NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Feb. 17, 2006) – Bridgestone Corporation, parent company of Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc. (BSAH), today announced that its consolidated, or worldwide, net income for fiscal year 2005 increased 58%, to ¥180.7 billion (US$1.53 billion), on sales of ¥2691.3 billion (US$22.8 billion), an 11% increase over the prior year. Net income was positively affected by a one-time pension related gain as well as certain other extraordinary items. Operating income rose 8% to ¥213.8 billion (US$1.81 billion).

In the Americas, BSAH 2005 net sales increased by more than $1 billion, totaling more than $10.15 billion for the year, an 11% increase over 2004 and a record for the company. Net income (profit) was $428 million, an increase of $244 million over 2004. The 2005 growth in sales reflected strength in all of BSAH’s major business units, due to increases in both volume and pricing. Net income benefited from a one-time recognition of a deferred tax asset related to accumulated tax losses carried forward. 2005 marks BSAH’s fourth consecutive profitable year.

“This year marks an historic milestone for our company,” said John Vispo, vice president, finance, BSAH. “With the achievement of our first $10 billion sales year, we can truly say that our company has firmly established its rightful place as a leader in the tire and rubber business in the Americas. In addition to our record sales year, Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC (BFNT), our North American tire business, achieved its goal of a profit before tax in 2005 (excluding certain one-time legal expenses), its first since that company was formed in late 2001. These results are even more remarkable when you consider the extremely challenging environment we faced in 2005, including unprecedented increases in raw material and energy costs, escalating pension and medical benefit expenses, and the impact of the hurricanes on our businesses, especially on our retail and diversified products units.”

The results reflect the impressive performance at all of BSAH’s subsidiaries, especially by its retail, diversified products, and Latin American businesses. Net income was affected by the reversal of certain valuation tax reserves associated with the company’s deferred tax assets. According to U.S. GAAP, the company is allowed to reverse those reserves when deferred tax utilization is expected to occur in the future. As performance in the Americas is improving, BFNT and BSAH recognized deferred tax assets through the reversal of previously established valuation allowances.

Additional factors that were cited as contributing to the 2005 full-year results include strong sales of truck and bus tires, impressive sales and profits in the building products segment of the diversified products business, and increasing sales of the company’s flagship Bridgestone and Firestone brand passenger and light truck tires in the replacement market, resulting in an improved sales mix.

Looking to 2006, BSAH is forecasting continued growth in sales to approximately $11 billion. 2006 net income is projected at about $150 million.

“Our businesses will face a number of demanding challenges in 2006 – including the need to overcome continuing increases in raw material, pension and health care costs and rising interest rates. The fact that we believe BSAH will be profitable, even in the face of these issues and an increasingly competitive market, is clearly attributed to the efforts of our 50,000 teammates and the loyal stores and dealers across the Americas who sell our products,” said Vispo. “While the road ahead will be a difficult one, we plan to address these challenges head-on through improved productivity, cost containment efforts and recently implemented price increases.”

Improving the capabilities and flexibility of its tire plants, increasing operating efficiencies and targeting profitable sales volume growth will continue to be the company’s focus in 2006. Regarding its sales outlook for the Americas, BSAH is focusing its growth on sales of higher margin products in the passenger car, light truck, truck and bus segments, as well as sales growth in its retail and diversified products businesses and in its Latin American operations. The company is also forecasting that all of its business units will achieve a profit before tax in 2006, including the North American tire business.

For 2006 Bridgestone Corporation is projecting sales of ¥2,900 billion (US$26.36 billion), operating income of ¥197 billion (US$1.79 billion) and net income of ¥100 billion (US$900 million).