News - 2026

Tokyo (April 7, 2026) - Bridgestone Corporation (Bridgestone) today announced that it will exhibit at the 41st Space Symposium, the United States' largest space-related conference. The event is scheduled to take place in Colorado Springs, the United States from April 13 (Monday) to 16 (Thursday), 2026, where the Bridgestone exhibit will be hosted in the Japanese Space Industry pavilion, organized by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). This marks the company's third consecutive year exhibiting at the event since 2024.

Concept model of lunar rover tires mounted on mobility exhibited by Bridgestone

Guided by the fundamental principle that "Tires carry life," Bridgestone has been advancing research and development of lunar rover tires since 2019 and promoting co-creation activities with domestic and international partners for technology development toward commercialization. In 2024, Bridgestone signed a collaboration agreement with Astrobotic Technology^*1, and in 2025, a basic agreement with ispace, inc. ^*2, actively creating new value in the rapidly evolving space mobility sector.

Bridgestone will showcase the progress of the development of tires (elastic wheels) for small and medium-sized lunar rovers, announced in 2025, by demonstrations of these tires in action mounted on a mobility vehicle. Visitors will have the opportunity to "see and touch" the tires, to experience their high traversability on simulated challenging lunar surface environments, such as easily compressible fine sand and rocky, rough terrain. Through the exhibition to showcase its technological capabilities and initiatives, Bridgestone aims to expand its network in the space business and foster opportunities for further co-creation with diverse partners. Going forward, Bridgestone will continue to develop lunar rover tires that meet customers' needs and mission requirements, supporting the safe movement of mobility and challenge of humanity with peace of mind from the ground up on the lunar surface. Through these efforts, the company is committed to contributing to the advancement of the space industry.

The lunar rover tire development is an innovative approach to expand the utilization of "AirFree" ^*3 technology and expanding the mission from earth to space and the lunar surface. AirFree technology has been positioned as an exploratory business in Bridgestone's Mid Term Business Plan (2024-2026). In the future, Bridgestone aims to apply the technology refined in the extreme lunar environment to tires used on earth, thereby contributing to further social value creation.

For more information on Bridgestone's lunar rover tire technologies, please refer to the Company's corporate website..

By supporting space mobility through lunar rover tire development, Bridgestone strives to achieve the corporate commitment of "Extension: Committed to nonstop mobility and innovation that keeps people and the world moving ahead" described in its "Bridgestone E8 Commitment" ^*4.

1. November 1, 2024: Bridgestone Partners with Astrobotic to Develop Lunar Rover Tire
2. July 31, 2025: ispace and Bridgestone Sign Agreement Towards Practical Application of Tires for Small-and-Medium-Sized Lunar Rovers
3. For more information on Bridgestone's "AirFree" technologies, please refer to the Company's corporate website.
4. The Bridgestone Group established its corporate commitment, the "Bridgestone E8 Commitment," to help it realize its vision: "Toward 2050, Bridgestone continues to provide social value and customer value as a sustainable solutions company." This commitment will serve as the Group's axis to drive management while earning the trust of future generations. The "Bridgestone E8 Commitment" consists of eight uniquely Bridgestone values starting with the letter "E" (Energy, Ecology, Efficiency, Extension, Economy, Emotion, Ease, and Empowerment) that the Group will commit to creating through distinctly Bridgestone purposes and processes, together with employees, society, partners, and customers to help realize a sustainable society.