Bridgestone to expand US tire production in response to auto tariff pressure

Tokyo – Bridgestone Corp. is planning to maximise the utilisation of its existing assets in the US in response to a 25% auto parts import duty which came into effect 3 May.

As part of the move, the Japanese group will increase production capacity in the US by 2 million units by 2027, said Bridgestone in a 15 May first quarter results.

This will involve “a small investment” at the group’s production facility in Aiken, South Carolina and improved productivity at its Wilson facility in North Carolina.

Both factories produce passenger car radiat (PCR) and truck & bus radial (TBR) tires.

The company also intends to optimise PCR tire manufacturing across North America, “maximising” utilisation rates across facilities in Mexico and Canada and enhance productivity to mitigate the impact of US tariffs.

Bridgestone said it intended to “maintain or increase” local production to be able to supply 60% of its PCR and 70% of its TBR tire demand in the US from facilities in the country.

Overall, the group aims to meet 90% of PCR demand and 80% of TBR supply in the US through its production footprint across North and South Americas.

The group is also planning to optimise the local sourcing of raw materials to 80–90%, excluding natural rubber which is not subject to tariffs. 

While Bridgestone did not report a direct impact of the tariffs on its first quarter results, it expects a Yen45 billion (€275 million) impact on its adjusted operating profit in 2025.

Bridgestone also noted that it had not incorporated a potential Yen20 billion impact from a possible recession in the US in its full-year guidance.