Bridgestone to close South Africa tire plant

摘要

SOUTH AFRICA:Bridgestone Southern Africa(BSAF)is to close its 252-employee,bias-tire manufacturing plant in Port Elizabeth,South Africa,the Japanese group announced 20 Aug.The proposed restructuring move,it said,is in-line with parent group Bridgestone Corp.'s recently unveiled strategy to strengthen its core tire business through focus more heavily on premium,profitable growth segments.As part of the closure process,BSAF stated that it had initiated a'section 1 89'notice and a consultative process in compliance with South African employment regulations.Bridgestone's Port Elizabeth plant produces'unprofitable'bias tires,which are globally in decline and being phased out in South Africa,the company explained.