Skip to content
‹ Back to IndustriesTransportation

DisruptED in Advanced Manufacturing: The Bridgestone Story with Will Robbins Pt. 1

A major tire manufacturer navigates the challenges of electrification and sustainability in a rapidly evolving automotive landscape

This story was produced through MarketScale. See how Transportation teams put it to work with Partner & Channel Enablement.

By Ron Stefanski · · BridgestoneBridgestone TiresDisruptedEvs
Share

Key takeaways

01

A major tire manufacturer navigates the challenges of electrification and sustainability in a rapidly evolving automotive landscape

Free workspace

Turn your Transportation expertise into content.

Record interviews, organize footage, and write with AI on a free trial of the MarketScale platform for qualifying companies. No demo required, no credit card.

Try it Free

The automotive world is seeing some unprecedented change, and the tire industry is no exception. As electric vehicles (EVs) grow in popularity, sustainability is a major concern. With new mobility trends emerging, companies like Bridgestone are at the forefront of innovation. Additionally, with the popularity of vehicles on the road being fitted with Bridgestone or Firestone tires, the company's impact on transportation is undeniable.

How are Bridgestone Tires adapting to technological disruptions, and what role does sustainability play in the future of the industry?

On this episode of "DisruptED," host Ron J. Stefanski welcomed Will Robbins, Executive Director of Strategic and Product Portfolio Planning at Bridgestone Americas. Robbins is a 20-year industry veteran, shares insights into Bridgestone's approach to innovation, sustainability, and the evolving landscape of the tire business.

During the episode the two discussed how:

  • Electric vehicles create unique demands on tires due to increased weight, torque, and alignment differences, requiring specialized solutions.
  • Bridgestone is leading the charge toward 100 percent renewable and recycled materials by 2050,
  • Bridgestone's Bandag brand extends the life of commercial truck tires through retreading, significantly reducing waste and promoting cost-efficiency for fleet operators.

Will Robbins is the Executive Director of Strategic and Product Portfolio Planning at Bridgestone Americas. He has over two decades of experience in the automotive and tire industry, and has played a key role in developing innovative product strategies that address the needs of a rapidly evolving market. Robbins has a background in mechanical engineering and has worked extensively with major automotive OEMs.

Your experts belong here

Every story in MarketScale Transportation starts with a company putting its fleet managers, logistics engineers, and safety leads on the record. Buyers are already reading this topic. The only question is whose experts they find.

Fleet and logistics buyers compare quietly, and your operators become the evidence that settles it.

Book DemoSee how it works15 minutes, straight to a calendar.

About the author

RS
Ron Stefanski
B2B Weekly

The week in Transportation, and sixteen other industries, every Monday.

Ten stories, one-line takes, five minutes. Free.

Transportation: are you visible to AI?

Before they reach out, Transportation buyers ask AI engines which vendors to trust. Explore how your experts, customers, and partners can become useful content for buyers and AI search.

Free Trial

You just read one Transportation expert. Your company is full of them.

This article was produced through MarketScale. The same platform turns your fleet managers, logistics engineers, and safety leads into the articles, video, and social content Transportation buyers are searching for. Start a free trial and see it with your own people. For qualifying companies, no credit card, no demo required.

NPS +73 · 1,000+ creators · 38+ countries

What your free trial includes

Hands-on access to the MarketScale platform
Media requests to your crowd, remote recording, AI writing tools
No demo required. No credit card.
For qualifying companies. Company confirmation required.

More Transportation Insights

Michelin's X Multi Energy D2 drive tire cuts rolling resistance 9% over its predecessor

Michelin's X Multi Energy D2 drive tire cuts rolling resistance 9% over its predecessor

Michelin’s X Multi Energy D2 regional drive tire targets fleets running the X Multi Energy D in 295/75R22.5 LRG, 11R22.5 LRG or 11R22.5 LRH. Michelin’s footnotes base its performance percentages on 11R22.5 LRG tires, so fleets in 295/75R22.5 or LRH could ask for size-specific data.

  • 01The 18% figure is a rolling resistance comparison against two named tires, the Bridgestone M760 Ecopia and the Goodyear Fuel Max RTD, in Michelin's internal ISO 28580 testing, which gives buyers a specific head-to-head to check against their own data.
  • 02The change will matter first to fleets running the X Multi Energy D in 295/75R22.5 LRG, 11R22.5 LRG or 11R22.5 LRH. That suggests D fleets may encounter the D2 when ordering those sizes.

Oct 3, 2026

Mass Transit reports finished bus refurbishments for Long Beach and Minot

Mass Transit reports finished bus refurbishments for Long Beach and Minot

Mass Transit reported that Complete Coach Works finished refurbishment jobs on 13 Long Beach Transit articulated buses and one Minot City Transit bus. On the Long Beach buses, the biggest change was a swap to Cummins L9N near-zero engines. Jefferson Transit Authority is getting one refurbished bus from CCW through Washington's cooperative purchasing contract. California's Fresno Area Express has also bought CCW work under that contract, which shows its reach goes past Washington.

  • 01Midlife refurbishments can include major engine swaps: LBT’s 2015 New Flyer artics replaced ISL-G engines with Cummins L9N CNG 'Near Zero' units.

Oct 1, 2026

PureForge names CRO to push Europe-first OEM plan and fleets

PureForge names CRO to push Europe-first OEM plan and fleets

PureForge named Grant Hanson chief revenue officer to expand from police fleets into commercial fleets and automakers. The pitch splits in two. Data from 120 police agencies backs the fleet case, and a TÜV-Nord test under half the Euro 7 brake limit backs the European OEM pitch.

  • 01PureForge now carries two separate proofs for two separate buyers: 15 million police miles for fleet managers watching brake-job costs, and a German lab result for OEM engineers watching a November deadline.
  • 02PureForge has said its initial sales focus is Europe, where OEMs face a November 2026 deadline under the Euro 7 brake-emission rules.
  • 03For commercial fleets, the figure to test first is the 3–5x pad-life claim; PureForge reported it, so fleets should rerun it against their own brake-job history.

Oct 1, 2026

Explore More Transportation Insights

Read more expert perspectives from across Transportation.

Browse Transportation Hub

About the Expert

RS
Ron Stefanski

For B2B teams

Your experts could be publishing here

Stories like this one run on content MarketScale captures from real practitioners. See how your team's expertise becomes coverage in Transportation and beyond.

Book a Demo

Or call us. No forms required. We pick up. 214-945-2512