TOKYO, Aug 22: Bridgestone Corp. said on Wednesday it would invest nearly $200 million to expand tyre factories in India, where more motorists are taking to the road, and in production hub Indonesia.

The Japanese company said it aimed to boost production of tyres for cars and light trucks at a plant in the central Indian city of Indore from 4,500 tyres a day to 15,000 daily in 2010.

“The economy in India is currently expanding rapidly and the number of automobiles owned is increasing,” said a statement by Bridgestone, which vies with France’s Michelin to be the world’s number one tyre maker.

It said it would invest six billion yen ($52.3 million) to add to the Indore plant.

Bridgestone said it would also invest 15.5 billion yen ($135.2 million) to increase production of high-performance tyres at the Karawang plant on the Indonesian island of Java. —AFP