Based in Japan, Bridgestone Corporation is the world’s largest tyre and rubber company.
Brisa Bridgestone Sabancı Lastik Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş. (Brisa), the joint venture company run by Bridgestone Corporation and Turkey’s Sabancı Holding, is evaluating potential sites within the country for a second factory. Brisa intends to construct a passenger car radial factory to complement the company’s existing passenger car, bus and truck radial plant in İzmit, which entered volume production in 1990.
Bridgestone has announced the winner of what it describes as the brand’s biggest UK competition. Warwick motorist Tony Hamilton beat 1,218 other entrants to win an £8,000 Volkswagen Up! hatchback. He was automatically entered into the draw when he purchased a set of Bridgestone tyres from his local Britannia Tyres centre in Nuneaton. Bridgestone’s sales development executive Phil Berry said: “The competition exceeded all of our expectations, so much so that we extended it for a third month over the summer to cater for demand.
Deutsche Bank’s decision to downgrade its advice rating for Bridgestone shares from “buy” to “hold” on 12 September resulted in a 1.4 per cent fall in the Japanese tyre manufacturer’s share price to 3,430 yen in response to the report.
Bridgestone Australia states it has relinquished its Australian Tyre Industry Council (ATIC) membership for “a variety of business reasons pertaining to the operation of the Council.” No further details explaining the tyre firm’s differences with the ATIC have been given.
A leading player in the UK commercial vehicle tyre market, Bridgestone is about to embark on what it says is “the most important product launch from Bridgestone for many years”, when it introduces a new, user-friendly naming protocol for its line of regional TBRs. Product and marketing manager Andy Mathias spoke to Tyrepress about the questions currently posed by the UK CV tyre market, the manufacturer’s new tyres, and why he believes its “true fleet tyre solution offer” will continue to provide “compelling business opportunities” in the truck market.
Jiangxi Black Cat Carbon Black (Black Cat Inc.) reports that exports are growing fast after the firm redoubled efforts to improve “product quality, technology innovation” as well as expanding cooperation with certain leading international companies such as Bridgestone and Michelin.
Bridgestone has developed a new super sports car tyre, the Potenza S007, as original equipment for the 2013 Ferrari F12berlinetta. The tyre size is 255/35 ZR 20 and the S007 will be fitted on the F12berlinetta in conventional and Run-Flat Technology tyres.
Bridgestone has announced its dual strategic intentions for its stand at the 65th International Motor Show for Cars in Frankfurt. The manufacturer will divide its stand between a “current zone” with its “Everywhere” brand marketing platform and premium tyre range, and a “future zone”, which will focus on concept tyres, including one made with “100 per cent sustainable material”. The show takes place on 10-22 September, and Bridgestone Europe’s 320m² stand will be located at D03 in Hall 8.
Bridgestone is sponsoring Warwick resident Anna Turney’s bid to become a paralympian, after she enquired about a set of winter tyres. The leading manufacturer agreed to sponsor Turney’s preparations to qualify for the Paralympic Games in Russia next year, where she hopes to represent Great Britain in a number of Alpine Skiing events. She said the partnership would make a huge difference to her chances, with funding going towards an intensive training programme in the run-up to the games in March.
Bridgestone Americas’ new contract with the United Steelworkers of America was ratified earlier this month, and now it’s the turn of workers at six Goodyear Tire & Rubber plants in the US to give their deal the thumbs up. Workers at Goodyear’s Tonawanda plant, the last to ratify the deal, voted in favour of the four-year contract on 22 August; the USW union says that said members across the six plants approved the deal by a 3-to-1 margin.
Bridgestone’s subsidiary on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, PT Bridgestone Sumatra Rubber Estate, will enter into trading contracts with local rubber farmers; it is said these contracts will promote cooperation between the farmers and Bridgestone Sumatra Rubber Estate.
Bridgestone has donated a number of ‘tyre toolbags’ to help a number of talented automotive apprentices progress as part of National Tyres and Autocare’s ‘Foundation Modern Apprentice’ scheme, which includes NVQ level two training courses. Bridgestone’s support comes in the form of a branded hold-all for each learner containing a wide range of equipment to assist in both the classroom and in branch.
Between 6 and 13 October, the World Solar Challenge 2013 will take place in Australia, and Bridgestone has signed up as title sponsor. This will be the 12th time the competition has taken place since 1987, and the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge 2013 will see a record 45 teams from 26 countries compete in a 3000-kilometre cross-country race using only solar energy to power the vehicles. The event will feature three separate classes – Adventure Class, which will showcase cars built for previous events; Cruiser Class, which will be judged by design practicality, and Challenger Class, which will compete for the title of the world's most efficient solar car.
Bridgestone Europe has launched a new website focused on the Firestone agricultural tyre range. The site is aimed at end-users, agricultural dealers and tyre professionals, and Bridgestone says it has been created “with user experience firmly in mind.” The www.firestone.eu/agri/ site is available in 18 European languages and is compatible with tablets and smartphones.
Operations at Bridgestone Asia Pacific’s new technical centre are now underway following its official opening on 13 August. During the opening ceremony, Bridgestone’s senior vice-president Yoshiyuki Morimoto stated that the new Bridgestone Asia Pacific Technical Center – the Japanese company’s first in the region, excluding Japan and China – will provide technical support across the region and will enable Bridgestone to more quickly respond to customer needs.
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