Firestone Archives - Page 37 of 54 - Tyrepress

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Firestone Helps Keep America Tidy

Firestone Tire & Service Centers helped to collect 1.2 million scrap tyres, fit for recycling, as part of Keep America Beautiful’s (KAB) Great American Cleanup.

“We wanted to build on last year’s success by helping Keep America Beautiful reach the 1 million tyre mark and continue increasing the recycling of used automotive batteries and engine oil,” said Larry Magee, CEO and president of BFRC. “Through the involvement of our teammates across the country, we not only met but surpassed this year’s goal. Firestone is proud to be a part of Keep America Beautiful’s efforts, and of our company’s track record in protecting the environment and helping strengthen our communities.”

22nd November 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Bidding War for NASCAR

Goodyear currently supplies tyres to NASCAR’s top three professional series through an exclusive contract the tyre manufacturer has until 2007. However there are reports that Bridgestone/Firestone and BF Goodrich are keen to launch a competitive bid for the contract when Goodyear’s agreement runs out.

27th October 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

US Ends Review of Firestone Tyres

The US’ National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has rejected requests to investigate Bridgestone Firestone Steeltex tyres, having found no evidence of defects or unusually high failure rates.

It was the third time in two years that the NHTSA rejected claims that millions of Steeltex tyres may be defective.

1st October 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone ups South African Shareholding

Bridgestone Corporation (Japan) has increased its shareholding in Bridgestone Firestone Maxiprest, its listed South African new tyre distributor and tyre management service provider. The increase will see Bridgestone’s stake rise from 66 to 70 per cent.

It is uncertain whether Bridgestone intends to increase this stake or make an offer to minority shareholders de-list the company. Takashi Wada, the chairman and chief executive of Bridgestone SA Holdings and chairman of Bridgestone Firestone Maxiprest, was unavailable for comment.

Gordon Sinclair, the company secretary at Bridgestone Firestone Maxiprest, commented said that “from his understanding” Bridgestone SA Holdings did not have any intention of increasing its stake in the company.

29th September 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Argentinean Labour Dispute Ends

The intervention of government officials has brought a yearlong labour dispute between Bridgestone/Firestone (BFS) Argentina and its workers to an end.

21st September 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone/Firestone Truck Hero Sought

Bridgestone/Firestone Canada Inc. is searching the highways for a driver worthy of the 50th Bridgestone/Firestone Canadian Truck Hero Award. The 2004 campaign was launched this week and will recognize a commercial truck driver who exhibits courage, quick thinking and integrity in the face of an emergency. Nominations must be received by October 15, 2004, writes Today’s Trucking from Canada.

17th September 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Firestone Distributes Touring Tyre

The new Lemans Champion PLE, an associate brand touring tyre, manufactured by Bridgestone Firestone North American, is now stocked at a selection of Firestone Tire & Service Centers and ExpertTire locations.

The T-speed rated tyre is available in 17 sizes, 70 – 55 Series, 13 – 16 inch. It features an ultra-wide tread for wet handling and comes with an 80,000-mile limited tread wear warranty.

It is available in a “serrated band” black sidewall option, with two sizes available in white stripe sidewalls. The tyre also features a UTQG rating of 640 for tread wear, an “A” for traction and “B” for temperature.

27th August 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Firestone Tyre Recall

Bridgestone Firestone North American is recalling 25,600 of its tyres. The ‘voluntary safety’ recall follows concerns that “a small percentage” of Dueler A/T 693 tyres, size LT285/75R16, load range D, imported into the US from Japan, could suffer belt detachment.

27th August 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Firestone Build Polish Plant

Firestone Industrial Products (FSIP), a business unit of BFS Diversified Products, LLC (BFDP), has announced that it will build a new manufacturing facility in Wolsztyn, Poland. The company’s recently formed Polish subsidiary, Firestone Industrial Products Poland, will produce air springs to support European demand from consumer and commercial vehicle original equipment manufacturers.

5th July 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Minekazu Fujimura named Chairman, CEO and President of BSEU

As from April 2004, Minekazu Fujimura has taken up the position of Chairman, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and President of Bridgestone Europe (BSEU).

13th May 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone To Raise North American Prices

Prices of Bridgestone, Firestone and Dayton brand tyres in the USA and Canada will be increased on June 1st. The price rises will affect both OE and replacement tyres and will be up to five per cent, although some off-the-road tyre prices could go up by eight per cent. The company says that it has taken steps to minimise the effects of rising raw material costs, but has been unable to offset them entirely, hence the price increase.

30th April 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Firestone Pulls Through

An article in the Detroit News holds up Firestone as a prime example of the “never say die” school. At the time of the tyre recall, the Firestone brand was considered by many to be dead in the water, but the company’s latest research shows that there’s life in the old dog yet. First quarter replacement market sales are up 15 per cent for passenger car and 28 per cent for light trucks against 1Q 2003 figures. Market share has stabilised at 7.2 per cent, which is lower than the 1999 figure of 10.2 per cent, and the company says it is gaining consumer sales. As an indication of this new sense of optimism, the advertising budget has been quadrupled to $18 million and the first brand campaign in four years – including TV slots – is running. The adverts feature Firestone’s memorable “where the rubber meets the road” slogan (last used in 1988) and include an appearance by the famous racer Mario Andretti.

13th April 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

East African Community free trade threatens Firestone

The development of a free trade area by the EAC and the introduction of zero-rate tax on tractor tyres could eat into Firestone East Africa’s local market share according to local commentators. Further, a decision by the company to develop an equity retail chain is being met with resistance by the tyre trade. It is claimed that outgoing managing director Hiroshi Yamazaki had already expressed concerns that the new tariff decision by the government would severely affect the firm’s tractor tyre product line, which employs about 150 people. Sources said unless the firm improves its level of efficiency, monthly production capacities of 900 for tractor tyres and 2,500 for truck and bus tyres would fall. Even in Africa the market for light trucks and passenger vehicles has been facing heavy pricing pressures as a result of both the flooding of the local market by cheap imports and counterfeits.

6th April 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Six gone at Maxiprest Board

The resignation of six directors from Bridgestone Firestone Maxiprest cost the company some experience but that has been remedied by some new appointments. The company still, however, lacks an MD. The reasons for all the resignations are not clear, but at the bottom of it appears to be a rift between 66 per cent owner Bridgestone Firestone SA and the tyre supplier’s management.

5th April 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Maxiprest profits down in 2003

Bridgestone Firestone Maxiprest reports headline earnings per share of 1.4 cents for the year ended December – a sharp decline from earnings of 23.2 cents reported the previous year. The group reported a headline loss of 1.759 million Rand after a 21 million Rand profit the year before. At trading level, margins were maintained at 26 per cent, which was more than satisfactory given the pressure on pricing in the second half of the year end trading results from the African operations. The group said the results were impacted by charges approximating 24.6 million Rand relating to the strengthening on the Rand, the write-down of investments in African operations of 1.8 Rand and the provision for increased bad debt to 11.2 million Rand.

1st April 2004/by Tyrepress Editors