Lavergne Plant Returns to Full Capacity;
Plant to Call Back Previously Laid Off Employees

Nashville, Tenn. (Dec.10, 2001) - - Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC (BFNT), a subsidiary of Bridgestone/Firestone Americas Holding, Inc., announced today that its LaVergne, Tenn. plant will return to full capacity.

The plant will fill 80 positions by January 2002, with all employees remaining from last January's lay off to be called back. The action reflects the company's need to increase the output of commercial truck tires for the North American market next year.

"We're looking forward to getting back to making more tires. It is never pleasant to have a layoff, but it is always rewarding to bring people back to work," said John McQuade, vice president of Manufacturing Operations for BFNT. "This is good news for our employees, the company and the commercial tire business. We're pleased to see an increase in demand in this market."

The BFNT plant in LaVergne is responsible for the manufacture of both commercial truck tires and passenger and light truck tires. The plant was established in 1972 by Firestone and was purchased in 1983 by Bridgestone USA, Inc, a subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation. Until the purchase of the Firestone Tire & Rubber Company in 1988, the LaVergne plant was Bridgestone's only US-based production facility. The LaVergne plant employs approximately 1,600 Middle Tennesseans.

Nashville-based Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC is a subsidiary of Bridgestone/Firestone Americas Holding, Inc. whose parent company, Bridgestone Corporation, is the world's largest tire and rubber company. BFNT develops, manufactures and markets Bridgestone, Firestone, Dayton and associate and private brand tires. The company is focused on wholesale and original equipment markets, supplying passenger, light truck, commercial vehicle, off-road, agricultural and other tires to its customers in the Americas.