Based in Japan, Bridgestone Corporation is the world’s largest tyre and rubber company.
From 16 May, Augustin Pedroni will take on new responsibilities at Bridgestone. Ending his current role as Group President of Bridgestone Asia Pacific, India and China (BSAPIC), Pedroni will become President of Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations Latin America (BATO LA).
Bridgestone reports that BYD has chosen its Turanza T005 as the original equipment tyre for its new flagship model, the all-electric BYD Han L. Debuting in China this month, the Han L wears the Bridgestone tyre in size 245/45 R19.
A new performance tyre test by Tyre Reviews has made the new fifth-generation Pirelli P Zero PZ5 its highest recommendation, edging out the Continental SportContact 7, a perennial winner in the three years since its launch. The test endorses Pirelli’s claim that the fifth-generation product has added all-round capabilities to the PZ4’s specialism in handling, with additional wet grip, braking stability, and others. In addition to the Conti ultra-ultra-high performance (UUHP) product, Tyre Reviews tested premium contenders that have been among the best tyres in the segment for several years in the Bridgestone Potenza Sport, Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6, and Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S. The test also looked at the Falken Azenis FK520, the latest in a line of tyres that has seen the Sumitomo brand compete with the legacy premium brands, and the budget Sunny NA305. All tyres were tested on a VW Golf GTI mk8 in size 225/40 R18 92 Y.
Bridgestone Corporation shares news of its continued inclusion in three globally recognised environmental, social, and governance (ESG) indices: the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World), the FTSE4Good Index Series, and the MSCI ESG Leaders Indexes. Bridgestone has appeared in the DJSI World for three consecutive years since 2022, in the FTSE4Good Index Series for seven consecutive years since 2018, and in the MSCI ESG Leaders Indexes for two consecutive years since 2023.
After more than 12 years with the tyre maker, Jake Rønsholt has said goodbye to Bridgestone. He joined the company in autumn 2012 as General Manager Corporate & Brand Communication Europe and has held various positions of responsibility over the past dozen years. From 2020, he served as Vice President Strategy & Transformation for the EMEA region.
While yesterday, Goodyear’s double-digit share price increase was one of the very few examples of good news across the US stock markets, today the USA-based tyremaker has joined the rest of the global premium tyre manufacturing community in witnessing their stock prices slide. The primary cause was President Donald Trump’s wide-ranging tariff announcement[s]. And the secondary cause of Goodyear’s good fortunes was a pre-tariff-announcement confidence boost published by financial analysts.
President Trump has said for months that he will introduce swingeing tariffs in a bid to restore the economic fortunes of the United States of America. A large part of the rationale behind the tariffs is his strategy of supporting US manufacturing. If that is the case, Goodyear has benefitted too with its shares up as much as 14 per cent when trading opened on the morning of 3 April, before falling slightly afterwards. Whatever figure Goodyear stock closes at, it looks likely to be up in the double-digit or high single-digit range. And that stands in stark contrast to the rest of the top five global tyremakers, all of which were down single-digit percentages following the official announcement of Trump’s tariffs.
Bridgestone is expanding its Webfleet management solution with the introduction of the new flagship Driver Terminal, Pro X. Specifically designed for truck and van fleets, Bridgestone describes Pro X as a “rugged professional tablet” that comes with enhanced performance and quick access to Webfleet Work App and professional navigation.
Ex-Bridgestone executive Paolo Ferrari has joined Element Fleet Management Corp., purportedly the largest publicly traded automotive fleet manager in the world. Specifically, Ferrari has been nominated to stand for election to the company’s board of directors at its shareholder AGM on 2 May 2025.
Bridgestone Corporation is set to exhibit at the 40th Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, Colorado from Monday, 7 – 10 April 2025. Bridgestone’s exhibit will be in Japan’s Space Industry booth, organized by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Bridgestone will showcase two concept models of its second-generation lunar rover tyre. These models have been refined from the previous year’s model to feature lower weight, making them suitable for small and medium-sized lunar rovers. These exhibits will serve as a venue for expanding Bridgestone’s space business network and creating opportunities for co-creation.
Bridgestone Hispania Manufacturing has formally notified employee representatives of its intention to initiate a collective dismissal procedure. Plants being affected by this procedure are located in Puente San Miguel (Cantabria), an agricultural as well as truck and bus radial tyre plant, and Basauri (Basque Country), a truck and bus radial tyre plant. The news follows “the profound changes occurring in the European tyre market” and results in “the need to adapt the company’s production structure”, according to the company.
Bridgestone is getting behind a life-saving charity by fitting Turanza All Season 6 tyres to all consultants’ vehicles. As part of its ‘Become a Road Safety Hero’ campaign, Bridgestone is supporting Bristol and Avon-based Bravo Medics with all-season tyres to aid their critical first responder care for patients across Bristol, Bath, Somerset and South Gloucestershire.
This year’s FIM Endurance World Championship (EWC) begins during the Easter weekend. Bridgestone will continue its supply of Battlax tyres to competing teams, but instead of acting as sole tyre supplier to three teams as in 2024 and preceding years, in 2025 Bridgestone will exclusively supply five teams. The newcomers are the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team and Kawasaki Webike Trickstar.
Brett Emerson, who is currently Consumer Business Unit Director Bridgestone NV/SA (North Region) within Bridgestone EMIA has announced that he is bidding a fond farewell to the company for the third and final time, effective 31 March 2025.
In the USA, Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC (Bridgestone Americas) has recalled 1,185 of its R123 Ecopia radial commercial trailer tyres, designed for long-haul and regional applications. The reason? “A total of 24 tyres were manufactured with one of the three stabilizer ply belts applied in the wrong orientation”, according to official documents filed with US National Highway Transport Safety administration. The affected tyres, sized 295/75R22.5, were produced at the company’s LaVergne, Tennessee plant between 1 and 7 September 2024.
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Stephen Goodchild / Tyre Industry Publications Ltd
