted a wait-and-wait policy on expansion in the US and Europe.”The Indian market is our top priority in the Asia-Pacific region. We are going to put more focus on the Indian market than ever and are considering and discussing many possibilities for expansion,” as commented by Bridgestone Asia Pacific General Manager for Consumer Marketing Department Mr. Yoshihiro Tanabe

The company has a production facility at Pithampur near Indore and has announced an investment of Rs 259 crore for expansion. This will increase production capacity by over 40 per cent to 15,000 tyres per day by the middle of next year.Bridgestone will also hire 300 more people as part of the expansion plan in the country.The Tokyo-listed company also plans to have a dealership network of around 2,300 in the next three years from the existing 2,000-odd dealers, Bridgestone India Senior Deputy General Manager for Marketing Vaibhav Saraf said.”The global meltdown has not affected India as much as it hurt the Western economies. Demand is growing and so we want to capture more than one-third of its passenger car market by 2012,” Saraf said.

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