NASHVILLE, Tenn. (April 22)—Bridgestone/Firestone Mexico S.A. de C.V. celebrated the groundbreaking April 20 of a $220 million tire plant in Monterrey, Mexico.
The factory will be the first outside of Japan to use "BIRD"—or Bridgestone Innovating and Rational Development—Bridgestone Corp.'s automated tire production system. The plant will be operated by a new sister company, Bridgestone Neumaticos de Monterrey S.A. de C.V.
The Monterrey facility will produce high-performance, ultra-high performance and large rim diameter passenger and light truck tires, primarily for the North American market. The plant, Bridgestone's 49th globally and third in Mexico, will have a production capacity of about 8,000 tires per day and employ about 200 workers.