![]() Logo of Bridgestone
|
|
Native name
|
Kabushiki-gaisha Burijisuton |
---|---|
Public company KK | |
Traded as | |
Industry | Auto and Truck parts |
Founded | Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan (1 January 1931 ) |
Founder | Shojiro Ishibashi |
Headquarters | Kyobashi, Tokyo, Japan |
Area served
|
Worldwide |
Key people
|
Masaaki Tsuya (Chairman and CEO) |
Products | Motor vehicle tires |
Revenue |
![]() |
![]() |
|
Profit |
![]() |
Total assets |
![]() |
Total equity |
![]() |
Number of employees
|
143,616 (2017) |
Subsidiaries | Firestone Tire and Rubber Company |
Website | www |
Bridgestone Corporation (株式会社ブリヂストン Kabushiki-gaisha Burijisuton) (: ) 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.
Wartime regulations were in effect throughout Japan, 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. Fortunately, 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 forty-six days, the foundations of the company were further reinforced after this.