Bridgestone: new Japan plant starts ahead of schedule

Published: 16 Jun 2009 22:40:00 PST

TOKYO, June 17 - Bridgestone Corp, the world's top tyre maker, said on Wednesday its new factory in Japan has started production three months ahead of schedule as it sees solid demand for tyres used for mining and construction vehicles.

The plant, in Kyushu, western Japan, is the company's first tyre plant built in Japan in three decades. It is expected to reach a production capacity of 80 tonnes a day by the second half of 2012, the company said.

"Even during the current global economic recession, sales of Bridgestone large and ultralarge (off-road radial) tyres have remained stable," the firm said in a statement.