Tokyo (October 22, 2007) - Bridgestone Corporation announced today that it will expand production capacity at its new plant in Kitakyushu, which is planning to start operations in the second half of 2009, to meet increasing global demand of large and ultralarge off-the-road radial tires. In line with this, Bridgestone will also increase production capacity of steel cord for large and ultralarge off-the-road tires at the Saga Plant. Approximately ¥32.0 billion has been earmarked for the both projects.

The main applications for the large and ultralarge off-the-road tires will be mining and quarrying vehicles used around the world. Demand for those tires has been expanding significantly worldwide in step with increasing global production of mineral resources. Moving ahead, demand is expected to remain at a high level. Bridgestone announced at the end of last year its intention to construct a plant for large and ultralarge off-the-road tires in Kitakyushu. The decision to boost production capacity at the new plant was made based on projections of continued strong growth in demand. In support of this, Bridgestone will increase production capacity of steel cord for large and ultralarge off-the-road tires at the Saga Plant.

Bridgestone plans to increase production capacity in a stepwise manner. Expansion work will get underway in the second half of 2008, with production scheduled to begin in the second half of 2010. As a result, production capacity is projected to increase by around 50 tons of new rubber a day by the end of 2012, which will be up roughly 20% from the time the current expansion work is complete.