NASHVILLE, Tenn. (June 22, 2005) - Bridgestone® brand Turanza™ EL400 02™ tires are original equipment on the 2005 Volkswagen Jetta. Bridgestone Firestone de Mexico’s Cuernevaca Plant is supplying the German automaker’s high-tech production facility in Puebla, Mexico, with its all-season touring tire the Turanza EL400 02, in size 205/55R16 91H for Volkswagen’s all-new Jetta. This Bridgestone Turanza EL400 02 tire is fitted on many new Jetta models equipped with the car’s available 16-inch alloy wheels, representing the highest wheel installation rate on new Jettas being sold in the United States.

The tire fitment is a result of the combined efforts of the many and varied Bridgestone companies. The initial fitment was coordinated by Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire’s (BFNT) Original Equipment division, and Bridgestone Firestone Europe and BFNT’s Akron Technical Center engineers worked with Volkswagen to design the product, which offers a new technically advanced tread design.

“During an accelerated 14-month development program, many of the companies within Bridgestone’s global group worked closely with Volkswagen engineers in Europe and North America to create this specially tuned Turanza EL40002 tire for the 2005 Jetta,” said Michael Martini, president, original equipment consumer tire, BFNT. “We’re especially pleased to offer such great collaborative efforts from our talented groups for the all-new fifth generation Jetta. As Volkswagen’s best selling model in the United States, this is a prestigious fitment and we look forward to continuing our dynamic relationship with the automaker.”

The Bridgestone brand Turanza EL400 02 is a premium touring all-season design tire delivering precision handling, enhanced ride comfort and reduced noise levels.

Bridgestone Firestone Mexico is a unit of Bridgestone Firestone Latin American Operations, a división of Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc., subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation in Japan. More than 60 years of presence in Mexico has enabled Bridgestone Firestone to produce and sell different designs of passenger, light truck, truck and bus, agricultural and off-road tires. The company owns two plants in Mexico, one located in Mexico City for the manufacture of bias truck and agricultural tires, and its second facility located in Morelos State producing high and ultra high performance passenger and light tuck tires. Both plants have achieved the highest standards in quality assurance and safety.