Bridgestone/Firestone donates land to city of Akron.

AKRON, Ohio--(AUTOMOTIVE WIRE)--June 26, 1996--Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. and Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic jointly announced today that the company will donate to the City of Akron a total of 112 acres of real estate, including parcels of land adjoining the Ohio Canal.

A portion of the land will be used to relocate an operations center for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, which manages the Ohio and Erie Canals.

"This generous donation of land and the subsequent relocation of the operations center will enable the City of Akron to proceed with plans to construct a recreation complex, which will include a boating facility, on Summit Lake. The city is very grateful to Bridgestone/Firestone," said Mayor Plusquellic.

"When we learned of Akron's need for this land and how it would make possible the development of recreational facilities for young people and those who enjoy the outdoors, we felt it was the right thing to do," said company chairman and CEO Masatoshi Ono. "Bridgestone/Firestone is privileged to be able to demonstrate its goodwill to the people of Akron in this way."

"I am delighted for the community and our associates in Akron," said Mike Hamaya, president of Bridgestone/Firestone Technology, the company's senior executive in Akron.

The property, donated by Bridgestone/Firestone, includes a sizeable area of wetlands in four parcels of land: a 60-acre tract bounded by the Ohio Canal on the west and Wilbeth Road on the north; 12 acres between the Ohio Canal and the Ohio Edison right-of-way; 15 acres between the Ohio Edison right-of-way and Sycamore Street; and 25 acres bounded by Waterloo Road on the south, the Ohio Edison right-of-way on the west, and Basswood Street on the east.

Bridgestone/Firestone employs a total of more than 900 associates in Akron. Its operations in Akron center on the Akron Technical Center at 1200 Firestone Parkway, where the company develops Firestone tires and related technologies. The Akron Technical Center also develops and produces Firestone Firehawk racing tires, which have been so successful on the Indy circuit since returning in 1995 after a 21-year absence.

Firestone Synthetic Rubber & Latex, a division company and a world leader in advanced polymers, maintains its owns headquarters and R&D facility on Wilbeth Road. The Bridgestone/Firestone Computer Center, located at Wilbeth and South Main, is now headquarters of Bridgestone/Firestone Information Services, a division newly established in 1996. Bridgestone/Firestone Research Laboratories are located at Wilbeth and South Main.

Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc. (BFS), with corporate headquarters in Nashville, Tenn., is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation of Japan. With operations throughout North and South America, BFS manufactures and markets Bridgestone, Firestone, Dayton, Seiberling, and private and house brand tires. The company also produces Firestone air springs, roofing materials, synthetic rubber, and industrial fibers and textiles.

Bridgestone Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo, is the world's largest tire and rubber company. It produces a complete line of tires, which account for 75 percent of its sales worldwide. Bridgestone also manufactures a wide range of other products, including sporting goods, construction materials and industrial rubber products, sold in more than 150 nations and territories around the world.

CONTACT: Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc., Nashville

Trevor Hoskins, 615/872-1410

Alan Halbert, 615/872-1463

or 800/851-7000