AIKEN, S.C. — The recently completed Cash for Clunkers program apparently had a positive impact on U.S. tire production. 
A report by a local television station indicated that Bridgestone Americas OE tire plant in Aiken, S.C., saw a sharp increase in production, at least part of which was attributed to the auto sales stimulus program.
Aiken plant manager John Stewart told the station that the plant is moving toward full production – an estimated 25,000 tires per day – well above the plant’s low point last December when production fell to 11,000 tires per day.
“We knew it would be big,” Stewart told the station, “because you’re talking about a quarter of a million new vehicles being produced, and we’d have a good chunk of that, but when they came back with the second round of cash for clunkers, that stimulated it even more.“
Cash for Clunkers wasn’t the only event that boosted production, he noted. “I’d say about half of it is the Cash for Clunkers program, and the other half would be people delayed buying those replacement tires, and they have to go buy them so that’s helped us out on the other side as well.”
Stewart said that business at the plant has slowly picked up, and sees a brighter future. “We’ve got another six months to see how it’s going to turn out, but so far it looks really good,” he said. (Tire Review)
