Bridgestone Invests in Wrench

Bridgestone Americas announced a 10% minority investment in mobile vehicle services and technology company, Wrench. According to a release, the new partnership will accelerate both companies’ ability to meet the needs of vehicle owners with best-in-class technology in the rapidly growing mobile vehicle inspection, repair, and maintenance market.

The partnership paves the way for Bridgestone and Seattle-based Wrench to explore compliments in their service offerings, including pairing Bridgestone’s 2,200-plus company-owned automotive service stores with Wrench’s complementary mobile services marketplace.

Offerings currently available through the Wrench platform include on-site automotive maintenance, access to roadside and towing, vehicle detailing, and the Lemon Squad used-vehicle inspection service.

This investment is an example of Bridgestone’s pursuit of concierge services for personal mobility and fleet customers, which includes the recently launched RESOLV platform for subscription-based vehicle maintenance, and the company’s Firestone Direct mobile tire and service business.

Bridgestone and Wrench will launch their initial integration plans later this year, allowing Bridgestone retail stores to plug into Wrench as a referral business. Wrench customers will be able to book advanced vehicle service appointments at their local Firestone Complete Auto Care store, and existing Bridgestone retail customers will also have the opportunity to book future mobile service appointments, powered by Wrench.

“Wrench provides a technology-forward solution pairing convenience with a comprehensive suite of vehicle maintenance, repair, and inspections services,” said Ed Petersen, CEO of Wrench. “Our partnership with Bridgestone will help accelerate the industry’s digital transformation. This allows both companies to expand our customer offerings, while growing our technologies and vehicle care expertise together.”