Bridgestone

Brief Description:     The journey of Bridgestone Corporation began in 1930 when the Tire Division of Nihon Tabi Company, its predecessor, started producing the first tires. This initiative led to the formal establishment of Bridgestone Tire Co., Ltd. in 1931 by Shojiro Ishibashi in the city of Kurume, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan, marking the genesis of a 94-year legacy in the tire industry. Full-fledged tire production commenced at the newly constructed Kurume Plant in 1934, and by 1935, the company had diversified into the full-scale production of golf balls. In 1937, the head office was relocated from Kurume to Tokyo, a period which also saw the start of production for V-belts and rubber hoses, alongside trial production of vibration-damping rubber. A temporary name change to Nippon Tire Co., Ltd. occurred in 1942, reflecting the wartime era.     The post-war period saw significant developments, beginning with the company name reverting to Bridgestone Tire Co., Ltd. in 1951, a year that also marked the establishment of its company flag and the start of construction for the Bridgestone headquarters in Tokyo. By 1953, with sales surpassing 10 billion yen, Bridgestone had assumed the position of industry leader in Japan. The company celebrated its 25th anniversary in 1956 with a ceremony in Kurume and the generous donation of the Ishibashi Cultural Center, a comprehensive park, to the city. The 1960s were characterized by technological advancement and the initial steps towards internationalization. Bridgestone was listed on the Tokyo and Osaka stock exchanges in 1961. Key innovations followed, with the company announcing the successful development of Steel Rib tires in 1962—Japan's first steel radials for truck and bus use—and the completion of its Technical Center in Tokyo that same year. In 1964, Bridgestone developed Japan's first passenger vehicle radials. Its global expansion began with the Malaysia Plant, Bridgestone's first post-war overseas facility, commencing operations in 1965. The Bridgestone Tire Shop system was launched in Japan in 1967, the same year Bridgestone Tire Company of America Ltd. was established in Los Angeles to serve as its U.S. sales headquarters. This decade of progress was crowned in 1968 with the establishment of Bridgestone's enduring motto, "Serving society with superior quality," and its prestigious win of the Deming Application Prize.     The ensuing decades saw continued growth and strategic brand building. The first Bridgestone Golf Tournament, now known as the Bridgestone Open, was held in 1970. A significant moment of transition occurred in 1976 with the passing of founder Shojiro Ishibashi. The 1980s brought further retail innovation with the opening of the first store in the new Cockpit chain in Atsugi, Kanagawa Prefecture, in 1982, and the introduction of the pioneering Winter Radial 708 Studless tire in Japan that same year. A crucial step into North American manufacturing was taken in 1983 with the acquisition of Firestone's Nashville Plant, Bridgestone's first U.S. production facility. In 1984, Bridgestone Tire Co., Ltd. was renamed Bridgestone Corporation, adopting a new corporate logo and implementing a comprehensive corporate identity strategy to strengthen its presence both domestically and overseas and to enhance overall company quality. This period of strategic expansion culminated in the landmark 1988 merger with Firestone Tire & Rubber Company, then the second-largest U.S. tire maker, for US$2.6 billion.     The 1990s focused on global integration, further diversification, and achieving prominence in motorsports. In 1989, Firestone announced plans to merge with Bridgestone U.S.A. Inc., subsequently changing its name to Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc. To manage its growing European operations, Bridgestone/Firestone Europe S.A. was established in 1990. The company consolidated its sporting goods interests in 1993 by transferring businesses under its Sports Division to the newly formed Bridgestone Sports. Bridgestone/Firestone Europe S.A. commenced its sales and logistics operations in Europe in 1994. A significant return to the racetrack occurred in 1995 when Firestone re-entered Indy car racing and the Indianapolis 500® after a 20-year hiatus. Bridgestone itself made its debut in Formula 1® racing in 1997, achieving remarkable success in 1998 when the McLaren racing team's Mika Häkkinen, driving on Bridgestone tires, won the Japanese Grand Prix. This victory secured both the driver's and constructor's titles for Bridgestone for the first time in F1®. The decade concluded with the 1999 absorption of Bridgestone Metalpha Corp., a producer of steel tire cords, further integrating its supply chain.     Entering the new millennium, Bridgestone continued its focus on technological advancements, structural reforms, and setting a clear vision for the future. The year 2000 saw the completion of both a new Technical Center and the Yokohama Diversified Products Technical Center. In 2001, the Bridgestone Today Museum was completed in Kodaira, Tokyo; the company philosophy was reformed; and Bridgestone/Firestone undertook a major restructuring of its Americas businesses by transferring them to a holding-company structure (Bridgestone/Firestone Americas Holdings) and creating several spin-off companies. Founder Shojiro Ishibashi was posthumously inducted into the Japan Automotive Hall of Fame in 2002 and later into the Automotive Hall of Fame in the USA in 2006. A comprehensive management vision, brand vision, and environmental philosophy were established in 2002, followed by a safety declaration in 2003 and the reconstruction of its disaster prevention system. International expansion continued with the 2004 establishment of Bridgestone (China) Investment Co., Ltd., to manage sales, manufacturing, and R&D activities in China. In 2006, Bridgestone implemented a significant organizational reform consisting of Strategic Business Units (SBU), a Global Management Platform (GMP), and a Global Head Office (GHO) to streamline global operations. A major acquisition occurred in 2007 with Bandag, Inc., one of the world's leading tire retread businesses. The decade closed with the 2009 commencement of operations at the Kitakyushu Plant, its tenth tire plant in Japan.     In recent decades, Bridgestone has intensified its commitment to innovation, sustainability, and future-oriented solutions. To mark the 80th anniversary of the Bridgestone Group's founding in 2011, the Bridgestone symbol was refined, and its tagline was revised to "Your Journey, Our Passion." The Global Executive Committee (Global EXCO), the highest-level committee involved in the Bridgestone Group's business execution, was established in 2013. Bridgestone strengthened its global partnerships by becoming a Worldwide Olympic Partner in 2014 and subsequently a Worldwide Paralympic Partner in 2018. Technological advancements continued with the introduction of the EXAMATION tire assembling system at its Tatabánya Plant in Hungary in 2016 and the commencement of verification tests for its Tirematics™ fleet solution in Rio de Janeiro that same year. Key strategic commitments were also formalized: its global corporate social responsibility (CSR) commitment, “Our Way to Serve,” was redefined in 2017, followed in 2018 by the establishment of a “Global Sustainable Procurement Policy,” the "Bridgestone Group’s Global Human Rights Policy," and the "Bridgestone Code of Conduct." A significant move into digital fleet solutions occurred in 2019 with the acquisition of TomTom Telematics (now Webfleet Solutions), Europe’s largest provider in that space. Recent product innovations include the "Bridgestone MASTERCORE" line, introduced in 2020 to provide mine sites with customized tire performance. Looking towards the future of innovation, the Bridgestone Innovation Park commenced full-scale operation in 2022, dedicated to creating new value. This same year saw the pivotal establishment of its corporate commitment, the "Bridgestone E8 Commitment," designed to realize its long-term vision: "Toward 2050, Bridgestone continues to provide social value and customer value as a sustainable solutions company."

Year Founded: 1930

Main Products: Tires

Brand: Bridgestone

Country of Origin: Japan

Facebook Account: https://www.facebook.com/bridgestone

Website: https://www.bridgestone.com/

Address: 3 Chome-1-1 Kyobashi, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-0031, Japan

Contact No.: +81368363001

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