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Bridgestone Firestone Aiken County Facility Celebrates 50 Millionth TirePlant also announces multi-million dollar capital investment

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (January 9, 2006) - In a celebration attended by South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford and Bridgestone Americas CEO Mark Emkes, the team at Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire’s (BFNT) Aiken County plant celebrated the manufacture of its 50 millionth tire created on its high-tech production line and announced a multi-million dollar capital investment in the facility which is located in Graniteville, S.C.

“We are committed to improving the soil conditions for businesses in South Carolina so companies like Bridgestone Firestone can thrive and grow,” said Gov. Mark Sanford. “This is all a part of continuing to build on our efforts to make the state more attractive to businesses as well as focusing on raising income levels for all South Carolinians."

With this capital investment of nearly $17 million, the plant will add a fourth rubber mixer to the facility and modify five existing tire building machines so they can produce large rim diameter tires. The modifications to the tire assembly systems will increase the plants ability to meet the market demand for world-class tires with larger rim sizes. BFNT’s total investment in the Aiken County plant now stands at roughly $477 million.

“I am honored to be here to celebrate this milestone with the great team at our Aiken County facility,” said Mark Emkes, chairman and CEO of Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc. “This multi-million dollar investment is an exciting step for our company. It is also evidence of our strong commitment to the Aiken County community and our promise to continue to improve quality, processes and systems in order to meet the needs of our consumers.”

The Aiken County facility, maker of both radial passenger and light truck tires, began operations in 1999 and currently employs 923 teammates. In November 2005, the plant celebrated 2 million hours worked without a “lost time” injury and has been recognized as an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) STAR (Safety Through Accountability and Recognition) facility for its outstanding safety and health management.

The facility has earned the South Carolina Governor’s Quality Award, the South Carolina Large Manufacturer of the Year Award and was honored as one of Industry Week’s Top Ten Plants in North America.

“Exemplifying high operation standards, concern for its workforce and care for the environment in which it operates, Bridgestone Firestone embodies the type of high-end manufacturing operations our state actively pursues,” said Secretary of Commerce Bob Faith. “We congratulate them on their production milestone and expansion news and we’re proud they call South Carolina home.”

“We have a wonderful team here in Aiken County that is committed to excellence in terms of quality, safety and environmental performance,” said Plant Manager Mike Rose. “The announcement of this capital investment is important to this community and to our teammates. We’re very excited about our future here in Aiken County,” Rose concluded.

Commenting on the plant’s OSHA VPP Star status, Bob Walker, Bridgestone Americas safety and health director, said, “Our Aiken County plant is one of only two tire plants in the United States to have achieved this significant honor, with the other being our own Warren County, Tenn., truck tire plant. We’re proud to say that one other Bridgestone Americas plant has been recognized as a VPP Star site right here in the state of South Carolina. Our Kingstree, S.C., building products plant has recently joined this elite group.”

About Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC:
Nashville-based Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC (BFNT) is a subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc., whose parent company, Bridgestone Corporation, is the world's largest tire and rubber company. BFNT develops, manufactures and markets Bridgestone, Firestone and associate brand tires. The company is focused on wholesale and original equipment markets, supplying passenger, light truck, commercial vehicle, off-road, motorcycle, agricultural and other tires to its customers in North America.

About Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc.:
Nashville-based Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc. (BSAH) is the U.S. subsidiary of the Bridgestone Corporation, the world’s largest tire and rubber company. BSAH and its subsidiaries develop, manufacture and market a wide range of Bridgestone, Firestone, Dayton and associate and private brand tires to address the needs of a broad range of customers, including consumers, automotive and commercial vehicle original equipment manufacturers and those in the agricultural, forestry and mining industries. The companies also produce air springs, roofing materials, synthetic rubber and industrial fibers and textiles and operate the world’s largest chain of automotive tire and service centers.