Bridgestone Begins Supplying POTENZA RE050 ECOPIA Tires as Standard Equipment for Mercedes-Benz S-Class HYBRID Long
-Expands scope of flagship ECOPIA brand of eco-friendly tires-

Tokyo (October 15, 2009) - Bridgestone Corporation announced today that it has started supplying POTENZA RE050 ECOPIA tires as standard equipment for the Mercedes-Benz S-Class HYBRID Long. The tire size will be 255/45R18 99Y.

The POTENZA brand offers the ultimate in stable driving performance in both wet and dry conditions while also achieving a reduction in rolling resistance. Accordingly, the ECOPIA sub name has been added to POTENZA.

In calculating carbon dioxide emissions at each stage of the tire lifecycle, from raw materials to disposal, it was discovered that 87%^*1 of total emissions occur during the usage stage. The Bridgestone Group believes that it can make a significant contribution to addressing worldwide environmental issues such as global warming through the development of tires that provide greater reduction in rolling resistance, and thus improve fuel efficiency and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

ECOPIA is Bridgestone's flagship brand of eco-friendly tires that focus on realizing a reduction in rolling resistance. ECPOIA tyres were developed at first as a tyre for electric-powered cars in 1991, In Japan, the Ecopia brand was enhanced for replacement market in 2002 as ECOPIA M881 and ECOPIA R221 series tyres for truck and buses were released. Bridgestone Japan launched the ECOPIA M812 tyre for light trucks in 2005, followed by the ECOPIA EP100 for passenger cars in April 2008.

Bridgestone plans to further expand its range of ECOPIA brand tires, as well as extend the scope of coverage to the global market and their use on original equipment. By incorporating technologies used in ECOPIA tires such as NanoPro-Tech^*2 into existing product lines, Bridgestone will expand its range of eco-products^*3 and plans to make 100% of its passenger car tires for the replacement market in Japan (summer tires) into eco-products by 2014.

1. *1. Carbon dioxide emissions at the different stages of a tire's lifecycle

   

2. *2. NanoPro-Tech (Nanostructure-Oriented Properties Control Technology) is the generic name for the technology that draws out the special characteristics of rubber and controls the microstructure of materials through molecular design. It is one of Bridgestone's core technologies. Bridgestone addressed the challenge to combine a reduction in rolling resistance and safety performance in wet conditions and has succeeded in overcoming this dilemma with the introduction of its raw materials development technology, NanoPro-Tech.

3. *3. Eco-products refer to tires with outstanding economic efficiency and environmental performance to a level that satisfies Bridgestone standards. Such tires boast less rolling resistance, are lighter weight, emit less carbon dioxide while driving through greater fuel efficiency, and in general, have been designed with the environment and fuel economy in mind.

Features of Mercedes-Benz S-Class HYBRID Long

In line with its status as a company with a vast global presence, Bridgestone has formulated a universal environmental policy, dubbed “One Team, One Planet,” to unite it with people and organizations beyond the standard corporate framework as well as to ensure the safety of the children of the world.

This mark expresses the environmental management activities promoted by Bridgestone. The “e” represents the first letter of the word “Ecology”, the cornerstone of these activities. The mark also symbolizes the seeds borne from our eco foundations in the form of a clear sky and growing trees.

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