Bridgestone Creates New Sales Role
Bridgestone UK has created a new role within its sales force to capitalise on what it sees as the next growth market in the UK tyre industry.
Based in Japan, Bridgestone Corporation is the world’s largest tyre and rubber company.
Bridgestone UK has created a new role within its sales force to capitalise on what it sees as the next growth market in the UK tyre industry.
The inaugural Chinese Grand Prix was certainly a successful one for race winner, Rubens Barichello. The Ferrari driver has now won two consecutive races for the first time in his career.
Bridgestone has teamed up with competitor Continental to develop an advanced tyre pressure monitoring system for commercial vehicles. The two companies will join forces to mass produce the system which is expected to be released into the market in 2007. The companies are aiming to position the product as a “global standard.”
The intervention of government officials has brought a yearlong labour dispute between Bridgestone/Firestone (BFS) Argentina and its workers to an end.
Renault’s Formula 1 team boss, Flavio Briatore has put pressure on his team’s tyre supplier, Michelin. In a statement the French car manufacturer said that in 2005 the team would have a competitive team of drivers and that the only question mark would be over the tyres. Mr Briatore said that he likes the Michelin guys, but they still lag behind their Bridgestone rivals and must work harder.
Camel Honda driver Makoto Tamada and Kawasaki’s Shinya Nakano took first and third place for Bridgestone at the Japanese Grand Prix over the weekend. The tyre manufacturer provided tailor-made tyres for its drivers to suit the special stop-and-go characteristics of the Motegi track. “Makoto was unbeatable. Even towards the end of the race, he had tyre grip like on the first lap,” commented defeated world champion Valentino Rossi.
Bridgestone/Firestone Canada Inc. is searching the highways for a driver worthy of the 50th Bridgestone/Firestone Canadian Truck Hero Award. The 2004 campaign was launched this week and will recognize a commercial truck driver who exhibits courage, quick thinking and integrity in the face of an emergency. Nominations must be received by October 15, 2004, writes Today’s Trucking from Canada.
German online service, F1Total is reporting that Bridgestone has declared its innocence in the recently tyre ‘theft’ fiasco. The company made its comments in response to accusations that Jenson Button’s blown Michelin could have ended up in Bridgestone’s possession. Bridgestone spokesman, Adrian Atkinson, said there was nothing in the accusations and that the Japanese tyre supplier had no parts of Button’s tyre. Observers expect that it is just a matter of time before the whole issue blows over.
Bridgestone Corporation has announced that it will introduce a ‘next-generation’ production system to the company’s Hikone Plant.
The Ferrari of Rubens Barrichello drove to victory at Monza for the Brazilian’s first win of the season.
While Rubens Barrichello was gaining pole position in preparation for his first win of the season, the Minardi Formula 1 team found itself at the centre of controversy. According to the ‘Home of F1’ online news service, Michelin Motorsport director, Pierre Dupasquier, has accused Minardi of stealing the remains of Jenson Button’s burst Michelin tyre. Mr Dupasquier alleges that the tyre was taken off a truck when Zsolt Baumgartner’s crashed Minardi was returned to pit lane, at the Belgian Grand Prix two weeks ago. The Minardi team, who run on Bridgestone tyres, have vehemently denied the accusation.
Bridgestone Australia has announced that the company has appointed Makio Ohashi as chairman of directors and chief executive. The appointment follows the resignation of former director and chairman, Fumio Okuma, who had acted as company chairman for three and a half years. According to Bridgestone, Mr Okuma resigned in ordre to take up a new position overseas. Mr Ohashi is due to begin in his new role as chairman and chief executive immediately.
Makoto Tamada surprised spectators with his impressive performance at the Portuguese Grand Prix this weekend. In his Bridgestone-fitted Camel Honda RC 211 V the Japanese driver, who won the Rio-Grand Prix in July, took second place in the race. World Champion Valentino Rossi took pole position and Brazilian Alex Barros came in third place.
Bridgestone believes the result “confirmed the qualities of the latest Bridgestone compound generation.” John Hopkins claimed sixth place on his Suzuki GSV-R he commented: ” After qualifying, I knew that our Bridgestone tyres had very consistent grip, so I saved it all for a final attack on Carlos Checa. I managed to get ahead of him onto the back straight, but then I ran onto the white line and went wide, and he got by again. Horsepower is our biggest issue at the moment, and you have to ride the corners really hard to make up for it. But even though I would have liked to finish fifth, this was a great race. My team gave me a good bike today, and the tyres were exceptional.”
Far eastern news agency, Asia Pulse, has reported that Kumho Tire Co has signed a preliminary deal to build its second Chinese factory.
Michael Schumacher has claimed a record-breaking seventh world championship title at the Belgian Grand Prix.
If you would like the latest news from the Chinese tyre industry in Chinese, visit our partner site TyrepressChina.com. Or click below to continue on Tyrepress.