Mothra and Godzilla Together Again? Bridgestone Says Still in Talks with Ford

TOKYO Reuters reported that Bridgestone Corp, Japan's largest tyremaker, said on Friday that it was continuing to hold talks with Ford Motor Co but nothing had been decided on a possible resumption of business ties in the United States. "We are continuing our talks with Ford but they have not progressed to a resumption of business dealings in the U.S.," Bridgestone President Shigeo Watanabe said in response to a question at a news conference held to announce the tiremaker's first-half earnings.

Bridgestone and its U.S. Firestone unit last year battled a torrent of lawsuits after U.S. federal regulators linked Firestone tires to 271 deaths and more than 800 injuries from rollover accidents mostly involving Ford Motor Co Explorers.

Millions of tires were recalled, and Firestone's nearly century-long relationship with Ford came undone as the U.S. unit sank to a $1.68 billion loss.

Editors Note: During the titanic struggle this publication drew an analogy between the protaganists and everyones favovrite giant monsters who were locked in eternal struggle.