Bridgestone has declared its intention to “establish the status of being the undisputed world number one tyre and rubber company both in name and reality” by means of a new five-year plan unveiled on October 22. This mid-term management plan has been formulated through planning on the part of each of Bridgestone’s strategic business units to maximise use of all global business resources available to them, with these efforts supported by the company’s global management platform.

The intended result of this mid-term plan is an increase in net sales of almost 20 per cent (over its 2007 sales forecast) to 4 trillion yen (£17 billion) by 2012. These funds will be channelled into a number of areas, and to facilitate this Bridgestone will implement a number of key strategies based upon what it calls its “four fundamental management policies.” These strategies include reinforcing and adding value to product areas in which the company has “preceded its competitors”, including run-flat tyres, PCR UHP and winter tyres, as well as Greatec and low profile tyres for trucks and buses. The company also intends to “secure overwhelming competency to ensure long-term superiority” in the area of large OTR radial plus aircraft and motorcycle tyres. Furthermore, Bridgestone reports that “full use” will be made of Bridgestone Bandag, with package solutions being made available to customers in the truck and bus tyre business. This move will potentially see Bridgestone competing on a level in the retreading business previously solely enjoyed by arch rival Michelin, who to date has been the only new tyre manufacturer to market its retreaded products as a tyre option on par with its new tyre range.