Bridgestone/Firestone begins production in Poland

POZNAN, Poland (Jan. 19)—Bridgestone/Firestone Poland L.L.C. has begun commercial production of car and light truck tires at its new plant in Poznan, six months ahead of schedule. The company, a joint venture between Bridgestone Corp. and Stomil Poznan A.S., has been in trial production since June 1999. It starts regular production with 300 employees and a daily output of 6,000 units, Bridgestone said. Capacity should increase to 10,000 units a day by year-end 2001, the company said.