Bridgestone Bought Major French Tyre Retailer Ayme

Bridgestone Europe is buying Groupe Ayme, a French tyre retailer with 104 points of sale under the “Cote Route” brand. With this acquisition, the Bridgestone’s retail network will expand in France to more than 900 outlets, operating under the First Stop, Speedy and Cote Route brands. Till now the financial detail of this deal has not been disclosed as it is under the process of the completion of the transaction which is subject to consultations with the “social partners” as well as competition authority clearance.

This acquisition move by the Japanese tyre maker will also improve the Bridgestone’s footprint in the French market and allow it to gain a better understanding of end users. Groupe Ayme’s Cote Route stores are located throughout France with a heavy concentration throughout Southeastern France. It was founded more than 100 years ago by Paul and Felicie Ayme which is still owned by the family’s 4^th generation. Cote Route offers a wide range of customers’ vehicles ranging from passengers, SUV, Vans, Trucks, Buses, Agricultural machinery to construction and civil engineering machinery. This chain is a part of the EuroGom national brand which offers exclusive services such as Tyre Guarantee or centralised billing in 420 points of sale in France.