Bridgestone Announces Merger of India operations with EMEA SBU from 2020

Leading tire manufacturer, Bridgestone has announced that the company is merging its business in India with its Europe, Middle-East and Africa (EMEA) business from 2020 and separating the operations of its Indian subsidiary from its China Asia-Pacific strategic business unit.

According to Bridgestone, this step is meant to help the company to realize the untapped potential in both the India and EMEA markets. Bridgestone said that the integration of India business into the EMEA business is the outcome of the changes made in the EMEA business to leverage the advantages that digitalization offers.

From January 1, Bridgestone India will be transferred from the China Asia-Pacific SBU to the EMEA SBU with the outcome that the Bridgestone Europe, Russia, Middle East and Africa (BSEMEA) will become Bridgestone Europe, Russia, the Middle East, India and Africa (BSEMIA).

Bridgestone has three strategic business units spread across the globe and in addition to the newly renamed BSEMIA SBU. They include its SBU’s in Japan, the Americas and the China Asia-Pacific region.

Bridgestone’s business in India will become a part of the company’s recently announced EMs division, along with its businesses in Africa, the Middle East, and Russia.

Commenting on the reorganization, Paolo Ferrari, chief executive officer and president for EMEA, Bridgestone said that India is a market that offers huge potential and Bridgestone India can pass on huge learnings to the current Bridgestone EMEA, and vice versa. He said that the his team is committed to working with India to position Bridgestone as a leading mobility solutions provider across all three continents that the SBU will operate in.

Despite the reorganization, Parag Satpute will continue to helm Bridgestone’s business in India as its managing director.

The Indian automotive and tire market has grown at an exponential rate and hence offers great opportunity in terms of retail, internet sales, original equipment after-sales, and, especially, fleets spaces. According to a release from Bridgestone, the company felt that these opportunities can be realized better when its operations in India are paired with Bridgestone EMEAs experience and expertise.

Likewise, EMEAs digital transformation can be further reinforced by India’s tech skills and IT know-how.

“This integration will enable Bridgestone India to offer Indian consumers convenience, efficiency and sustainability through mobility solutions. It will also speed up bringing new business models. With our manufacturing footprint and ongoing investments, we are a part committed to the Make in India movement,” said Satpute.

He concluded by saying that the realignment would allow the tire manufacturer to leverage greater insights from some of the evolved and mature automotive markets and thus give it access to newer learning in the retail, internet sales and original equipment after-sales, in particular.