Bridgestone Group honored by GM as a Supplier of the Year for eighth consecutive year

For the eighth consecutive year, Bridgestone Corp. and its global family of companies, including Bridgestone Americas Holding Inc. (BSAH), was named as a General Motors (GM) Supplier of the Year for its overall business performance in providing GM with parts and services.

"Receiving this impressive award for the eighth consecutive time is a testament to the dedication and commitment of our employees around the world," said John Lampe, BSAH chairman, CEO and president. "We are proud of this achievement and our relationship with General Motors."

The award was presented during ceremonies Saturday, April 12, in Miami, Fla.

"The Bridgestone Group is representative of the companies GM expects to grow with us as we seek to increase market share," said Bo Andersson, vice president, GM Worldwide Purchasing Production Control & Logistics.

"The company's performance and contributions have been critical in helping GM to become the industry's low cost producer of high quality vehicles. They serve as a role model for other suppliers."

The Bridgestone Group supplies Bridgestone- and Firestone-brand tires to GM plants worldwide.

In the United States, Bridgestone Americas supplies tires to GM and also to the GM subsidiary Saturn Corp. and to the GM/Toyota joint venture, New United Motors Manufacturing, Inc.

Bridgestone Europe supplies tires to GM's European subsidiaries. And Bridgestone Group companies in Indonesia, Taiwan, Australia, Turkey, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela, Kenya and South Africa also are GM suppliers.

In addition to the Bridgestone Group's eight consecutive global supplier awards, the group's Mexican subsidiary earned regional awards from GM for 1992 and 1993. Overall, the Bridgestone Group has earned prestigious recognition from the world's largest automaker in 10 of the past 11 years.

The GM Supplier of the Year award began as a global program in 1992. Award-winners are selected by a global team of executives from purchasing, engineering, manufacturing and logistics who base their decisions on supplier performance in quality, service, technology and price.

This year, General Motors honored 70 suppliers for their excellence throughout 2002.