Bridgestone Americas is investing $164 million to expand the company's North Carolina passenger tire factory.
Bridgestone Americas spokeswoman Emily Richard said Tuesday the five-year process is not expected to increase employment but means a stronger future for the 42-year-old Wilson plant.
Bridgestone expects to add space and update machinery so that the plant increases production capacity of passenger and light-truck tires by 3,000 tires a day to 35,000 by 2018. The company expects to break ground within months.
North Carolina Commerce Department spokesman David Rhoades said Bridgestone's decision comes without any special tax breaks or other state incentives.
