Bridgestone revises mid-term management plan for 2008

ERJ staff report (DS)

Tokyo -- Bridgestone Corp. has revised its mid-term management plan (MTP2008) and extended its scope to 2013. In making the revisions, said Bridgestone, it has updated and added initiatives in response to recent changes in the business environment, including changes in demand trends and the cost environment, in order to achieve the goals set in MTP2007.

The company will increase its efforts in strategic products, including runflat tyres, ultra-high-performance (UHP) tyres, winter tyres for passenger cars, super-single and low-profile radial tyres for trucks and buses, and radial tyres for large off-the-road vehicles, aircraft and motorcycles.

Bridgestone has also recognised that fuel-saving is an important factor in tyre sales and said it will accelerate development of ECOPIA product lines that are equipped with technology which reduces rolling resistance as a means to provide more fuel-efficient tyres and contribute to reductions in carbon dioxide emissions.

The company has also announced that it will use the Bandag platform to increase globally its retread activities

Yet another strand will be to focus more closely on production technologies. The company will also begin "an in-depth review of procurement"

In the non-tyre activities, Bridgestone has said it will optimise that operation, and this will include the selvetive withdrawal from certain business activities. The company said, "Bridgestone will withdraw from “selected” businesses at the optimum timing based on a spirit of CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility), while prioritizing consideration of customers and business partners."

In terms of net sales, Bridgestone aims to exceed its MTP2007 goal of ¥4.0 trillion with ¥4.3 trillion in 2012 (euro 32 000 million). Bridgestone will seek to attain an even higher level in 2013. Bridgestone said it aims to report operating income over the ¥400 billion mark set in MTP2007 and achieve ¥410 billion (euro 3000 million) as of 2012. Again, Bridgestone will work toward the higher level in 2013.

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Press release from Bridgestone