Bridgestone announced a new R$ 270 million investment in its plant in Camaçari, BA. It completed a total R$ 970 million since June 2021, when the company revealed its strategy to manufacture high-performance tires for passenger vehicles, SUVs and pickups in Brazil.
With growing sales in the segment, the company decided not only to modernize but also expand its plant in Bahia. Vicente Marino, president of Bridgestone Latin America, was at the official ceremony to announce the investment last Monday, 9/6, with Governor Rui Costa and members of the government’s State Secretariat.
“This new investment is part of our strategic sustainable growth plan in Brazil, focused on the premium tire market and the production of tires for more sustainable and electric/hybrid vehicles, strengthening our commitment and strategic positioning in the country for the company’s global business”, said Marinho.
The company did not reveal how much the production capacity would increase but vowed to create 126 new fixed jobs. Presently, the Camaçari plant, inaugurated in 2006, has 1.3 thousand employees. The company will adopt new manufacturing technologies to increase its offer to the Brazilian market, applying 4.0 industry concepts.
Among the novelties are technologies commanded by artificial intelligence, which improve productivity and use more knowledge and data in a digital production ambiance. “Bridgestone’s plant in Camaçari, aligned to the company’s vision to generate social value and focused on the customer, is preparing to meet the demand growth for electric/hybrid and sustainable vehicles and high-performance tires to equip them.
Currently, the plant in Bahia manufactures tires for passenger and utility vehicles and pickups for original, replacement and export equipment manufacturers. From 2006 through 2020, the Camaçari plant received investments amounting to R$ 1,5 billion. Bridgestone Brasil operates another tire plant in Santo André, SP, and two Bandag tire tread factories, in Campinas, SP, and Mafra, SC.
Photograph: Bridgestone
