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Bridgestone

Bridgestone Corporation
Native name
Kabushiki-gaisha Burijisuton
Public company KK
Traded as
Industry Auto and Truck parts
Founded Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan (1 January 1931; 86 years ago (1931-01-01))
Founder Shojiro Ishibashi
Headquarters Kyobashi, Tokyo, Japan
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Masaaki Tsuya
(Chairman and CEO)
Products Motor vehicle tires
Revenue Increase¥3.024 trillion (2011)
Increase¥191.32 billion (2011)
Profit Increase¥102.97 billion (2011)
Total assets Increase¥2.677 trillion (2011)
Total equity Increase¥1.165 trillion (2011)
Number of employees
139,822
Subsidiaries Firestone Tire and Rubber Company
Website www.bridgestone.com

Bridgestone Corporation (株式会社ブリヂストン Kabushiki-gaisha Burijisuton?) (: , OTC Pink: ) is a multinational auto and truck parts manufacturer founded in 1931 by Shojiro Ishibashi (石橋正二郎 Ishibashi Shōjirō?) in the city of Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan. The name Bridgestone comes from a calque translation and transposition of ishibashi, meaning "stone bridge" in Japanese.

As of 2015, the company is the largest manufacturer of tires in the world, slightly ahead of Michelin.

Bridgestone Group had 141 production facilities in 24 countries as of 2005.

The very first Bridgestone tire was produced on 9 April 1930, by the Japanese "Tabi" Socks Tyre Division (actually made jika-tabi). One year later on 1 March 1931, the founder, Shojiro Ishibashi, made the "Tabi" Socks Tyre Division independent and established the Bridgestone Tire Co., Ltd. in the city of Kurume, Fukuoka Prefecture. "Bridgestone" was named after the name of the founder, Shojiro Ishibashi (Ishi = Stone, Bashi = Bridge).

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.


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