Bridgestone to Close LaVergne Tire Plant, Laying Off 700 Workers in Effort to Optimize Operations

Bridgestone Americas is closing its truck and bus radial tire plant in LaVergne, Tennessee, resulting in the layoff of 700 workers, the company announced. The closure, effective in July, is part of an effort to “optimize its business footprint” and improve competitiveness.

In addition to the LaVergne closure, Bridgestone is implementing capacity and workforce reductions at its agricultural tire plant in Des Moines, Iowa, along with cuts in corporate, sales, and operations staff across the Americas. Workforce and production capacity reductions are also planned for facilities in Argentina and Brazil.

Emily Weaver, a company spokesperson, explained, “Of our nearly 44,000 teammates across North America and Latin America, just under 4% are leaving the company as part of the voluntary and involuntary workforce reductions.

The moves are a response to the current challenging economic environment.

The LaVergne plant, which opened in 1972 as Bridgestone’s first North American tire-producing facility, stopped manufacturing car and light truck tires in 2009, leading to significant layoffs at that time.

Union workers from the LaVergne facility will have preferential hiring opportunities at other Bridgestone plants in Des Moines, Akron, Ohio, and Russellville, Arkansas, according to the company.

 

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