Bridgestone India, a group company of Bridgestone Corporation, Japan, has commemorated 30 years of operations in India.

Since its founding, Bridgestone Corporation has focused on expanding its overseas business, beginning with its entry into the Asian market. Today, the company supplies products and operates businesses rooted in local communities across more than 150 countries.

Bridgestone India marked the milestone with a commemorative ceremony in New Delhi, recognising the contributions of partners who have played a role in the company’s growth journey.

The event was attended by H.E. Mr ONO Keiichi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to India & the Kingdom of Bhutan, as Chief Guest. Representatives from leading global automotive manufacturers, supplier partners, industry leaders and government were also present and recognised for their longstanding partnership with and support for Bridgestone.

The celebration highlighted Bridgestone India’s focus on innovation, safety, quality, sustainability and customer-centric mobility solutions. It also recognised the wider stakeholder ecosystem that has supported the company’s growth and contribution to India’s automotive sector.

Bridgestone began operations in India in 1996 and started local manufacturing in 1998 at its first facility in Pithampur, Dhar District, Madhya Pradesh. Over the past three decades, Bridgestone India has developed into a significant pillar of Bridgestone Group’s global operations, serving customers through advanced manufacturing, a strong distribution network and premium products and solutions.

The celebration also reflected Bridgestone India’s vision of building a sustainable mobility future while strengthening partnerships across the automotive value chain. As it enters its next phase of growth, the company remains focused on advanced tyre technologies and mobility solutions that support safer, more efficient and sustainable transportation.

H E Mr ONO Keiichi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to India & the Kingdom of Bhutan, said, “Bridgestone India's 30-year journey is not merely the story of the growth of a company; it is also a symbol of the success of Japan–India economic cooperation. Since its establishment in 1996, the company has grown alongside the Indian market and has made significant contributions to India's industrial development and the evolution of mobility through its investments in plants in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.”

Ankit Asthana, IAS, Additional Managing Director, Madhya Pradesh Industrial Development Corporation, said, “The story of Bridgestone in Madhya Pradesh is not merely the success of one company; it is an example of how visionary corporate leadership and responsive governance can together create lasting economic and social value. This collaboration has not only contributed to the company’s growth but has also strengthened the industrial ecosystem of our state by generating employment, supporting ancillary industries, and promoting responsible manufacturing.”

Nobuyuki Tamura, Member of the Board, Representative Executive Officer, EAST CEO, Bridgestone Corporation, said, “The first thirty years established a strong foundation, and the next thirty years will create new possibilities. Throughout our journey in India, we have remained guided by our Mission, ‘Serving Society with Superior Quality,’ and our commitment to creating value for society through safety, sustainability, innovation, and quality.”

He added that India plays a significant role in Bridgestone’s regional and global growth strategy. The company plans to strengthen its commitment to India through its previously announced passenger car tyre expansion plan, for which preparations are underway, while also enhancing its R&D capabilities to meet the increasingly sophisticated needs of the Indian market.

“Together with our partners and stakeholders, we will continue to innovate, grow, and contribute to a safer, more sustainable, and more connected future of mobility,” Tamura said.

Rajarshi Moitra, Managing Director, Bridgestone India, said, “Bridgestone India has contributed to India's growth through investment, employment generation, manufacturing excellence, technology development, local sourcing, and skill development.”

He added that the company’s next phase will focus on translating Bridgestone's global capabilities into locally relevant products and solutions, strengthening responsible manufacturing, deepening partnerships across the automotive value chain, and addressing the evolving needs of mobility, society and the environment.

Local manufacturing began in 1998 at the Pithampur plant, which became the foundation of Bridgestone’s manufacturing presence in India. The company expanded its footprint further in 2013 with a new plant in Chakan, Pune, strengthening its local manufacturing capabilities and building its presence across innovation and customer-focused offerings.