As reported by Bleeping Computing, Bridgestone—the world’s largest tire manufacturer by production volume—has confirmed that it is investigating a cyber attack affecting some of its North American manufacturing operations. The company emphasized that it acted quickly to contain the incident and, at this stage, does not believe customer data or interfaces have been compromised.
Source: bridgestoneamericas.com.
The attack primarily impacted facilities operated by Bridgestone Americas (BSA), the corporation’s North American arm. BSA represents roughly 43% of Bridgestone’s global size, with 50 facilities, 55,000 employees, and $12 billion in annual sales. Reports first surfaced on September 2, 2025, when operations at two plants in Aiken County, South Carolina, were disrupted. Soon after, Canadian media outlets noted similar interruptions at BSA’s Joliette, Quebec facility.
In a statement to BleepingComputer, Bridgestone confirmed that its team is following established protocols and conducting forensic analysis to assess the scope of the incident. While the investigation continues, the company remains confident that it contained the intrusion in its early stages, preventing deeper infiltration and safeguarding customer data.
Despite these assurances, Bridgestone acknowledged that the attack has had an impact on manufacturing output. Staff are working around the clock to mitigate operational disruption and minimize potential supply chain fallout, with concerns already mounting that the event could contribute to product shortages. Ensuring business continuity while maintaining customer trust remains the company’s stated top priority.
At present, it is unclear whether ransomware is involved. Bridgestone has not confirmed this possibility, and no known ransomware group has stepped forward to claim responsibility. This stands in contrast to a 2022 incident, when the LockBit ransomware gang targeted the company and leaked sensitive data. That earlier breach remains a cautionary example of how deeply such attacks can impact a global manufacturing giant.
The incident underscores the growing vulnerability of critical manufacturing sectors to cyberattacks, where even short-term disruptions can ripple through supply chains. With the automotive industry already under pressure from logistics challenges, cyber disruptions pose both operational and economic risks.
