Bridgestone to sell locally made green tires in China

Bridgestone Corp. plans to enter the Chinese market for tires that boost car mileage, with those manufactured at two local plants to be sold through roughly 1,300 affiliated stores. The company contends that Chinese drivers have grown more conscious about fuel efficiency due to rising gas prices and the popularity of hybrids and other eco-friendly cars. The products the firm will sell in China feature about 30% less rolling resistance than ordinary tires, culminating in a roughly 4% improvement in fuel efficiency. (July 1, 2010)