Jan. 25, 2022—– Bridgestone has announced plans to expand its electric and hybrid vehicle services at 44 of the company’s Firestone Complete Auto Care and Wheel Works stores in Austin, Texas and San Francisco, Calif, according to a press release.
The services are part of the company’s broader initiative to “address an increasingly electric car parc” and “contribute to a more sustainable society.” While electric vehicle services today account for less than 10 percent of total services at Bridgestone’s retail operations nationwide, demand is expected to increase significantly by the end of the decade, the release states.
It is estimated that battery electric and hybrid vehicles will represent more than half of the overall U.S. car parc by 2030, a Boston Consulting Group analysis found. Additionally, the number of electric vehicle models in the U.S. is expected to increase from 50 in 2019, to more than 200 available electric vehicle models by 2026, according to IHS Market.
“It’s an exciting time to be in the automotive service industry as mobility evolves to be cleaner and more sustainable,” Marko Ibrahim, president of Bridgestone Retail Operations, said in a statement. “We truly believe what’s good for society is good for business, which is why we are increasing our investments in plug-in vehicle services in two key markets with plans to expand further in the future. The steps we take now will ensure we are the service provider of choice for new-energy vehicles.”
