·      Bridgestone continues to expand its national retail footprint with the opening of its 200^th store, Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto Werribee.

·      Australian motorists continue to put their confidence in Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto for trusted, transparent service.

·      Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto continues to be one of Australia’s most expansive networks of tyre and mechanical service providers.

WERRIBEE, Victoria (25 September 2024) – Australia’s fastest growing tyre and mechanical service provider, Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto has opened its 200th store, further strengthening its commitment of convenience, transparency and confidence to customers.

Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto Werribee is the newest addition to the extensive national network and becomes the 200^th location to open since the Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto franchise was launched in 2006.

Franchisee of Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto Werribee, Marco Licalsi, brings three decades worth of industry experience to the network, and has served the Werribee community for that past 16 years under another brand. He says the transition to Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto has brought new energy and initiatives to his store.

“It’s special to be part of a significant milestone for the network and celebrate not only a new beginning for my store with the Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto brand, but also be part of something so significant to the brand’s history,” Mr Licalsi said.

“I’m excited to join the Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto network. Australians trust Bridgestone more than any other tyre brand, they set the standard in our industry and importantly, I’ve always been a fan of their product.”

Mr Licalsi’s rebrand to the Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto name occurred almost 16 years to the day of him opening his business on the corner of Bridge Street and the Princes Highway under its former branding. He says Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto’s commitment to customer service resonated with him and was a driving force behind his decision to join the network as store number 200.

“Becoming a Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto store means I can offer more to my own customers including e-commerce and the Bridgestone Tech Check video platform. These are two things that have been so well received by customers and make a huge difference to the experience that customers receive,” he said.

According to Bridgestone Australia & New Zealand Managing Director, Heath Barclay, the milestone opening comes at a time when trust, transparency and customer service is more critical than ever.

“We understand that tyres and mechanical servicing can be tasks that many motorists dread, so we’re committed to delivering the best possible experience for Australians through our network of 200 Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto stores,” Mr Barclay said.

“Trust and confidence are so important when it comes to car maintenance, especially in the current economic climate, which is why Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto’s commitment to transparency and exceptional customer service continues to prove a winner with Australian motorists.

“I’m thrilled to welcome Marco and his team at Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto into the network as our milestone 200^th store. I know they will further strengthen our extensive footprint of local, trusted experts for tyre and mechanical needs,’ Mr Barclay added.

The launch of the Bridgestone Select franchise model in 2006 went against industry conventions and challenged the perception of what a tyre store should be. Bridgestone Select stunned the industry in its ambition to make the showroom more welcoming and removing tyres from the showroom environment.

Bridgestone’s retail offering became even more convenient with the introduction of mechanical servicing, which led to the evolution of the brand to become Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto.

Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto introduced its e-commerce platform in 2019 and has continued to go from strength to strength with its transparent online pricing, and seamless online to store transactions. Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto’s online offering provides the opportunity for customers to select their ideal tyre online and book at their nearest store, with flexibility in payments either on the website or instore, including buy now pay later options through Afterpay and Zip Pay.

The network set another new industry benchmark in 2023 with the nationwide roll out of the Bridgestone Tech Check platform, which gives motorists a mechanic’s perspective through a short video outlining what needs fixing now, and what can wait.

Bridgestone Australia Sales Director, Claudio Sodano, says that Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto’s growth has come from a customer focussed approach in its offerings.

“Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto has evolved significantly since the opening if the first store, to the opening of store number 200, Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto Werribee, but our commitment to customer service has remained the same,” Mr Sodano said.  

“We’ve continued to put the customer first and in doing so, we’ve been able to grow to be one of the most extensive networks in the country as well as one of the most trusted providers of tyre and mechanical services in Australia.

“The opening of our 200th store is another reason Australian motorists can go with confidence, knowing that a Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto store is just around the corner with local experts like Marco Licalsi ready to provide professional and trustworthy service,” Mr Sodano added.

Australians benefit from Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto’s multi-award winning customer service, with the network taking out Gold in the 2023 Reader’s Digest Quality Service Awards in the tyre retailer category, and Most Outstanding Customer Service award for Car Servicing in the CANSTAR Blue rankings, with a perfect 5-star rating across all categories.

Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto is the primary retail channel for Australia’s most trusted tyre brand, Bridgestone, with stores in all capital and major cities throughout the country. The network of 200 Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto stores is complemented by a further 150 Bridgestone Service Centres delivering great service to regional areas of Australia.