Responding to the continued spread of the novel coronavirus, major tire manufacturers in Japan have decided to call off or postpone initiation ceremonies for new employees. Bridgestone Corp. (TYO:5108) is among this list, having decided to postpone its ceremonial activities. Meanwhile, Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd. (TYO:5110) has decided that rather than hold its usual activities for new employees, it will...
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Bridgestone Fields Questions Regarding Coronavirus, Diversified Business and More at General Meeting of Shareholders
Bridgestone Corp. (TYO:5108) recently held a general meeting of shareholders at the Palace Hotel Tokyo, starting at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 24. The meeting was attended by 246 shareholders and lasted for one hour and 10 minutes. Seven shareholders at the meeting asked a total of eight questions. Topics here included the company’s progress with diversified businesses, as well...
Coronavirus Looks Set to Impact European Operations of Japanese Rubber Companies
The outbreak of the novel coronavirus has now spread to the point where it is impacting Japanese rubber companies with operations in Europe. Bridgestone Corp. (TYO:5108) has halted operations at two of its European plants as of 3:00 p.m. Thursday, March 19, Japan Standard Time. The decision includes a truck and bus tire plant in Bilbao, Spain, as well as...
Bridgestone Wins Chinese Patent Case for Truck and Bus Tire Tread Pattern
Bridgestone Corp. (TYO:5108) announced on Feb. 28 that it has won a patent rights infringement lawsuit against Chinese tire manufacturer Fangxing Rubber Co. Ltd. in the Shanghai High People’s Court. Bridgestone first filed the lawsuit with the Shanghai Intellectual Property Court in September 2017, claiming that Fangxing had infringed on its patent rights by manufacturing and selling tires with a...
Japanese Tire Manufacturers Struggle to Predict How Coronavirus Will Impact 2020 Business Results
Japan’s four major tire manufacturers – Bridgestone Corp. (TYO:5108), Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd. (TYO:5110), Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. (TYO:5101) and Toyo Tires Corp. (TYO:5105) – are all forecasting improvements at the operating profit level for calendar 2020. Bridgestone is using adjusted operating profit here, while Sumitomo Rubber and Yokohama Rubber use business profit. However, with Bridgestone noting that it is...
Bridgestone to Supply Greatec Tires as OE Option for New Isuzu Giga Truck
Bridgestone Corp. (TYO:5108) is set to begin supplying its Greatec brand of tires as an OE option for use on Isuzu Motors Ltd.’s (TYO:7202) new Giga truck, which hit the Japanese market in December 2019. The Greatec brand has so far been largely geared toward the North American market. Tires at the rear of large trucks are typically mounted in...