Bridgestone launches Ecopia range of eco-friendly tyres in India
Published On 04-Jun-2016
Bridgestone India, a subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, has launched the Ecopia range of tyres that are engineered to increase fuel efficiency. According to the company, this goal is achieved by using a combination of light and strong materials. Under the Ecopia brand, the company has launched two tyres in 26 sizes initially, EP150 for passenger cars and EP850 for SUVs. Independent testing done by Bridgestone showed that Ecopia EP150 and Ecopia EP850 deliver 7 per cent and 10 per cent better fuel efficiency, respectively, when compared with conventional tyres. According to the company, the word Ecopia was coined from two words, Ecology and Utopia.
Speaking at the launch event, Kazuhiko Mimura, Managing Director of Bridgestone India Pvt. Ltd. said, "Bridgestone's environmental mission statement of 'To help ensure a healthy environment for current and future generations' is the driving force behind our launch of Ecopia in India. Through Ecopia's fuel-efficiency, Bridgestone can contribute towards the reduction of CO2 emissions in India, while enabling drivers in India achieve fuel savings. Apart from the increased fuel efficiency and being environment-friendly, Ecopia EP150 and EP850 are also designed to provide durability and excellent road handling performance."
[caption id="attachment_1746" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Bridgestone Ecopia Low Rolling Resistance Demonstration[/caption]
To meet the demands of various drivers, the Ecopia range of tyres utilises unique compounds and technologically-advanced tread design to strike a balance between fuel efficiency, safety, low rolling resistance and durability.
Shinichi Hanashi, CEO of Bridgestone Asia-Pacific Pvt. Ltd. said, "The rise in eco-consiousness, coupled with drivers seeking new ways of stretching their petrol dollar, has led Ecopia to receive growing interest from vehicle owners in the region since its introduction five years ago. As of April 2015, more than 10 million Ecopia tyres have been sold in the Asia-Pacific region. Achieving this milestone within such a short period of time indicates that Ecopia's offerings are in line with consumer demands and requirements."
"The launch of Ecopia in India is aligned with the Government of India's Make in India campaign for indigenization," he added.
The development of Ecopia tyres is in line with Bridgestone's global goal of improving tyre rolling resistance by 25 per cent by 2020 and its long term vision of achieving 50 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions by the year 2050.
Bridgestone claims that Ecopia tyres are:
- Good value for money
- Safe on roads with best-in-class wet handling
- Save about 80 litres of fuel per year
- Environment-friendly with low CO2 emissions