Bridgestone invests in Wuxi, China car tyre production lines

Bridgestone has committed to increase investment in China over the next three years. The investment amount is expected to be 562 million yuan (approximately £62.4 million; €73 million), which will be used to strengthen the construction of production bases and increase the production proportion of high-performance passenger car tyres.

Not long ago, Bridgestone decided to withdraw from the commercial vehicle tyre business in China and closed its production line in Shenyang, Liaoning. At that time, the tyre manufacturer stated that it would focus its strategic resources on the high-end passenger car tyre market, which is expected to achieve growth.

Specifically, Bridgestone plans to invest US$26 million in the Wuxi factory in 2024 for factory upgrades. After the upgrade, the production base will increase the production of tyres using Enliten technology. At the same time, Bridgestone’s Wuxi factory will also add a tyre production line equipped with B-Silent technology, and the annual tyre output is expected to reach 2 million.

In addition, to adapt to changes in demand in the Chinese tyre market, Bridgestone (Wuxi) has increased the size of its large rim diameter tyres to 21 inches. In other words, the 21-inch tyres sold in the Chinese market previously had to be imported. After the Wuxi factory is upgraded, independent production can be achieved.

As well as the Wuxi factory, Bridgestone has also increased investment in the Tianjin factory. At the end of 2023, the company decided to invest 54.73 million yuan (approximately £6.1 million; €7.1 million) to transform existing equipment in the Tianjin factory. The renovation project of the Tianjin factory is scheduled to be completed and put into production in August 2025.