Based in Japan, Bridgestone Corporation is the world’s largest tyre and rubber company.
During the Smithers Recovered Carbon Black conference, which took place in Berlin in November, Bridgestone and Michelin jointly shared the results of efforts to develop a global standard to increase the utilisation of recovered carbon black in tyres. Click here to read or download Bridgestone and Michelin’s rCB grades and specifications proposal presentation.
Bridgestone Mobility Solutions, a Business Unit of Bridgestone EMIA, and Bia, a software company that has built a platform to forecast, monitor and optimise electric vehicle (EV) charging, have formed a partnership to help power and optimise fleet electrification. This partnership includes Bridgestone Mobility Solution’s investment of an undisclosed sum in Bia.
Solar rooftop panels installed upon Bridgestone’s Nong Khae plant in Thailand’s Saraburi province will directly power the tyre production process. The equipment installed at the Thai Bridgestone Co., Ltd., facility is the largest solar rooftop panel in use across the Bridgestone Group and has a total capacity of 9.95 MWp.
ETB Autocentres has introduced a number of retail deals and initiatives to help motorists in the difficult economic climate. The 43-branch network, with sites in the Midlands, Wales and the South West, is offering free brake pads, Amazon gift vouchers and winter safety kits. It is also conducting daily competitor price checks, as well as offering flexible payment plans, acknowledging that automotive work is often an unexpected expense.
As 2022 draws to a close, Bridgestone representatives reflected on the highlights of a “memorable” 2022, including: strategic appointments, commercial vehicle tyre and fleet developments, and numerous award wins.
On 30 November 2022 Automobili Lamborghini launched its unconventionally rally-equipped Huracán Sterrato at Art Basel, Miami Beach. Compared with the Huracán EVO, the Sterrato comes with an updated version of the LDVI (Lamborghini Integrated Vehicle Dynamics) system, with specific strada and sport calibrations, and bringing the rally mode for low-grip conditions to the Huracán line for the first time. It is also exclusively factory fitted with Bridgestone tyres.
Days after announcing that its Alenza is an original equipment fitment on the all-electric BMW iX, Bridgestone shares that the fifth generation Lexus RX will also roll on these tyres. Lexus will equip models of the hybrid SUV sold in Europe and Japan with Alenza 001 tyres, while Bridgestone will supply the Alenza Sport A/S for versions of the Lexus RX sold in North America.
Bridgestone reports that it has applied its electric mobility expertise to the development of bespoke tyres for the BMW iX, the company’s first all-electric vehicle since its pioneering BMW i3. According to the tyremaker, the ultra-low rolling resistance Bridgestone Alenza tyres feature a host of cutting-edge technologies.
Bridgestone Americas will invest an additional $190 million to renovate and expand its Costa Rican tyre manufacturing operations. The newly announced funds extend the existing plan to invest $60 million in Belén de Heredia by 2026. Bridgestone will increase its production capacity by 36 per cent, adding more than 160 new permanent jobs.
Masahiro Higashi, the Bridgestone Corporation chief operating officer with responsibility for the company’s business in Japan and its Bridgestone Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. (BSCAP) business unit, will from 1 January 2023 additionally take on chairmanship of BSCAP.
Global tyre businesses have exited the Russian tyre business as a direct consequence of the Russian government’s decision to invade Ukraine. We all knew this was coming, following initial announcements from the likes of Michelin, Bridgestone and Nokian along those lines in the second quarter of 2022. However, the news that Nokian sold its much-lauded St. Petersburg operation to Tatneft at the end of October indicates that the exodus is underway. And that, in turn, means significant tyre production capacity within Russia has changed hands, something that has an inevitable impact on those departing, those remaining and the wider tyre business. In this column, we take a look at how Michelin, Bridgestone and Nokian have been negotiating their respective exits from Russia and ask what it might mean for the future.
Following its decision in March to suspend all manufacturing activities in Russia, Bridgestone has officially initiated the process of finding a local buyer for its Russian assets. The process of finding a buyer and closing any subsequent deal is expected to take “several months”.
Bridgestone’s ultra-high performance tyre, the Potenza Sport, has received more acclaim for the manufacturer, as its adrenalin fuelled marketing campaign was made Industry Marketing Campaign of the Year at the NTDA’s Tyre Industry Awards. Bridgestone targeted its 1 April to 30 June campaign at consumers making more informed decisions than the average tyre buyer, addressing their passion for driving.
Passenger car and light truck (PCLT) tyre production trends in Western Europe have been scaling down over the long-term. The move to larger production facilities in the comparatively low-cost labour markets in Eastern Europe, or greater reliance on imports from Asia, has seen a steady stream of plant closures and conversions to speciality, short-run production capacity – on in the case of Cooper Tire’s UK plant, for example, one followed by the other – in the region. A new assessment of the most recent three-year period by tyre industry analyst Astutus Research suggests that the overall picture has been of a decline similar to the period following the 2008 financial crisis, which was itself a catalyst for this trend. Yet digging a little deeper into the figures shows several dynamics at play in European PCLT tyre production, including supply chain disruption and spiralling energy costs. For comprehensive analysis of global tyre market trends, a series of reports by Astutus Research are available to buy now in the Tyrepress Reports Shop – click here for more details.
Bridgestone has launched the new Duravis Van tyre, a premium summer tyre for light commercial vehicles (LCV). The manufacturer says the tyre has been designed to minimise the total cost of ownership to van fleet operators. The tyre is also suitable for fitment on electric vehicles. TÜV SÜD testing shows the tyre offers “best in class” mileage and braking in wet and dry conditions, Bridgestone adds. The tyre was developed at the European R&D Centre and will be available in 26 sizes from January 2023.
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