Based in Japan, Bridgestone Corporation is the world’s largest tyre and rubber company.
In the second quarter of 2014, Bridgestone managed to increase its turnover, and its operating profit even more so. And the figures for Europe were particularly noteworthy and show a continued improvement, even if they remain below company average.
It bears more than a passing resemblance to the M1 of three decades ago and represents something of a sea change in how hybrid vehicles are perceived by performance car fans; such is the popularity of the new BMW i8, UK stocks of the £95,000 supercar sold out within two weeks. New buyers have been informed they face a wait of up to ten months to receive their pride and joy.
One of Britain’s leading MotoGP stars, Bradley Smith has endorsed Bridgestone’s Battlax Hypersport S20 Evo in a new video made by the MotoGP tyre supplier. Bridgestone says the new sporty road tyre improves upon the performance and safety of the S20, with greater durability and stability. The tyre was unveiled at the Autódromo Internacional race circuit near Portimão, Portugal, with Monster Energy Tech 3 star, Smith allowed to get a feel for it on his Yamaha.
The Lexus NX has now been launched in Japan and it will be introduced in other markets in the coming months, reaching the UK in October. Bridgestone says its tyres have been homologated as an original equipment fitment for the crossover SUV; the Bridgestone Dueler H/L 33 will be fitted to the Lexus NX200ｔand NX300h in both the Japanese and other global markets. Lexus will receive the tyre in 225/60R18 100H for markets that include Japan, Europe, Australia and China, and in size 235/55R18 100V for markets that include Japan, Europe, Australia, North America and South Korea.
Bridgestone representatives at the launch of the new Firestone Destination HP SUV tyre in Valencia were particularly keen to stress the importance of the event beyond the product itself. While the product, representing an important segment for the company’s second line brand, provided plenty of the technological improvements usually expected of a new flagship tyre in metrics such as dry and wet braking, rolling resistance and noise, this was also a “rejuvenation” of a name that has kept a relatively lower profile outside USA in recent years.
Bridgestone is supplying National Tyres’ next generation of automotive apprentices with “tyre toolbags” for a second successive year. The manufacturer says it was keen to support the vocational offering by way of a branded holdall for each learner for another year, containing a wide range of equipment to assist in both the classroom and in-branch, after first hearing about National’s pioneering NVQ level 2 training courses in 2013.
Bridgestone has beaten Michelin and Pirelli to be named Australia’s ‘most trusted tyre brand’ in a survey carried out for Reader’s Digest Australia. The publication’s Trusted Brands 2014 survey rated brands in 46 categories on a scale of one to ten, and named one winner and two highly commended runners-up for each category.
Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations has rebranded its GCR Tires & Service division. The company says the effort signifies its pledge to be the “leading provider of commercial tyres and service in North America.” The rebranding includes the introduction of a new logo, which Bridgestone describes as “crisp, clean and colourful” and a “visual representation of GCR’s continued pledge and commitment to its customers.”
The world’s top golfers will once again descend on Akron in the US as the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational returns to the Firestone Country Club’s South Course between 31 July and 3 August. The WGC-Bridgestone Invitational is one of four in the WGC series, the international golf tournament organised by North American tour organiser PGA TOUR. The top players of the six major global tours – the PGA Tour, European Tour, Asian Tour, Japan Golf Tour, PGA Tour of Australasia, and Sunshine Tour – and players in the top 50 of the Official World Golf Rankings are eligible to compete in the tournament.
Although still one of Asia’s poorest nations, the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, or Burma, has began to forge links with its neighbours and the rest of the world since 2011. Last October, the country’s government relaxed restrictions on new vehicle imports, opening the door to overseas manufacturers. Tyre makers are establishing a presence in Myanmar, too: On 8 July, Bridgestone Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. announced the official opening of its Myanmar branch office in former capital Yangon. The office’s main function will be to gather information on the truck, bus, car manufacturing industries and tyre markets, as well as conduct related activities on behalf of the regional head office.
Bridgestone Americas reports that Kenneth Allen, president of Bridgestone Agricultural Tire, U.S. & Canada Commercial Tire Sales, retired on 30 June after leading the division for more than six years. Kurt Danielson, President, U.S. & Canada Commercial Tire Sales, is leading the division until a successor is named.
BKT Tires shares that Shawn Rasey joined the company on 1 July as president of the BKT Americas OTR division. The company says the move is “another step in our commitment to build a world class mining and construction OTR tyre business.”
The First Stop network began with the opening of two service centres in the UK in 1994, and over the following two decades grew into a pan-European retail chain boasting almost 2,000 outlets in 25 countries. On its website, First Stop says this “success story continues”, however in one market the network’s presence may soon suffer a hefty setback. Our German sister magazine Neue Reifenzeitung reports that First Stop has commenced a restructuring and consolidation programme in Germany, and in a worst case scenario this could lead to the closure of up to 21 Bridgestone-owned First Stop centres in the country – out of a total of 64 – before the end of this year. This potential slashing of numbers follows the closure of five outlets in 2013. Neue Reifenzeitung notes that at present no concrete plans regarding branch closures have been announced, and it is not yet clear which 21 of the 64 outlets are threatened.
As of 1 July, former Bridgestone UK consumer sales director Brett Emerson will join Hankook Tyre UK as sales director. In his new role, Emerson will oversee all business development for Hankook’s commercial and car tyre businesses within the UK.
After a sojourn in Europe lasting almost four years, on 1 July Mitsuhira Shimazaki will return to Japan and take over responsibility for Bridgestone’s International Tire Business Operations. His successor has yet to be named.
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