Bridgestone Canada Inc. plans to invest approximately $250 million to expand its Canadian passenger and light truck tire manufacturing facility in Joliette, Quebec.
The five-year investment will fund a multi-phase expansion to help the plant produce larger diameter tires that are in demand for pickup trucks and SUVs, as well as increase the facility’s productivity, Bridgestone said.
New equipment will also be phased in and the plant will increase its capacity by 3,000 tires per day to a daily production of 20,000 tires per day by 2023, the tiremaker adds.
“Our investment in updated equipment and improved manufacturing processes reflects our ongoing commitment to identifying new, cost-effective and innovative ways to serve consumers, dealers and original equipment manufacturers,” said Robert Verreault, Bridgestone’s Joliette plant manager. “Canada continues to represent an important market for our company, and this investment represents a tremendous opportunity for Bridgestone, Joliette, the Lanaudiere region and the North American markets by enhancing the long-term viability of this facility.”
Bridgestone expects to break ground on the expansion sometime this year, which also marks the facility’s 50th anniversary.