Bridgestone Australia Expresses Regret over Goodyear Closure

Bridgestone Australia Ltd has expressed its regret that rival manufacturer Goodyear is ceasing tyre manufacturing in the country, a decision that leaves Bridgestone as the only tyre manufacturer operating in the Australia/New Zealand region.

“We understand the increasing challenges to Australian manufacturing,” said Mac Ohashi, Bridgestone Australia chairman and CEO. “However, Bridgestone remains committed to local tyre manufacturing and we are proud of providing quality Australian-made tyres to our customers.”

Bridgestone Australia is a subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation and entirely company owned since a May 2007 share buyback, and employs more than 1500 at facilities around Australia, including 600 at its major tyre manufacturing plant in Salisbury, South Australia. The company Bridgestone Australia Ltd. is a major supplier to vehicle manufacturers such as Holden, HSV, Kenworth and Volvo Trucks, and is a major tyre and service provider to most major transport operators and retails tyres through its own franchise channels – Bridgestone Select and Bridgestone Tyre Centres – as well as through other channels.