Bridgestone Corporation expects aggressive growth in China this year, regardless of how the country’s currency sits against the US dollar. Sales of cars, SUVs, buses and commercial trucks in China are expected to exceed 2008 levels by more than 10 per cent, according to Bridgestone China managing director Yujiro Kanahara.
In Japan, only 1.4 per cent of executives are women, so Sakie Fukushima’s rise to become the first woman ever to be elected to Bridgestone’s board of directors is gaining plenty of attention, not least from CNN, which describes the move as “breaking the ‘bamboo ceiling’”.
Working with local Chilean organisations and through the Embassy of Chile in Japan, the Bridgestone Group donated more than 11 million yen (£76,700, US$118,000) to support Chilean relief efforts following the earthquake that occurred on February 27, 2010. Bridgestone Corporation donated 3 million yen through the Chilean Embassy in Japan while its Bridgestone Americas subsidiary donated $50,000 (equivalent to 4.5 million yen) through Fundación Imagina. This organisation will use the funds to help build two new classrooms as part of its initiative to replace schools damaged during the earthquake. In addition, Bridgestone Americas’ subsidiary in Chile, Bridgestone Chile, S.A., provided aid equivalent to approximately $40,000 (equivalent to 3.6 million yen) by donating bags and school supplies through the Boy Scouts of Chile. In addition, through the scouting organisation, Bridgestone Chile donated 40,000 children’s toys collected from spectators at race events.
Engineering company Laursen & Toubro (L&T) and Japan-based Mitsibishi Heavy Industries (MHI) are reportedly planning to enter into a “heavy industrial tyre” joint venture in India. According to reports in India’s Business Standard, L&T has “initiated discussions with MHI to form a joint venture that would manufacture a wide range of heavy industrial tyres in the country.” Quoting a source close to the talks, the newspaper added: "This would bring in a good blend of high-technology from Japan and low-cost manufacturing from India. The JV would also help to create a great synergy in L&T's construction business."
Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations has notified the US National Highway Transport Safety Organisation that it intends to recall a total of some 768 non-compliant tyres imported from Japan between 2006 and February 2010. The offending items, Potenza RE050A, B390 and Turanza ER30 products, were manufactured for use on North American built vehicles intended for export markets and thus do not feature the DOT symbol and other labelling information legally required in the United States.
Belgium’s Prime Minister Yves Leterme has paid Bridgestone Corporation’s headquarters in Tokyo as part of his April 7 to 10 visit to Japan. During the visit, Mr. Leterme met with Shoshi Arakawa, Bridgestone’s chairman of the Board, CEO and president, and several other company executives.
The Hangzhou Yokohama Tire Co., Ltd factory in China’s Zhejiang province has become the first Yokohama Rubber site outside of Japan to achieve "complete zero emissions" status. After conducting on-site investigations of all contractors commissioned to dispose of waste from the passenger car tyre production plant and associated sales operation, Yokohama has verified that none of the waste is subject to direct landfill disposal.
The second phase of expansion planned for Bridgestone’s Kitakyushu factory in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan has begun three months ahead of schedule. In October 2007 Bridgestone Corporation announced a July 2010 date for the next stage of work on the facility, which has been producing large and ultra-large off-the-road radial tyres for construction and mining vehicles since June 2009. Increasing global demand for these large and ultra-large ORR tyres, however, has now seen preparations for second phase expansion plans accelerated and the start of work brought forward to April.
According to Wikipedia, April Fools' Day or All Fools' Day is a day celebrated in many countries on April 1. The day is marked by the commission of hoaxes and other practical jokes of varying sophistication on friends, family members, enemies, and neighbors, or sending them on a fool's errand, the aim of which is to embarrass the gullible. Traditionally, in some countries, such as the UK, Australia, Canada and South Africa the jokes only last until noon, and someone who plays a trick after noon is called an "April Fool". Elsewhere, such as in France, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Russia, The Netherlands, Brazil, and the U.S., the jokes last all day. The earliest recorded association between April 1 and foolishness can be found in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales (1392). Many writers suggest that the restoration of January 1 as New Year's Day the 16th century was responsible for the creation of the holiday, but this theory does not explain earlier references.
3.2 x 10-4 mbar x 1/s – get it? For those of use without an engineering degree – this is the value, which a VDH leak detection machine for aluminium wheels understands. Generally speaking: When exceeding this limit value of a leak rate, the wheel is considered leaky and is not allowed to be mounted on a car. 3.2 x 10-4 mbar x 1/s is the equivalent to an air loss of 0.2 bar within 6 months at a tyre pressure of 2 bar. This leak rate is the tolerance threshold, which is measured with a helium leak detection method. This is the latest technology.
Yokohama Rubber has raised its projections for consolidated net sales and earnings in the fiscal year to March 31, 2010. The company now projects a net income of 9.4 billion yen (£69.2 million), compared with a net loss of 5.7 billion yen in the previous fiscal year. It projects that operating income will rise 49.9 per cent to 19.2 billion yen (£141.3 million), and that net sales will decline 9.1 per cent, to 470.0 billion yen (£3.5 billion). The projection for net income is 34.3 per cent higher than the projection announced on October 30, 2009; the projection for operating income is 12.9 per cent higher; and the projection for net sales is 1.1 per cent higher.
Bridgestone UK’s commercial sales team has won a unique trip to Japan after it won the company’s European TBR Fleet Sales Award. According to a company press release, which congratulated the team on their achievements, the UK market leader has dominated the awards with three of the six winners coming from Bridgestone UK. 161 applications were received for the incentive that was designed to motivate the fleet staff and help them exchange best practice to share with the Bridgestone European sales team.
Bridgestone UK winners Simon Cairns, Steve Miller and Neil Collison are flying out to visit Bridgestone’s Head Office in Tokyo this month. As well as getting the chance to observe how the brand operates in Japan, with a trip to the manufacturing plant at Tochigi, the proving ground and a visit to a Japanese Fleet Operator, the trio will also have a chance to experience the local culture.
On March 30, the role of CEO and president of Bridgestone Europe will be handed over to Makio Ohashi. The 30-year Bridgestone veteran succeeds Toro Tsuda, who currently holds the position of chairman, CEO and President of Bridgestone Europe. Upon his return to Japan, Tsuda will take on the position of vice president and senior officer of Bridgestone Corporation.
The 2010 model Nissan Micra was displayed at the recent Geneva Motor Show and will eventually be sold in 160 countries. Production of the all-new small car, known as the March in some markets, commenced in Thailand on March 12. Tyre manufacturer Maxxis states it is “proud to supply original equipment tyres for this fine Nissan model” in the Thailand and Japan markets.
Bridgestone reports the reaching of a noteworthy milestone during the past year – the production of the 150 millionth Blizzak studless winter tyre. The brand was introduced in 1988 and the name is applied to passenger car, light commercial vehicle and 4×4 tyre ranges manufactured in Japan, Europe and Turkey. The range was introduced into North America in 1992 and Europe in 1994. The 100 millionth tyre was produced in 2004, and last year more than ten million Blizzaks were produced worldwide.
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