Based in Japan, Bridgestone Corporation is the world’s largest tyre and rubber company.
Bridgestone has committed to support the European Pact for Youth initiative, a mutual engagement of business leaders and the EU to develop and intensify business-education partnerships aimed at boosting youth employability and inclusion. The commitment was signed on 17 November by Franco Annunziato, chief executive officer and president of Bridgestone EMEA, at the Enterprise 2020 Summit in Brussels. Bridgestone also served as a summit sponsor.
Following the news in late September that Kenda received an investment license for setting up a tire factory in Vietnam, further attention has been cast on both the local tyre market and the country’s attractiveness to foreign tyre manufacturers.
Bridgestone has acquired a majority shareholding in Slovakian tyre retailer and retreader A.R.S. spol sro. The Japanese tyre major hasn’t disclosed how much it paid for its shareholding or what the post-transaction ownership structure of A.R.S. looks like, however it states that the deal will “guarantee the stable growth of A.R.S. and will give customers access to best quality products and highest level of services.” The former Michelin strategic partner’s eight service locations will now be rebranded under the ‘Bridgestone Partner’ name and its retreading operation joins Bridgestone’s Bandag network.
The EICMA International Motorcycle Show in Milan, Italy begins today, and Bridgestone is on hand with several premières. The tyre maker says the star of the show at its 178m² stand (Pavilion 24, stand M77) is the new Battlax Hypersport S21, which will be shown for the first time at EICMA 2015 and is on display fitted to the new-generation 1-litre Yamaha R1. Bridgestone is also presenting its latest flagship hypersport wet racing tyre, the Battlax Racing W01, for the first time ever.
LE Jones, one of the largest independent haulage companies in Wales, has signed a fleet tyre agreement with Bridgestone. According to the tyre maker, the premium M729 regional tyre will be used predominantly on 25 units and 50 trailers along with the RS01 (front steers), which were seen as perfect products – in the correct sizes – for the company’s transportation work.
Bridgestone has hosted customers and staff over three days at Mira, where the manufacturer presented its products through a series of driving experiences and displays. “Bridgestone World”, which also included Firestone brand products, comprised various wet handling and off-road driving experiences; a series of activities and displays, including Firestone’s music partnerships; Bridgestone’s sporting sponsorships in a specially created motocross area; and a Bridgestone Golf area.
Bridgestone has drawn on its wet weather tyre expertise to produce the Battlax Racing W01, which it describes as an “all-new flagship wet race tyre” and “one which is destined for the podium.”
At EICMA 2015, Bridgestone will unveil its new Battlax Hypersport S21 radial – a tyre that blends proven wet weather technology and innovative new features, giving impressive performance in all conditions and on all surfaces.
Bridgestone will be much in evidence at the EICMA 73rd International Motorcycle Show in Milan, Italy, from 19 to 22 November, with a 178m² stand. The company will display new products, innovations and the wide range of Battlax tyres for all types of riders and motorcycles and there will be world premières for two new tyres; the Battlax Hypersport S21, fitted on the stunning new 1-litre Yamaha R1, and the Battlax Racing W01, Bridgestone’s new flagship hypersport wet racing tyre.
Having reduced a field of 51 to 19, Auto Bild announced that three of the winter tyres tested had made it all the way to the top of the German magazine’s rankings, picking up “exemplary” ratings. Continental’s WinterContact TS 850, Pirelli’s Winter Snowcontrol Serie 3, and the Barum Polaris 3 were the best performers, according to Auto Bild’s testers, who ranked the tyres based on their performance on snowy, wet and dry roads and their cost. The tests were performed on a VW Polo, with the tyres sized 185/60R15 T.
A luxury coach hire company has opted to extend its tyre contract with Bridgestone by three years. The operators opted to extend a tri-party agreement along with Watling Tyres, who will manage the PPK contract and service each vehicle, fitting Bridgestone M788 products. The fleet comprises 61 coaches, running on 295/80 R22.5 and 315/80 R22.5 tyre sizes.
Triangle Tire’s Triangle Tire USA division is establishing its North American headquarters in Franklin, Tennessee. At the same time, the company announced that it has appointed ex-Bridgestone Americas executive Manny Cicero as its CEO. Following his time at Bridgestone, more recently Cicero has worked as an industry consultant.
Messe Essen’s Reifen show will be the epicentre of the global tyre industry from 24 to 27 May 2016. The event organiser has confirmed that the 20 largest tyre manufacturers in the world will be present, including key players such as Bridgestone, Continental, Cooper Tires, Goodyear, Falken Tyre Europe, Hankook, Maxxis, Michelin, Pirelli and Yokohama. The demand for stand space for workshop equipment providers is also growing, according to Messe Essen: Corghi, Rema Tip Top and Snap-on will all be amongst the exhibitors.
Bridgestone’s double victory at the NTDA Awards 2015 was labelled a “significant breakthrough for the business.” The world’s largest tyre manufacturer won both the Tyre Manufacturer of the Year and the Industry Marketing Campaign of the Year awards, presented at the Annual Dinner in early October. Bridgestone added that the awards pay “tribute to the giant strides made by its senior management team over the past 12 months.”
Bridgestone Americas, Inc. is to buy large US tyre retailer The Pep Boys – Manny, Moe & Jack in an US$835 million all-cash deal. The transaction will be executed by Bridgestone Retail Operations, LLC (BSRO), a wholly owned subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas and follows the signing of a merger agreement under which BSRO will pay $15.00 per share, a price that represents a premium of 23 per cent over Pep Boys’ closing price of $12.15 on 23 October 2015 and a premium of 62 per cent over Pep Boys’ pre-buyout speculation price of $9.25 on 19 May 2015.
If you would like the latest news from the Chinese tyre industry in Chinese, visit our partner site TyrepressChina.com. Or click below to continue on Tyrepress.