Tyre Industry

Bridgestone Increases Production Capacity in Thailand

Bridgestone Corporation has announced that it will invest $200 million through early 2014 to expand production capacity at its truck tyre plant at Chonburi, Thailand.

To meet growing demand for radial truck and bus tyres, Bridgestone will increase daily production at the Chonburi plant by more than 30 percent to 10,500 units.

The Chonburi plant opened in 2004 as a base for exporting radial truck and bus tyres to the Americas, Europe and nearby Asian countries. It opened with 2,500 units of daily capacity and has grown to 8,000 tyres a day in the intervening six years.

Currently occupying a 150 acre plot and employing 1,400 people, the Chonburi plant is one of two factories Bridgestone operates in Thailand. The other factory – for car and light truck tyres – in Nong Khae will also be expanded with Bridgestone recently committing $255 million to increase daily capacity by 37 percent to 50,000 tyres.

These investments indicate that Bridgestone is well positioned to respond to rapidly changing market trends, and will continue to build or expand production facilities as necessary to meet worldwide demand for high-quality tyres.

Tags: Chonburi, Thailand