Tire Maker Recognized As Industry GreatBridgestone Corporation founder inducted into Automotive Hall of Fame
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Oct. 3, 2006)- Shojiro Ishibashi, the founder of Bridgestone Corporation, parent company of Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc., today will be inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame. Ishibashi (1889-1976) established Bridgestone Tire Co. Ltd. in 1931 to manufacture and market tires in Japan; 75 years later, Bridgestone Corporation is the largest tire and rubber company in the world.
Hiroshi Ishibashi, Shojiro’s grandson and current corporate auditor of Bridgestone Corporation, will be accepting the award on his late grandfather’s behalf at the ceremony held today in Dearborn, Mich.
Ishibashi had a dream to supply his nation’s new automobile industry with tires developed and manufactured with Japanese capital and expertise. He leapt from crafting shoes to creating tires in the 1930s. Ishibashi founded Bridgestone with the cornerstone belief that companies producing quality products and providing customer service will have the most success. In fact, his mantra was, “serving society with superior quality.” Today, that mantra still resonates through Bridgestone’s teammates’ actions, its products and the company’s corporate philosophy.
Other 2006 inductees into the Automotive Hall of Fame include: Nuccio Bertone, vehicle designer; Dale Earnhardt, racecar driver; Bill France Jr., NASCAR chief; Wayne Huizenga, AutoNation founder; Arjay Miller, former Ford president; and Bruno Sacco, designer.
In addition to Ishibashi’s induction into the Automotive Hall of Fame, Bridgestone Corporation has received numerous accolades. A few of these include: earning the prestigious Deming Prize for exemplary quality control in 1968 and Shojiro Ishibashi’s induction into the Japan Automotive Hall of Fame in 2002.
Ishibashi was a pioneer in the Japanese tire industry. His marketing innovations began with creating the name of his tire company, reversing the English language translation of his name “stone bridge” to create a more global sounding company name, “Bridgestone.”
The Automotive Hall of Fame, located in Dearborn, Mich., is the only industry-wide means to honor the men and women of the global motor vehicle and related industries. It is dedicated to preserving the history of mobility by celebrating the creativity, toil and genius of the individual. The Automotive Hall of Fame is both a visitor attraction and an educational resource for inspiring others to higher levels of achievement in their own work and lives.
About Bridgestone Corporation:
Bridgestone Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo, is the world’s largest tire and rubber company. In addition to tires for use in wide variety of applications, it manufactures a broad range of diversified products, which include industrial rubber and chemical products and sporting goods. Its products are sold in over 150 nations and territories around the world.
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 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.