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{{short description|Japanese multinational manufacturing corporation}}
{{Lead too short|date=February 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Bridgestone Corporation
| former_name = {{plainlist|
* Bridgestone Tire Co., Ltd. (1931{{En dash}}1942, 1951{{En dash}}1984)
* Nippon Tire Company (1942{{En dash}}1951)}}
| logo = Bridgestone logo.svg
| logo_caption = 
| image = Bridgestone headquarters 2023.jpg
| image_caption = Bridgestone's [[headquarters]] in [[Kyōbashi, Tokyo]]
| native_name = {{Lang|ja|株式会社ブリヂストン}}
| romanized_name = {{Lang|ja-Latn|Kabushiki gaisha Burijisuton}}
| type = [[Public company|Public]]
| traded_as = {{Plainlist|
*{{Tyo|5108}}
*[[Nikkei 225]] component
*[[TOPIX]] Large70 component}}
| industry = [[Manufacturing]]
| founded = {{start date and age|1931|3|1|df=yes}}<br/>[[Kurume]], Fukuoka, Japan
| founder = [[Shojiro Ishibashi]]
| hq_location_city = [[Kyōbashi, Tokyo]]
| hq_location_country = Japan
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people = {{ill|Shuichi Ishibashi|jp|石橋秀一}}<br/>([[Chief executive officer|Global CEO]])<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bridgestone.com/ir/management_policy/message/ |title=Management Policy : Message from Global CEO |accessdate=2024-01-10}}</ref>
| products = [[Tires]], [[golf equipment]]
| revenue = {{increase}} {{JPYConvert|4.11|t}} (''Fiscal Year Ended 31 December 2023'')<ref name=Annual2021>{{cite web|title= Bridgestone Corporation Full Year 2021 Consolidated Financial Report |url= https://www.bridgestone.com/ir/library/result/pdf/e_R3_4_4_results.pdf |website= bridgestone.com |access-date=5 May 2022|date=31 December 2021}}</ref>
| operating_income = {{increase}} {{JPYConvert|482|b}} (''Fiscal Year Ended 31 December 2023'')<ref name=Annual2021 />
| net_income = {{decrease}} {{JPYConvert|300|b}} (''Fiscal Year Ended 31 December 2023'')<ref name=Annual2021 />
| assets = {{increase}} {{JPYConvert|4.96|t}} (''Fiscal Year Ended 31 December 2023'')<ref name=Annual2021 />
| equity = {{increase}} {{JPYConvert|3.01|t}} (''Fiscal Year Ended 31 December 2023'')<ref name=Annual2021 />
| num_employees = {{down}}129,262 (2023)
| owner = Ishibashi family (10.2%)
| subsid = {{plainlist|
* [[Bridgestone Golf]]
* [[Firestone Tire and Rubber Company]]
}}
| website = {{URL|http://www.bridgestone.com|bridgestone.com}}
}}

{{nihongo|'''Bridgestone Corporation'''|株式会社ブリヂストン|Kabushiki gaisha Burijisuton}} is a Japanese multinational manufacturing company based in [[Kyōbashi, Tokyo]]. Founded in 1931 by [[Shōjirō Ishibashi]] in [[Kurume]], it primarily manufactures [[tires]], as well as [[golf equipment]]. The name '''Bridgestone''' comes from a [[calque]] translation and transposition of the founder's surname, meaning 'stone bridge' in Japanese. 

The company has been the world's [[List of tire companies|second-largest tire manufacturer]] by annual revenue since 2021.<ref name= "The World's Leading Tyre Manufacturers">{{cite web|url= https://www.tyrepress.com/leading-tyre-manufacturers/ |title= The World's Leading Tyre Manufacturers |author= |publisher= Tyrepress |date= |access-date= 16 September 2025 }}</ref> As of July 2018, Bridgestone Group has 181 production facilities in 24 countries.

==History==
===Origins===
The history of the ''Bridgestone Tire Company, Ltd.'', founded in 1931 by Shojiro Ishibashi in Japan.<ref name=Bridgestone>{{cite web |title=History Bridgestone |url=https://www.bridgestone.com/corporate/history/1931-1940.html |website=Bridgestone Corporation |access-date=1 February 2019 |language=en |archive-date=27 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210827140154/https://www.bridgestone.com/corporate/history/1931-1940.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The first Bridgestone tire was produced on 9 April 1930, by the Japanese "[[Tabi]]" Socks Tire Division (which actually made [[jika-tabi]]). One year later on 1 March 1931, the founder, [[Shojiro Ishibashi]], made the "Tabi" Socks Tire Division independent and established the Bridgestone Tire Co., Ltd.<ref name=Bridgestone/> in the city of Kurume, Fukuoka Prefecture. "Bridgestone" was named after the name of the founder, Shojiro Ishibashi ({{Lang|ja|石橋}}; {{Literal translation|stone bridge}}).<ref name=asiatimes>{{cite news |first=Kosuke|last=Takahashi|title=Japan on the brink of a new era
|url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Japan/KH29Dh01.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090830092207/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Japan/KH29Dh01.html|url-status=unfit|archive-date=30 August 2009|work=[[Asia Times]]|date=29 August 2009 |access-date=31 August 2009}}</ref>

Foregoing dependence on European and North American technology, the Bridgestone Tire Co., Ltd. set its eyes on manufacturing tires based largely on Japanese technology.  The fledgling company experienced many difficulties in the areas of technology, production, and sales in the early days.  Eventually, improvements were achieved in quality and manufacturing processes which led to the business rapidly expanding in domestic and overseas markets.

===Challenges during and after World War II===
Wartime regulations were in effect throughout Japan during [[World War II]], and tires also came under the jurisdiction of these regulations.  This resulted in nearly all of the company's output being used to satisfy military demand.  1945 saw the end of armed conflict, but the company was devastated by the war. The Tokyo headquarters was destroyed during an aerial bombing raid, and all overseas assets were lost.  The plants in Kurume and [[Yokohama]] escaped unscathed, and production was able to resume immediately after the war ended.  Brushing aside the problems caused by a labour union strike that lasted for 46 days, the foundations of the company were further reinforced after this.

After the war the company started making bicycles, with the Bridgestone Cycle Company being formed in 1949.<ref name=Weeks /> From 1952 the first complete powered bicycles were produced, with a 26cc engine. In 1958 the first 50cc [[Bridgestone (motorcycle)|Bridgestone motorcycles]] were manufactured, but the company's main income was from supplying tires to its rival motorcycle makers such as [[Honda]], [[Suzuki]] and [[Yamaha Motor Corporation|Yamaha]] and it was later decided to cease motorcycle manufacturing.<ref name=Weeks>{{cite web |last1=Weeks |first1=Graham |title=Bridgestone Cycle Company - A Potted History |url=https://bridgestone.skew.org/articles/potted_history.html |website=bridgestone.skew.org |access-date=24 October 2020 |date=1996 |archive-date=24 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190524071220/https://bridgestone.skew.org/articles/potted_history.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1952, Ishibashi founded the [[Bridgestone Museum of Art]] and located it at 10 Kyobashi 1{{En dash}}chome, Chuo{{En dash}}ku, Tokyo 104; Bridgestone Corporation's company headquarters.<ref name="Japan Times -  04May2006 - Bridgestone museum celebrates 50th anniversary">{{cite news|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/fa20060504a1.html|title=Bridgestone museum celebrates 50th anniversary|last=Dunn|first=Michael|date=May 4, 2006|work=[[The Japan Times]]|publisher=The Japan Times, Ltd|accessdate=4 December 2011}}</ref>

===Technological innovation===
[[File:Bridgestone tire cross section.png|thumb|Cross section of a tire]]
In 1951, Bridgestone was the first company in Japan to begin selling [[rayon]] cord tires, and a five-year project to modernize production facilities was started.  This year also saw another Bridgestone building opened in [[Kyōbashi, Tokyo]], which contained the Bridgestone Museum.  Sales surpassed ten billion yen in 1953, placing Bridgestone at the top of the tire industry in Japan, and celebrations were held to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the company's foundation in Kurume.

The sale of nylon tires was started in 1959, and work forged ahead with the construction of the new Tokyo plant, which was opened in 1960, in order to cope with the fast-expanding market for motorization.

===Radial tires and overseas expansion===
The company issued stock shares and was listed on the stock exchange in 1961. A new system of administration was ushered in by Shojiro Ishibashi as the chairman, and Kanichiro Ishibashi as the president.  As part of the transition across to administrative reform, the Deming Plan in honor of [[W. Edwards Deming]], which involves overall quality control activities, was adopted, and the company was awarded the prestigious [[Deming Prize]] in 1968.<ref>[http://www.juse.or.jp/e/deming/10_prizelist.html#01] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140622055759/http://www.juse.or.jp/e/deming/10_prizelist.html#01|date=22 June 2014}}</ref> Also, additions were built onto the Tokyo plant in 1962 to house the new Technical Centre, and a progressive system of research and development was established. On the product front, 1967 saw the sale of the company's first ever [[radial tire]], the RD10.

Bridgestone's first overseas plant since the end of the war was opened in Singapore in 1965, and production was also commenced in Thailand in 1969.  The 1960s for Bridgestone was an era of overseas expansion that also included the establishment of Bridgestone Americas in the United States in 1967 to act as Bridgestone's USA representative sales branch.

At the start of the period of Japan's economic stagnation, brought about by the first oil shock, the company was placing even more emphasis on establishing its own technology for the manufacture of radial tires, and it was also at this time that further domestic plants were constructed and fitted out. Its Super Filler Radial was placed on the market in 1978, and in 1979 the company introduced the high-performance POTENZA radial tire, from an Italian word for power.{{Citation needed|date=November 2009}}

The company was actively engaged in overseas expansion activities at this time. In addition to starting up production in Indonesia and Iran in 1976, it also invested in a Taiwan tire manufacturer and purchased a tire plant and a plant for diversified products in Australia in 1980. The founder, Shojiro Ishibashi, died on 11 September 1976.

On 1 March 1981, the company celebrated its 50th anniversary. At the same time, the company initiated activities to strengthen its home base that supported overseas expansion strategy with the aim of being ranked as one of the world's top three manufacturers of rubber products. New production facilities were also established in Thailand, India, Poland, China, the United States and other countries. The company changed the name from Bridgestone Tire Co., Ltd. to Bridgestone Corporation in 1984.

===Firestone Tire and Rubber Company purchase===
[[File:Firestone Tire and Rubber Company.jpg|thumb|right|Former Firestone Tire and Rubber Company [[headquarters]] in [[Akron, Ohio]]]]
In 1988, Bridgestone purchased the [[Firestone Tire and Rubber Company]] of [[Akron, Ohio]].  Placing considerable financial and personnel resources into rebuilding Firestone after the purchase, Bridgestone achieved surplus annual profits for the year 1992 with BFE (''Bridgestone Firestone Europe'') and again in 1993 with BFS (''Bridgestone Firestone USA'').  The Firestone Tire and Rubber Company and Bridgestone Tire Company Ltd. USA were amalgamated in 1990 and became ''"Bridgestone Firestone North American Holdings Ltd"''. The North American subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation is now named Bridgestone Americas, Inc. The tire division is Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC.

In April 2012, Bridgestone Americas opened up its new ''Bridgestone Americas Technical Center'' in Akron. The $100 million facility, located just down the street from the former headquarters, tire plant, and technical center, houses 450 employees whose jobs are to develop innovative and advanced tire technologies for the company.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aftermarketnews.com/bridgestone-unveils-new-akron-tech-center/|title=Bridgestone Unveils New Akron Tech Center &#124; Aftermarket News|website=www.aftermarketnews.com|date=12 April 2012 }}</ref>

In June 2022, Bridgestone opened up its $21 million ''Advanced Tire Production Center'' which replaced the ''Firestone Advance Tire Works Plant'' at the original Firestone Tire and Rubber Company headquarters  which opened in 1910. The new building  is home of the company's racing tire production for the [[NTT IndyCar Series]]. The plant manufactures all [[Firestone Tire and Rubber Company|Firestone]] Firehawk racing tires. It is the first new tire plant in the city of Akron in more than 70 years. Bridgestone also opened up a $6 million test track adjacent to the ''Advanced Tire Production Center'' to support passenger tire testing and development. The test track opened in autumn 2022. Bridgestone has invested more than $125 million in its Akron operations since 2012, when the company opened the Bridgestone Americas Technology Center.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/news/local/2022/06/22/bridgestone-opens-new-advanced-tire-production-center-akron/7690608001/|title=Bridgestone opens new Advanced Tire Production Center &#124; Beacon Journal|website=www.beaconjournal.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tiretechnologyinternational.com/news/manufacturing-facilities/bridgestone-opens-race-tire-production-facility-in-akron.html/|title=Bridgestone opens race-tire production facility in Akron Tire Technology International|website=www.tiretechnologyinternational.com|date=24 June 2022 }}</ref>

==Bridgestone's global locations==
Bridgestone has major manufacturing plants in many countries around the world.  As of 1 April 2011, Bridgestone has 47 tire plants, 29 tire-related plants, 19 raw materials plants, 89 diversified product plants, 4 technical centers, and 11 proving grounds globally.<ref>{{Citation |url=http://www.bridgestone.com/corporate/locations/index.html |title=Bridgestone Locations |author=Bridgestone |date=1 April 2011 |access-date=9 May 2011 |archive-date=8 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708094312/http://bridgestone.com/corporate/locations/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> 

Some of the major plants are located in:

{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Asia/Oceania
! Europe
! Americas
! Middle East/Africa
|-
| Australia
| Belgium
| Argentina
| South Africa
|-
| China 
| France
| Brazil
| Cameroon (from 2020)
|-
| India
| Hungary
| Canada
| Kenya (from 2023)
|-
| Indonesia
| Italy
| Colombia
|-
| Japan
| Poland
| Costa Rica
|-
| New Zealand
| Portugal
| Mexico
|-
| Pakistan
| Spain
| United States
|-
| Taiwan
| Turkey
| Venezuela
|-
| Thailand
| Estonia (from 2024)
| Bolivia (from 2027)
|-
| Vietnam 
|
| Puerto Rico (from 2025)
|-
| Myanmar (from 2021)
|-
| South Korea (from 2022)
|-
| Philippines
|}

===Australia===
Bridgestone Australia is headquartered in [[Eastwood, South Australia|Eastwood]], an inner-southern suburb of [[Adelaide, South Australia]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ibisworld.com/au/company/bridgestone-australia-ltd/234/|title=Bridgestone Australia Ltd - Australian Company Profile
|publisher=IBISWorld|access-date= 13 February 2015}}</ref>

Beginning as the SA Rubber Mills in 1939, Bridgestone took over the Australian plants which were at that time operated by the [[Uniroyal Tire Company|Uniroyal Tyre Company]] in 1980.  Bridgestone Australia<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bridgestonetyres.com.au/ |title=Car, 4x4 & Truck Tyres – Bridgestone Australia |publisher=Bridgestone Tyres |access-date=4 November 2015 |archive-date=19 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151119073954/https://www.bridgestonetyres.com.au/ |url-status=live }}</ref> had a major manufacturing tire factory in Australia: located in [[Salisbury, South Australia|Salisbury]], a northern suburb of Adelaide (this plant was eventually decommissioned in April 2011). Bridgestone has State Offices in all states of Australia, and has a large number of retail outlets across the country.

In 2000 Bridgestone Australia Ltd. purchased the BANDAG Retreading plant and its operations in Australia.  Bandag Manufacturing Pty Limited<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bandag.com.au |title=Bandag Australia |publisher=Bandag.com.au |date=18 May 2010 |access-date=4 November 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151115080415/http://bandag.com.au/ |archive-date=15 November 2015  }}</ref> has 35 franchised dealers across Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Nouméa. Bandag Manufacturing Pty Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bridgestone Australia Limited, and operates under license to Bandag Incorporated.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bandag.com |title=Long Live Tires &#124; Retread & Retake the Road |publisher=Bandag |access-date=4 November 2015 |archive-date=5 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905163113/http://www.bandag.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2006 Bridgestone purchased Bandag Incorporated, which is now a subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation.

From the purchase in 1981, the Australian operations of Bridgestone have been run as a publicly listed company on the Australian Stock exchange.  Bridgestone Corporation has maintained a majority share holding.  As of mid-2007 the Australian operation was delisted from the Australian Stock exchange and became a solely owned Division of Bridgestone Corporation (pending minority shareholder approval as per Australian Corporate Law).

Following the cancellation on Friday, 11 May 2007, of all shares held by minority shareholders, Bridgestone Australia Ltd. became a wholly owned subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation of Japan.  The selective capital reduction and subsequent privatisation which cost $49 million was approved and completed. Bridgestone Australia Ltd. was delisted from the ASX on 30 May 2007.

===Europe===
Bridgestone EU has its head office in [[Brussels, Belgium]], and was set up in 1990 as Bridgestone/Firestone Europe SA. Before that, a representative office in Belgium set up in 1972 and sales subsidiary companies and importers in each countries were selling products imported from Japan.  There are 7 production plants in the region and a 32 hectare [[research and development]] centre near [[Rome, Italy]].  The company distributes more than 25 million tires a year through 17 national sales subsidiaries and 2 distributors. They directly employ over 12,000 people with Mr. Tsuda as CEO.

At present there are national headquarters in the following locations: [[Vienna]], Austria; [[Prague]], Czech Republic; [[Hinnerup]], Denmark; [[Vantaa]], Finland; [[Fresnes, Val-de-Marne|Fresnes]], France; [[Bad Homburg]], Germany; [[Athens]], Greece; [[Budapest]], Hungary; [[Dublin]], Ireland; [[Milan]], Italy; [[Moerdijk]], Netherlands; [[Oslo]], Norway; [[Warsaw]], Poland; [[Alcochete]], Portugal; [[Madrid]], Spain; [[Sundsvall]], Sweden; [[Spreitenbach]], Switzerland; [[Istanbul]], Turkey and [[Warwick]], UK.

Bridgestone EU runs a continent-wide scheme called Truckpoint wherein fleets can take their vehicles to any Bridgestone approved garage throughout Europe and get Bridgestone specialist work carried out on their tires.

There are no Bridgestone factories in the United Kingdom but there is a technical bay at which tyres returned by dissatisfied customers are inspected in [[Coventry]].

The plant at [[Ulyanovsk]], Russia and the marketing office in Moscow were sold in December 2023 as Bridgestone withdrew from the Russian market, following the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Bridgestone sells its assets in Russia |url=https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-economy/3803043-bridgestone-sells-its-assets-in-russia.html |date=22 December 2023}}</ref>

===North America===
[[File:Bridgestone Americas HQ 1.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Bridgestone Tower]] in Nashville]]
As part of reinforcement plans, the company purchased a plant in Tennessee from the [[Firestone Tire and Rubber Company]], its first manufacturing plant in North America, and started the production of radial tires for trucks and buses in 1983. Bridgestone also has a steel cord plant in [[Clarksville, Tennessee]], named Bridgestone Metalpha.  Metalpha is currently ranked as the top provider in the global steel cord market.

In May 1988, a takeover bid of America's No. 2 tire manufacturer, [[Akron, Ohio]]{{En dash}}based [[Firestone Tire and Rubber Company]], was successful, and Firestone was placed under the Bridgestone umbrella as a subsidiary company. This purchase brought a large number of Firestone global production sites into the Bridgestone organization. These sites included North America, Central and South America, Europe, New Zealand and other locations. Bridgestone also commenced production in Turkey. In 1992, the company established regional corporate offices in Europe and the Americas.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bridgestoneamericas.com/content/bscorpcomm-sites/americas/en/corporation/history.html|title=Bridgestone Americas History|website=Bridgestone Americas, Inc.|access-date=16 February 2020|archive-date=15 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215221203/https://www.bridgestoneamericas.com/content/bscorpcomm-sites/americas/en/corporation/history.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]]-based Bridgestone Americas, Inc. (BSA) is the American subsidiary of the Bridgestone Corporation. BSA and its subsidiaries develop, manufacture and market Bridgestone, Firestone, and associate brand tires for consumers, automotive and commercial vehicle original equipment manufacturers, and those in the agricultural, forestry and mining industries.  The companies also produce air springs, roofing materials, [[synthetic rubber]] and industrial fibers and textiles and operate the world's largest chain of automotive tire and service centers.{{Citation needed|date=November 2009}}

In November 2010, [https://www.asaauto.com/ ASA Automotive Systems Inc.] was selected by the Consumer Tire Sales division of Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC (BATO) as the software provider for their North American consumer dealers to supply the industry's leading 'All-in-One' Point-of-Sale, Accounting and Inventory shop management software.<ref>{{Cite web|title = ASA Tire Systems Selected as Software Provider for Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations Consumer Dealers| work=ASA Automotive Systems Inc. |url = https://www.asaauto.com/pr-11-04-10/|access-date = 12 August 2019|archive-date = 12 August 2019|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190812203328/https://www.asaauto.com/pr-11-04-10/|url-status = live}}</ref>

In 2014, Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations (BATO) unveiled its newly rebranded GCR Tires & Service division.  With one of the largest network of commercial stores across the country, GCR's reach extends nationwide.  The letters of GCR reflect the last names of the original company founders Balie Griffith, Harold Crawford and Perry Rose.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bridgestoneamericas.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2014/bridgestone-americas-tire-operations-announces-gcr-tires---servi|title=Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations Announces GCR Tires & Service Brand Relaunch|website=Bridgestone Americas, Inc.|access-date=2 November 2018|archive-date=11 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150911230236/http://www.bridgestoneamericas.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2014/bridgestone-americas-tire-operations-announces-gcr-tires---servi|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2015, Bridgestone Americas Inc. signed a deal giving its dealers the option to install digital air calibration machines from Excel Tire Gauge Inc. in their stores. The digital air calibration machines streamline the tire inflation process by automatically inflating or deflating tires.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Bridgestone Signs Deal for Digital Tire Inflation Machines – Suppliers – Modern Tire Dealer|url = http://www.moderntiredealer.com/news/411465/bridgestone-signs-deal-for-digital-tire-inflation-machines|website = www.moderntiredealer.com|access-date = 14 December 2015|archive-date = 22 December 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151222110200/http://www.moderntiredealer.com/news/411465/bridgestone-signs-deal-for-digital-tire-inflation-machines|url-status = live}}</ref>

In 2017, Bridgestone Americas consolidated many of their business units into a single building in [[downtown Nashville]], [[Bridgestone Tower]]. Nearly 2,000 employees work in the new skyscraper, nestled between the [[Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum|Country Music Hall of Fame]] and the [[Schermerhorn Symphony Center]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://wkrn.com/2017/01/19/bridgestone-americas-moves-to-downtown-nashville/|title=Bridgestone Americas moves to downtown Nashville|date=19 January 2017|work=WKRN.com|access-date=2018-02-08|language=en-US}}</ref>

In April 2020, due to demand by essential service providers during [[COVID-19 pandemic in Tennessee]], Bridgestone Americas announced plans to restart its North American commercial tire plants as well as its North American Firestone Industrial Products and [[Firestone Building Products]] manufacturing facilities.<ref>{{Cite web|author=aftermarketNews Staff|date=2020-04-09|title=Bridgestone Announces Restart Of Manufacturing Facilities|url=https://www.aftermarketnews.com/bridgestone-announces-restart-of-manufacturing-facilities/|access-date=2020-06-02|website=aftermarketNews|language=en-US|archive-date=28 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928080103/https://www.aftermarketnews.com/bridgestone-announces-restart-of-manufacturing-facilities/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Sports sponsorships==
===Formula racing===
{{See also|Formula One tires}}

Bridgestone started to invest in motorsport in the 1980s by developing race tires for feeder series like [[Formula 2]], [[Formula 3]], [[Formula Ford]], Formula Opel Lotus and [[karting]].

In order to increase the Firestone subsidiary's brand awareness, ''Bridgestone Firestone NAH Ltd'', re-entered the Firestone brand into [[Championship Auto Racing Teams|CART]] open-wheel racing in 1995 to challenge [[Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company|Goodyear]]. The tires proved better and Goodyear left the series for 2000. Since then, Firestone has been the single tire provider for the successor [[Champ Car World Series]], the [[IndyCar Series]] and its feeder series [[Indy NXT]].

[[File:Schumacher (Ferrari) in practice at USGP 2005.jpg|thumb|right|Michael Schumacher in practice at the [[2005 United States Grand Prix]]. Note the Bridgestone branding on the rear wing endplate, the Bridgestone's ''B'' logo on the front wing, just under the nosecone and on the side winglet just before the rear wheel]]

Bridgestone has supplied tires in [[Formula One]] since {{F1|1997}}, although the company one-off produced Formula One tires at the [[1976 Japanese Grand Prix|1976]] and [[1977 Japanese Grand Prix]] for Japanese entrants such as [[Kazuyoshi Hoshino]]'s [[Heros Racing]] and [[Kojima Engineering|Kojima]].

[[File:Bridgestone test car Ligier JS41.jpg|thumb|left|Bridgestone used a [[Ligier JS41]] as test bed during 1996]]
The Japanese company decided to supply tires for Formula One in 1995, backed up by the CEO Yoichiro Kaizaki, aiming to improve Bridgestone's name value in the European market which was greatly inferior compared with their archrivals, [[Michelin]]. Though it was scheduled to enter the championship in the [[1998 Formula One season|1998 season]] at first, this was brought forward to {{F1|1997}} because the engineering section led by [[Hirohide Hamashima]] had quickly advanced development. Thus, Hiroshi Yasukawa, the general manager of Motorsport Department, also made the best use of the experience and networks in Europe since the Bridgestone's European [[Formula Two|F2]] era ({{F2|1981}}{{En dash}}{{F2|1984}}) and constructed logistics for Formula One at once.

The first title was acquired right away in the second year, 1998 by [[Mika Häkkinen]] and [[McLaren]]{{En dash}}[[Mercedes-Benz HighPerformanceEngines|Mercedes]]. And Bridgestone users took five [[List of Formula One World Drivers' Champions|Drivers' Championship]] titles and five [[List of Formula One World Constructors' Champions|Constructors' Championship]] titles ({{F1|1998}}, {{F1|2001}}{{En dash}}{{F1|2004}}) for the period that competed with [[Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company|Goodyear]] ({{F1|1997}}{{En dash}}{{F1|1998}}) and [[Michelin]] ({{F1|2001}}{{En dash}}{{F1|2006}}). Especially, cooperation with [[Scuderia Ferrari]] and [[Michael Schumacher]] functioned well in this period.

From 2008 to 2010 Bridgestone was due to be the sole tire supplier to the FIA Formula One World Championship.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.formula1.com/news/4601.html|title=Latest|work=Formula1.com|access-date=26 October 2015|archive-date=18 July 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060718061701/http://formula1.com/news/4601.html|url-status=live}}</ref> However, because Michelin chose to conclude its Formula One tire programme at the end of the [[2006 Formula One season|2006 season]], all teams used Bridgestone tires from the [[2007 Formula One season|2007 season]] to the [[2010 Formula One season]].

On 2 November 2009, Bridgestone announced that they would not be renewing their contract to supply tires to Formula One teams after 2010. The company said it was "addressing the impact of the continuing evolution of the business environment".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bridgestone.com/corporate/news/2009110201.html |title=News &#124; Corporate &#124; Bridgestone Corporation |publisher=Bridgestone.com |date=2 November 2009 |access-date=7 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091104223536/http://bridgestone.com/corporate/news/2009110201.html |archive-date=4 November 2009  }}</ref> [[Pirelli]] announced in June 2010 that it would serve as sole supplier for tires in the [[2011 Formula One season|2011 season]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2010/6/10935.html |title=Formula1.com |publisher=Formula1.com |date=23 June 2010 |access-date=7 November 2012 |archive-date=21 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021022947/http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2010/6/10935.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

{|class="wikitable"
|+Tire Record Table {{En dash}} Races Won
|-
!Pos
!Tire
!Seasons
!Starts
!Wins
!Only<br />supplier
!WC<br /> Drivers
!WC<br /> Constr.
|-
!3
|{{Flagicon|Japan}} Bridgestone
|[[1976 Formula One season|1976]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.research-racing.de/Japan1976-1.htm |title=Japanese Grand Prix 1976 |publisher=Research-racing.de |date=15 June 1993 |access-date=21 August 2007 |archive-date=27 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927070132/http://www.research-racing.de/Japan1976-1.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> {{En dash}} [[2010 Formula One season|2010]]
|align="right"|244
|align="right"|175
|align="right"|116
|align="right"|11
|align="right"|11
|-
!6
|{{Flagicon|US}} [[Firestone Tire and Rubber Company|Firestone]]
|[[1950 Formula One season|1950]]{{En dash}}[[1975 Formula One season|1975]]
|align="right"|121
|align="right"|49
|align="right"|11
|align="right"|3
|align="right"|3
|}

===Sports car and touring car racing===
In the 1980s and 1990s, Bridgestone provided tires to the [[24 Hours of Le Mans|Le Mans]] sport prototypes of teams [[Nismo]] and [[TOM's]], backed by Japanese automobile manufacturers [[Nissan]] and [[Toyota]] respectively. In the early 1990s, Bridgestone expanded to [[Mercedes-AMG]], which entered the [[Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft|DTM]] and later Le Mans and the [[FIA GT Championship]]. The brand left international sports car racing in 2000, but remains as one of the main suppliers in the [[Super GT]] series. Since April 2023, Bridgestone became the main tire supplier for the [[Super Taikyu Series|Super Taikyu]] championship series replacing [[Hankook]], which supplied its tires briefly until forced to exit the series due the latter's [[Daejeon]] plant fire.

===Motorcycling===
In 2002, Bridgestone entered the [[Grand Prix motorcycle racing]]'s main class [[MotoGP]]. From 2009 to 2015, it was the exclusive tire supplier of the championship and reached the milestone of 100 [[MotoGP]] victories in 2012. Nine-time World Champion [[Valentino Rossi]] was 'Bridgestone Tyre Adviser'<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bridgestonemotorsport.com/championships/other/news/2865/rossi_to_continue_as_bridgestone_tyre_development_adviser |title=Motorsport News 2015 – KART – AMA MX – AMA SX – Bridgestone Motorsport |publisher=Bridgestonemotorsport.com |access-date=26 October 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150603214649/http://www.bridgestonemotorsport.com/championships/other/news/2865/rossi_to_continue_as_bridgestone_tyre_development_adviser |archive-date=3 June 2015  }}</ref> having won two MotoGP titles on Bridgestone tires in 2008 and 2009.

In May 2014, Bridgestone announced they would leave Moto GP at the end of the 2015 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/113712|title=Bridgestone to pull out of MotoGP at the end of 2015|date=1 May 2014|work=AUTOSPORT.com|access-date=26 October 2015|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924044731/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/113712|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Other sports===
Bridgestone is currently the Official Tire of the [[Olympic Games]], but have stated they will not be renewing their worldwide partnership agreements with the Olympics and Paralympics when they expire at the end of 2024. In 2010, Bridgestone acquired the naming rights to the home venue of the NHL's [[Nashville Predators]] calling it [[Bridgestone Arena]]. They were also the title sponsor for [[Copa Libertadores]], the top competition for South American club [[football (soccer)|football]], from 2013 to 2017, and [[Copa Sudamericana]] from 2011 to 2013.

==Diversified products==
The predecessors of Bridgestone began making diversified products<ref>[http://www.bridgestone.co.jp/english/diversified/] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070203072043/http://www.bridgestone.co.jp/english/diversified/|date=3 February 2007}}</ref> in the 1930s, soon after they started making tires. Today, Bridgestone diversified operations encompass automotive components, industrial products, polyurethane foam products, construction materials, parts and materials for electronic equipment, bicycles and sporting goods. Diversified business generates about one-fourth of total sales in the Bridgestone Group.

Automotive parts are an especially large line of business for Bridgestone in diversified operations. Bridgestone supplies automakers with vibration-isolating components, such as engine mounts. Bridgestone also supplies air springs for trucks, automobiles and train carriages. Bridgestone market aluminium wheels and other automotive accessories, too.

===Industrial products===
Bridgestone's industrial products span a vast range, including polyurethane foam for automotive seats and interiors, for bedding and furniture and for insulation and sealing in appliances and buildings; water hoses; marine hoses for loading and unloading oil tankers; specialty precision hose products, such as wire-blade hose for construction equipment and machine tools; conveyor belts; and rubber tracks for crawler tractors. Additionally, they make [[retread]]ed tires for aircraft. Their corporate headquarters for the Bridgestone Aircraft tire division is located in Miami, Florida.

The Bridgestone product line in construction and civil engineering materials is similarly broad. Bridgestone supply Multi-Rubber Bearings for installing in foundations to protect buildings from earthquakes, inflatable rubber dams for managing waterways (no longer manufactured {{En dash}} 2008), marine fenders for protecting wharves, additives for pavement, waterproofing sheet, rubberized ceiling and roofing materials, panel tanks for storing water, bath fixtures and residential flooring, air and water systems.

Bridgestone's line of products for electronic equipment includes precision rollers for office machines and functional films for solar cells and plasma displays. In sporting goods, Bridgestone market golf balls and clubs and tennis balls and rackets. Bridgestone's line of bicycles is Japan's most extensive {{En dash}} see above information re. Anchor Cycles.

===Bridgestone Commercial Services Group (Bandag)===
[[File:Bandag logo.png|thumb|right|Bandag's logo]]
On 5 December 2006, Bridgestone Americas and Bandag, Inc. announced a merger agreement whereby Bridgestone would acquire [[Muscatine, Iowa]]{{En dash}}based Bandag, Inc., a leading truck tire [[Retread|re-treader]] that was founded in 1957 and had over 900 franchised dealers worldwide at the time.  In announcing the merger, Bridgestone's president in Tokyo explained: {{cquote|Higher fuel prices are prompting customers to cut costs [by using retreads]. It takes time and costs to develop this size of business. We were able to get that all at once.}} 
The transaction was valued at approximately US$1.05&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://transport.seekingalpha.com/article/21838 |title=Bridgestone and Bandag to Merge, Shares Burn Rubber |date=6 December 2006 |access-date=14 October 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120715093225/http://transport.seekingalpha.com/article/21838 |archive-date=15 July 2012  }}</ref> On 31 May 2007, the agreement was consummated and Bridgestone Americas acquired the outstanding shares of Bandag stock for US$50.75 per share. The unit was renamed Bridgestone Bandag, LLC and Saul Solomon was appointed to the position of chairman, CEO and President. Previously, Solomon served as Vice President and General Counsel of BSAH. 
In the four years following the acquisition, Bandag's headquarters remained in Muscatine, although some processes and functions were consolidated and/or transferred to other facilities.  In November 2010, corporate headquarters were moved to Nashville. In May 2011, the unit was renamed Bridgestone Commercial Services Group, eliminating the name "Bandag."
{{Clear}}

===Bicycles===
[[File:Kabuki head badge.JPG|thumb|100px|left|Kabuki [[head badge]]]]
The Bridgestone Cycle Co Ltd.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bscycle.co.jp/en|title=Bicycle Online|publisher=Bscycle.co.jp|access-date=26 October 2015|archive-date=24 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151024081717/http://www.bscycle.co.jp/en/|url-status=live}}</ref> originated in 1949. It offers bicycles under its own brand and under the Anchor brand.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.anchor-bikes.com |title=ブリヂストンのスポーツバイク アンカー｜anchor |publisher=Anchor-bikes.com |access-date=4 November 2015 |archive-date=31 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151031113123/http://www.anchor-bikes.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

At one time, Bridgestone marketed bicycles under the name Kabuki.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sheldonbrown.com/japan.html#kabuki |title=Japanese Bicycles in the U.S. Market |publisher=Sheldonbrown.com |access-date=4 November 2015 |archive-date=5 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151105000328/http://www.sheldonbrown.com/japan.html#kabuki |url-status=live }}</ref>

The U.S. marketing director of the Bicycle division, [[Grant Petersen]], developed a reputation for resisting popular trends in the bicycle industry and instead followed his own personal philosophy of building dependable and comfortable bicycles. Peterson applied this approach to [[Rivendell Bicycle Works]] after Bridgestone stopped marketing bicycles in the U.S.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ebykr.com/bridgestone-beyond-the-dream/ |title=Bridgestone: Beyond the Dream |date=9 February 2018 |publisher=ebykr.com |access-date=9 February 2018 |archive-date=10 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210180150/http://www.ebykr.com/bridgestone-beyond-the-dream/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The company was an innovator in the nascent mountain bike scene, designing mountain bikes with shorter chain-stays and steeper frame angles than then popular. This made it more nimble and a better climber.

Until 1986, Bridgestone models were numbered in multiples of 100, with the higher numbers indicating a higher end bike.  The entry level road bike in 1986, for example, may have been the Bridgestone 100, while the Bridgestone 700 would have been a competition level race bike.  Beginning in 1987 there was a change, with model designations consisting of two letters followed by a numeral.  The letters indicated the type of bike, and the number indicated the position in the product lineup.  The numbering was also reversed, with the smaller numbers indicating a higher position in the product line.  For example, the RB-1 would have been the top-of-the-line road bike, followed by the RB-2, RB-3, etc.<ref>[http://sheldonbrown.com/bridgestone/1986/index.html/] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120922011641/http://sheldonbrown.com/bridgestone/1986/index.html/|date=22 September 2012}}</ref>

[[File:Bridgestone Anchor sport RFA900.jpg|thumb|right|Anchor brand bicycle in a Japanese store]]Bridgestone is currently building frames in Japan for [[keirin]] track racing under Nihon Jitensha Shinkokai approved standards. It is currently producing non-NJS frames for the Japanese market as well.

In Japan, it is known as a manufacturer of utility, mountain and (under the brand name Anchor) road racing bikes.

Bridgestone has also collaborated with [[Alex Moulton]] to produce the Bridgestone [[Moulton Bicycle]] and marketed its own [[folding bicycle]], the [[Bridgestone Picnica]].

Bridgestone also released a range of BMX Bicycles in 1981{{En dash}}1982 known as the MKI & MKII.

===Motorcycles===
{{main|Bridgestone (motorcycle)}}
Bridgestone motorcycles were a division of the company that produced [[moped]]s and [[motorcycles]] from 1952 to 1970. Initially producing power assisted bicycles, the division moved on to producing mopeds and then motorcycles. The motorcycles were technologically advanced and powered by [[two-stroke engines]]. The high technical specification resulted in the machines being more expensive compared to other manufacturers models. Production was stopped in 1970 to protect the supply of tires to other manufacturers.<ref>{{cite web |title=Scott's Bridgestone Motorcycles! |url=http://www.bridgestonemotorcycle.com/index2.html |website=www.bridgestonemotorcycle.com |access-date=26 October 2020 |archive-date=31 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031045032/http://www.bridgestonemotorcycle.com/index2.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="www.oldjapanesebikes.com">{{cite web |title=Bridgestone Cycle Industries, Tokyo, 1952-70 |url=https://www.oldjapanesebikes.com/other_jdm_machines/page-9 |website=www.oldjapanesebikes.com |access-date=24 October 2020 |archive-date=1 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101075955/https://www.oldjapanesebikes.com/other_jdm_machines/page-9 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Bridgestone Aircraft Tire===
Bridgestone Aircraft Tire (USA) is a manufacturer of aircraft tires as well as retread servicing. Bridgestone Americas Holdings announced in May 2006 that it would be moving its [[Miami, Florida]] aviation operation to its new {{convert|160000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} facility located in [[Mayodan, North Carolina]], this move is expected to be completed by mid-2007 and will create approximately 95 new jobs. CEO and President of Bridgestone Aircraft Tire (USA) Joe Rayna is quoted as saying; "''This move allows us to continue to prepare for a changing market, both in demand and in product mix, New modern aircraft, such as the [[Boeing 787 Dreamliner]] and [[Airbus A380]], arrive fitted with new Bridgestone technology aircraft tires, and this new facility will complement that technology''".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bridgestoneamericas.com/content/bscorpcomm-sites/americas/en/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150603223216/http://www.bridgestone-firestone.com/news/news_index.asp?id=2006%2F060510b|url-status=dead|title=Bridgestone Americas, Inc. &#124; Tires Are Just The Beginning|archive-date=3 June 2015|website=Bridgestone Americas, Inc.}}</ref> Bridgestone Aircraft Tire (USA) has been a major supplier of aircraft tires and retreads to the aircraft industry for over 70 years and has sister aviation facilities in Tokyo, Hong Kong and Belgium.{{Clear}}

===Golf products===
{{Main|Bridgestone Golf}}
Bridgestone Golf is a division of Bridgestone,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.preceptgolf.com/en/corpprivacy.aspx |title=Bridgestone Golf |access-date=26 October 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222014842/http://www.preceptgolf.com/en/corpprivacy.aspx |archive-date=22 February 2012  }}</ref> and is the brand name under which Bridgestone's Golfing Products are marketed. Bridgestone has been producing golf-related products since 1935. The Golf division of Bridgestone currently produces clubs, balls and accessories.<ref>[http://www.bridgestonegolf.com/en/corphistory.aspx] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090305235859/http://www.bridgestonegolf.com/en/corphistory.aspx|date=5 March 2009}}</ref> Along with technical developments in tire technology came breakthroughs in golf ball technology{{citation needed|date=July 2015}} that have led Bridgestone to be the number one [[golf ball]] producer in Japan.

Design and production of golf clubs followed in 1972.

Bridgestone has global coverage of its golfing products with major divisions in USA (Bridgestone Golf USA),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bridgestonegolf.com |title=Bridgestone Golf |publisher=Bridgestone Golf |access-date=4 November 2015 |archive-date=4 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151104173507/http://www.bridgestonegolf.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Australia (Bridgestone Golf Australia)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bridgestonegolf.com.au |title=Bridgestone Golf Australia |publisher=Bridgestonegolf.com.au |access-date=4 November 2015 |archive-date=8 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150908034134/http://www.bridgestonegolf.com.au/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and Korea (Sokio Corporation).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tourstage.co.kr/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218184051/http://www.tourstage.co.kr/|url-status=dead|title=tourstage.co.kr|archive-date=18 December 2014|website=www.tourstage.co.kr}}</ref>

===Dolphin artificial caudal fin===

In 2003, the caudal fin of Fuji, a [[Bottlenose dolphin]] bred at the Okichan Theater of [[Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium]], was necrotic, necessitating the removal of 75% of the fin which made swimming impossible. The Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium started a project to develop the world's first artificial dolphin caudal fin in cooperation with Bridgestone to replace Fuji's fin.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2007-09-15|url=https://web-japan.org/nipponia/nipponia42/en/feature/feature09.html|title=A new beginning for Fuji the dolphin|access-date=2021-04-29|archive-date=19 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419155205/https://web-japan.org/nipponia/nipponia42/en/feature/feature09.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2010-12-26|url=https://singularityhub.com/2010/12/26/fuji-the-bionic-dolphin-with-the-artificial-fin-video/|title=Fuji, the Bionic Dolphin With the Artificial Fin (video)|access-date=2021-04-29|archive-date=20 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420224705/https://singularityhub.com/2010/12/26/fuji-the-bionic-dolphin-with-the-artificial-fin-video/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2004-12-14|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fuji-the-dolphins-rubber-tail/|title=Fuji The Dolphin's Rubber Tail|website=[[CBS News]]|access-date=2021-04-29|archive-date=18 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418125937/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fuji-the-dolphins-rubber-tail/|url-status=live}}</ref> In the early days, the artificial caudal fin could not be installed well because it could not withstand the swimming of dolphins, but aquariums made improvements and succeeded in installing the artificial caudal fin of the dolphin.<ref>{{cite book|author=内田詮三|title=沖縄美ら海水族館が日本一になった理由  |publisher=光文社新書|year=2012}}</ref>

In 2010, it was also installed in [[Pacific white-sided dolphin]] named Lanan, who was bred in [[Notojima Aquarium]], and succeeded in installing the second artificial caudal fin in the world.<ref>{{Cite web |url= https://www.bridgestone.co.jp/corporate/news/2010051901.html |title= イルカの人工尾びれを当社ゴム技術により製作 |archive-date= 28 April 2021 |access-date= 29 April 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210428190953/https://www.bridgestone.co.jp/corporate/news/2010051901.html |url-status= live }}</ref>

==Bridgestone e-Reporter==
Bridgestone e-reporter is a pan-European competition for aspiring young sports journalists, open to all students aged 18{{En dash}}30, who are in full-time education.

Now in its fifth year, Bridgestone e-reporter<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bridgestone.com/corporate/news/index.html|title=News &#124; Bridgestone|website=Bridgestone Global Website|access-date=16 February 2020|archive-date=12 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190712160434/https://www.bridgestone.com/corporate/news/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> continues to provide up-and-coming writers with first hand experience, interviewing [[GP2 Series|GP2]] drivers and issuing race reports from a European GP2 race weekend.

The 2008 competition was officially launched on 1 February 2008 with the deadline for entries at 12.00 GMT on 31 March 2008. As of 2009, Bridgestone has not held further editions of the e-Reporter competition. However it may return in a different form in the future.

Bridgestone was the sole tire supplier for the GP2 series, an open-wheeled racing championship that is widely regarded as the feeder series for Formula One.

==Controversies==

After Bridgestone purchased Firestone in 1988, cost cutting measures led to tread separations in tires manufactured in Firestone plants in the 1990s.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Krueger|first1=Alan B.|last2=Mas|first2=Alexander|date=April 2004|title=Strikes, Scabs, and Tread Separations: Labor Strife and the Production of Defective Bridgestone/Firestone Tires|url= https://www.princeton.edu/~amas/papers/km04.pdf|journal=The Journal of Political Economy|volume=112|issue=2|pages=253–289|doi=10.1086/381479|s2cid=154713396}}</ref>

In 2008, Bridgestone ran an advert during the [[Super Bowl XLII]] showing a car driver avoiding several hazards while driving at night, including threatening to run down [[Richard Simmons]], who was embodying a homophobic [[sissy]] stereotype, with ''[[Ad Age]]''{{'}}s critic [[Bob Garfield]] describing the advert as "grounded in [[homophobia]]".<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.windycitytimes.com/lgbt/Commercial-Closet-Super-Bowl-XLII-Advertisers-Play-to-Stereotypes-and-Homophobia/17498.html |title=Commercial Closet: Super Bowl XLII Advertisers Play to Stereotypes and Homophobia |first=Michael |last=Wilke |work=[[Windy City Times]] |date=2008-02-13 |access-date=2021-04-16 |archive-date=16 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416135152/https://www.windycitytimes.com/lgbt/Commercial-Closet-Super-Bowl-XLII-Advertisers-Play-to-Stereotypes-and-Homophobia/17498.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/feb/5/monday-morning-quarterback-for-the-commercials/ |title=Monday morning quarterback for the commercials |work=[[The Washington Times]] |date=2008-02-05 |access-date=2021-04-16 |archive-date=16 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416135155/https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/feb/5/monday-morning-quarterback-for-the-commercials/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In September 2011, Bridgestone pleaded guilty to bribing Latin American officials and bid rigging, and agreed to pay a $28 million fine to resolve criminal charges.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bridgestone pays $28 mln for bribes, bid-rigging |website=[[Reuters]] |date=15 September 2011 |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/bridgestone-doj/bridgestone-pays-28-mln-for-bribes-bid-rigging-idUSS1E78E14Q20110915/ |access-date=2024-02-19}}</ref>

In February 2014 Bridgestone agreed to a $425&nbsp;million fine imposed by the [[United States Department of Justice]] for price fixing and bid rigging in the automotive parts industry. The company said it regretted the actions that led to the plea deal and said it would take disciplinary action against certain employees.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thejapannews.net/index.php/sid/220086111/scat/c4f2dd8ca8c78044/ht/US-fines-Bridgestone-425mn-for-price-fixing |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140214133418/http://www.thejapannews.net/index.php/sid/220086111/scat/c4f2dd8ca8c78044/ht/US-fines-Bridgestone-425mn-for-price-fixing |url-status=dead |archive-date=2014-02-14 |title=US fines Bridgestone $425mn for price fixing |work=The Japan News |access-date=4 November 2015 }}</ref> One executive and two other former executives were indicted for conspiracy.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Former Bridgestone exec to plead guilty to price fixing -U.S. Justice Dept |website=[[Reuters]] |date=16 April 2014 |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/bridgestone-executives-pricefixing-idUSL2N0N81W120140416/ |access-date=2024-02-19}}</ref>

In February 2022, shortly after outsourcing the majority of its IT employees, Bridgestone Americas was hacked. This resulted in the theft of company data, manufacturing plants in North and South America to be closed, and production to be halted.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.moderntiredealer.com/articles/33137-bridgestone-data-hacked-in-attack | title=Bridgestone Data Hacked in Attack | date=16 March 2022 }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Bridgestone Arena]]
* [[Bridgestone Golf]]
* [[Bridgestone Picnica]]
* [[Bridgestone Tower]]
{{Portal|Companies}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Bridgestone}}

* {{in lang|en}} [http://www.bridgestone.com/index.html Bridgestone Corporation English homepage]
* {{in lang|en}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20151117081853/http://www.bridgestonemotorsport.com/ Bridgestone Motorsport English homepage]
* {{in lang|en}} [https://www.bridgestone.com/corporate/news/ News | Bridgestone]
* [http://www.bscycle.co.jp/en/ Bridgestone Bicycles Official site]
* {{cite web|url=http://www.nccjapan.net//shashiwiki/index.php?title=Bridgestone_Corp|title=Company history books (Shashi)|publisher=Shashi Interest Group|date=April 2016}} — ''Wiki collection of bibliographic works on Bridgestone''.

{{Bridgestone Corporation}}
{{Automotive industry in Japan}}
{{Major Japanese motorcycle manufacturers}}
{{Japanese bicycle manufacturers}}
{{TOPIX 100}}
{{Nikkei 225}}
{{DJSI World}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Bridgestone| ]]
[[Category:Auto parts suppliers of Japan]]
[[Category:Tire manufacturers of Japan]]
[[Category:Cycle manufacturers of Japan]]
[[Category:Mountain bike manufacturers]]
[[Category:Multinational companies headquartered in Japan]]
[[Category:Japanese companies established in 1931]]
[[Category:Automotive companies established in 1931]]
[[Category:1960s initial public offerings]]
[[Category:Japanese brands]]
[[Category:Companies listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange]]
[[Category:Companies in the Nikkei 225]]
[[Category:Formula One tyre suppliers]]