• Together with EVBox Group and TSG, Bridgestone EMIA (Bridgestone) will install up to 3,500 new charging ports across its European retail and service network over five years.
• Europe's EV drivers and fleets will gain unique access to both Bridgestone's new charging locations and a public charging network of over 130,000 charging ports through one single solution.
• Bridgestone supports the adoption of EVs through a fully integrated approach including premium tyres and tyre technologies for EVs, dedicated fleet and mobility solutions and an EV-ready retail and service network.

 BRUSSELS (September 9, 2021) — Bridgestone, a global leader in tyres and rubber providing solutions for safe and sustainable mobility, and EVBox, a leading provider of electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions, are today announcing a new, long-term partnership to expand Europe's charging infrastructure with the installation of up to 3,500 new charging ports across Bridgestone's European retail and service network, which includes leading brands such as Speedy and First Stop. The five-year project, which is the latest in Bridgestone's support for the adoption of EVs as part of its commitment to help shape a sustainable future of mobility, will begin in France and Italy and expand into the UK, Germany, Poland, Spain and other European countries.

Bridgestone's new charging network will consist of both normal and fast charging stations installed in strategic locations and will be accessible to all EV drivers, both private and fleet vehicles; fast charging ports will be installed on high-demand routes for people in transit to quickly charge. The partnership will be facilitated through EVBox's partner TSG, the European leader in technical services for mobility solutions, which will take a leading role in designing, installing and maintaining the EV charging infrastructure across Bridgestone's European retail and service network.

Thanks to the partnership between Bridgestone and EVBox, EV drivers and fleets will get access to one of Europe's largest charging networks, comprised of a public charging network of over 130,000 ports, and the 3,500 new charging ports through one single solution: a dedicated card or mobile app, facilitated through EVBox's Charging Management Software.

Giving access to all these charging sessions across Europe, the app (or card) offers extra convenience and efficiency to its users through one centralised platform for payments and invoicing, providing data on recharging habits and will enable its users to travel from Madrid to Helsinki using the same unique solution.

Through the EVBox partnership, Bridgestone's retail network will also be offering EV drivers the opportunity to buy and install at-home EV charging stations, strengthening the company's commitment to improving the accessibility of EVs as a more sustainable mobility choice.

Investing to support Europe's adoption of electric mobility

Bridgestone sees EVs as a huge opportunity to reduce CO2 emissions and make mobility more environmentally sustainable, particularly with 20 per cent of new car sales in Europe in 2025 expected to be EVs1.

Yet there are still many barriers to overcome before a fully electric future can be realised: Bridgestone's annual research on EV take-up across Europe found that, for the respondents who are not considering acquiring an EV, 50 per cent cited insufficient charging infrastructure as the reason why2. This challenge is being addressed by the EU 'Fit for 55' package, which is requiring Member States to expand charging capacity in line with the expected zero-emission car sales, and to install charging and fuelling points at regular intervals on major highways3.

As part of its commitment to help shape a sustainable future of mobility, Bridgestone is transforming its business to support the adoption of EVs. Through a fully integrated approach, Bridgestone is investing to develop premium tyres and tyres technologies for EVs as well as dedicated fleet and mobility solutions. The company is also partnering with leading EV manufacturers and developing an EV-ready retail and service network – offering electric vehicle maintenance and tyre services, EV charging and mobile services for EVs all under one roof. Helping to expand Europe's charging infrastructure through the EVBox and TSG partnerships is a big milestone on this journey.

'Evolving and growing alongside e-mobility and its demands'

Commenting on the announcement from Bridgestone and EVBox was Christophe de Valroger, Bridgestone EMIA's VP Retail Operations: "Bridgestone is committed to helping drive the electric future into reality, partnering with leading EV manufacturers to develop premium tyres and sustainable technologies that meet the specific requirements of EVs. Also key to those efforts is building a truly EV-ready retail and service network. Through this partnership we will be supporting the much-needed expansion of Europe's charging infrastructure, and providing EV drivers and fleet operators with the convenience and efficiency they demand. EVBox has been leading the creation of the EV charging industry since 2010; it's definitely the right partner for us."

"Bridgestone is a business passionate about shaping a sustainable future of mobility. We've seen this come to life through many of its recent announcements and partnerships, and we're proud to be working alongside a company with like-minded ambitions," said Bram Poeth, CCO at EVBox Group. "This collaboration marks the beginning of a new long-term partnership between industry leaders that will evolve and grow alongside e-mobility and its demands."

*1 Source: Bridgestone internal estimates based on Frost & Sullivan, BCG, ACEA, LMC, Transport & Environment, and IHS, 2020

*2 Internal Bridgestone research, carried out in 2021 with over 3,000 European consumers across France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and UK

*3 Every 60 kilometres for electric charging and every 150 kilometres for hydrogen

 Media information:
Bridgestone EMIA:
Liesbeth Denys, Director Public Affairs and Communications EMIA: +32 478 78 26 22
EVBox Group:
Madeline Ana Vidak, Senior PR & Corpoarte Communications Specialist at EVBox Group, madeline.vidak@evbox.com
Job Karstens, Head of Corporate Communications at EVBox Group, job.karstens@evbox.com

About Bridgestone in Europe, Russia, Middle East, India and Africa:

Bridgestone in Europe, Russia, Middle East, India and Africa (Bridgestone EMIA) is the regional Strategic Business Unit of Bridgestone Corporation, a global leader in tyres and rubber building on its expertise to provide solutions for safe and sustainable mobility. Headquartered in Zaventem (Belgium), Bridgestone EMIA employs more than 20,000 people and conducts business in 40 countries across the region. Bridgestone offers a diverse product portfolio of premium tyres and advanced solutions, backed by innovative technologies, improving the way people around the world move, live, work and play.

For more information about Bridgestone in EMIA, please visit www.bridgestone-emia.com and www.bridgestonenewsroom.eu. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.

About EVBox Group
Founded in 2010, EVBox Group empowers forward-thinking businesses to build a sustainable future by providing flexible and scalable electric vehicle charging solutions. With its extensive portfolio of commercial and ultra-fast EVBox charging stations, as well as scalable charging management software engineered by Everon, EVBox Group ensures that electric mobility is accessible to everyone.
EVBox Group is a leader in R&D, with facilities across Europe and North America developing groundbreaking electric vehicle charging technology. With offices across the globe, including Amsterdam, Bordeaux, Munich, and Chicago, and strong foundations in dozens of markets, EVBox Group is working to shape a sustainable future of transportation.

About TSG
Active in 30 countries, TSG Group is the European leader of solutions and services to public and private energy distribution infrastructures for mobility. The Group has achieved in 2020 a turnover of around 650 million euros and currently employs more than 4,000 people. With a recognized expertise in new mobility energy solutions (electricity, natural gas, hydrogen and biofuels), TSG's mission is to support its customers as they manage and transition their energy distribution networks and to enable the development of sustainable mobility.
TSG is a privately owned company, owned by its management and a family fund called HLD, with aligned long-term interests. This financial structure is key in giving TSG the strategic focus and financial resources to support a sustainable growth both in its historic and new business segments. TSG's mission is to become the supplier of reference in technical services for sustainable mobility.