Tokyo (March 30, 2010) - Bridgestone Corporation announced that its subsidiary in India, Bridgestone India Private Ltd., will establish a new plant near the city of Pune, Maharashtra State. This new plant will begin passenger car radial tire (PSR) production and truck and bus radial tire (TBR) production in response to increasing demand for these tires in India, which is seeing marked economic growth. Total investment will be approximately ¥50 billion. PSR production is scheduled to begin in January 2013, and TBR production is scheduled to begin in August 2013. By year-end 2020, production capacity is slated to reach approximately 10,000 units per day for PSR and 3,000 units per day for TBR.

Tire demand in India is expected to grow significantly as automotive production and unit sales increase in step with the expansion of road infrastructure that is the result of economic growth. The Bridgestone Group began PSR production at its Indore Plant in 1998 and plans to commence TBR production at that plant in 2011. However, the Group has now determined that the establishment of a new plant is necessary in order to further strengthen its supply system in India. The new plant will be built in an industrial estate near Pune and will have an excellent access to major cities, as it is located 170 km southeast of Mumbai. Deliveries to our customers will be enhanced and made easier.

Responding rapidly to market trends, the Bridgestone Group will continue to build production systems that will supply high-quality products to satisfy demand on a global basis.

The following is a summary of Bridgestone Corporation’s subsidiary in India.

1. Company name: Bridgestone India Private Ltd.
2. Representative: Hiromi Tanigawa
3. Location: Pithampur Industrial Area, near Indore, Madhya Pradesh State
                    (610 km northeast of Mumbai, 800 km south of New Delhi)
4. Date of establishment: February 1996
5. Capital: 2,753 million Indian rupees
6. Equity ownership: Wholly owned subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation
7. Number of employees: Approximately 1,280 (as of December 31, 2009)

Further, the following is a summary of the new plant.

1. Planned site for construction of plant:
   Chakan Industrial Area, near Pune, Maharashtra State
2. Start of production: Planned by January 2013 for PSR, August 2013 for TBR
3. Site area: Approximately 770,000 square meters
4. Anticipated production capacity:
   PSR-Approximately 10,000 units per day, TBR-Approximately 3,000 units per day
   (Planned by the end of 2020)
5. Investment: Approximately ¥50 billion