From Tire Review
            
Bridgestone Tyres India said that the current slowdown in the commercial vehicles segment in India has influenced the company’s OEM sales. Yet, the sales in the replacement tire market had registered a slow growth.
 
Tomio Fukuzumi, managing director for Bridgestone Tyres India, said that several factors such as political instability and the ensuing parliament elections have led to a slowdown in sales. He declined to share any company sales figures during the slowdown period.
 
Fukuzumi launched the company’s first super concept store at New Bharath Tyres India Wednesday. He said the concept store is a unique retail concept introduced as part of the company’s expansion strategy that aims to revolutionize the tire buying experience with a focus on safety, reliability and eco-friendliness.
 
With the objective of introducing these concept stores across the country, Fukuzumi said the company has plans to increase the number from 40 to 48 nationally by the end of the year.
 
Fukuzumi said the company is depending on both import as well as the domestic market for natural rubber to meet its production needs. The production capacity in the two Indian plants together put at 30,000 units per day, which consists of passenger cars, trucks and bus tires.