| Bridgestone Corporation | |
|---|---|
| File:Bridgestone.png | |
| Partner Information | |
| Based |  Kyōbashi, Tokyo, Japan
|
| Founder | Shojiro Ishibashi |
| Announced | August 2026 |
| Role | Official tyre supplier |
| Official Website | [] |
Bridgestone Corporation (株式会社ブリヂストン in Japanese) is a Japanese manufacturing company best know for manufacturing tyres for the automotive industry and is the largest such manufacturer in the world.[1] Also well know for their expoits as a tyre supplier for various motorsport series, Bridgestone was signed as the official tyre supplier for the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship for the Generation 4 ruleset, its first venture into the series.[2]
Background[]
Bridgestone began operations in 1931 as the Bridgestone Tyre Co., Ltd in Kurume, Fukuoka Prefecture by Shojiro Ishibashi who had obtained control of the Tabi Socks Tire Division and several designs for tyres in 1930.[1] Using a foundation based on Japanese rather than western tyre technology, Bridgestone initially struggled but by the start of the Second World War was becoming both a national and international firm of note with several plants across Japan.[1] The company was then engulfed in Japan's war effort and would be targeted by Allied bombing which saw its Tokyo factory completely wiped out, before beginning an impressive recovery once the War had finished.[1]
Japan's Innovator: 1950s - 1988[]
1951 saw Bridgestone make a breakthrough with their tyre technology, using rayon cords, which enabled Bridgestone to invest in its facilities and become Japan's largest tyre manufacturer as well as move into manufacturing bicycles and small motorcycles.[1] Bridgestone would also make nylon tyres and, after being listed on the stock exchange, the Japanese firm began making radial tyres as well as begin to open plants internationally, with a United States branch opening in 1967.[1] Its approach to its own research and development and innovations was further reinforced by the oil crisis in the 1970s, and the 1980s would see Bridgestone open a wave of new plants across the world including in Europe, China and the US.[1]
Motorsports and World Leader: 1989 - Present[]
1988 would see Bridgestone purchase the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company of Ohio, resulting in huge investment in the brand which would kickstart Bridgestone's renewed attempts at becoming the world's largest tyre manufacturer, which would also open the door for Bridgestone to enter motorracing for the first time.[1] In 1995 Firestone would move into the CART series to challenge Goodyear, ultimately winning their fight to become the series' sole tyre supplier, before moving into Formula One in 1997 and aiding McLaren-Mercedes to win the Drivers and Constructors Championship in 1998 after just one full season in F1.[1] Fighting against Michelin at the time, Bridgestone would notably partner with Ferrari in F1 among other major teams, winning numerous titles with the Scuderia, before serving as F1's only tyre supplier between 2008 and 2010.[1]
Bridgestone ultimately left F1 at the end of 2010 citing issues with justifying their continued expense in the series, although would continue its programme in Super GT and MotoGP.[1] Bridgestone would also serve as an official sponsor of the Olympic Games until 2024, and would also create its own golfing brand, create artificial fins for wounded dolphins, and run the "Bridgestone e-Reporter" programme for young journalists.[1]
Formula E History[]
Bridgestone had not investigated an entry into the FIA Formula E World Championship until the series reached its Generation 3 ruleset, when the Japanese tyre manufactuer began to serious think of entering the series.[3] After missing out on a tender to supply Formula One once again, Bridgestone would enter the tender process for the Generation 4 ruleset when it opened in early 2023, applying to become the series' sole tyre supplier beginning in 2026/27.[3] The Japanese firm duly defeated exisiting tyre supplier Hankook to win the tender, and would begin development of their FE tyres in 2024 once the plans for the tyres were finalised.[2]
Products[]
Bridgestone is currently in the development phase of their first FE tyres and as such no details have been released, although it is likely that Bridgestone will base their design on their existing "Enliten" tech aimed at electric vehicles.[4] Two specifications were outlined by the Generation 4 ruleset, including a "baseline" set featuring a grooved tread pattern, and a "typhoon" variant designed for extreme wet weather.[3]
References[]
Videos and Images:
References:
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedBri - ↑ 2.0 2.1 'Formula E’s GEN4 suppliers confirmed', fiaformulae.com, (FIA Formula E, 06/12/2023), https://fiaformulae.com/en/news/486580, (Accessed 14/12/2024)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Sam Smith, 'Bridgestone gets Formula E deal after F1 snub', the-race.com, (The Race Media, 06/12/2023), https://www.the-race.com/formula-e/bridgestone-formula-e-post-f1-snub/, (Accessed 18/03/2025)
- ↑ Stephen Goodchild, 'Bridgestone ‘delighted’ with upcoming Formula E tyre supply', tyrepress.com, (Tyrepress, 07/12/2023), https://www.tyrepress.com/2023/12/bridgestone-delighted-with-upcoming-formula-e-tyre-supply/, (Accessed 18/03/2025)
| FIA Formula E Partners |
|---|
| Institutional |
| Formula E Holdings • Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile • ABB |
| Founding |
| BMW • DHL • Michelin • Qualcomm • Renault • TAG Heuer |
| Other |
| Aggreko • Antofagasta Minerals • Google Cloud • Julius Bär • PIF • Sabic • Saudia • TATA Communications • Tattinger |
| Spark Technical Partners (Generation 3) |
| Spark Racing Technologies • Brembo • Dallara • Hankook • Hewland • Lucid Motors • Fortescue Zero |
| Spark Technical Partners (Generation 4) |
| Spark Racing Technologies • Brembo • Bridgestone • Dallara • Marelli • Podium AT |
| Former Partners |
| 1st Round • Allianz • Bosch • CNBC • Cooper Co. • Enel • Heineken • Hugo Boss • McLaren • Modis • Rimac Automobili • Umicore • voestalpine |