NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A manufacturing facility in Rutherford County will close this summer, meaning the loss of about 700 jobs.
Bridgestone Americas, the group company of Bridgestone Corporation, announced it would close its La Vergne Truck and Bus Radial Tire Plant effective July 31.
The decision to close the plant it part of the company’s “strategic initiatives to optimize its business footprint, strengthen its competitiveness and enhance the quality of the company’s U.S. operations,” the company said.
In its announcement, the company said while it has adapted to the “challenges of the business environment,” Bridgestone has continued to “strengthen its core premium tire business and sustainably create social and customer value.” To that end, the company said “further optimization of its business footprint and costs” became “increasingly essential,” thus the plant closure.
Additionally, Bridgestone announced it will implement “business footprint and cost optimization measures” in other areas, including plant capacity and workforce reductions at its Des Moines, Iowa, agriculture tire plant and in the company’s U.S. corporate, sales and operations.
“Decisions like this are not easy because of the impact it has on our teammates and their families, and at the same time we are optimizing our business footprint for the future,” said Scott Damon, Chief Executive Officer, Bridgestone West and Group president, Bridgestone Americas. “We are confident that this decision will strengthen our core business, enabling us to operate more efficiently.”
The company is also undertaking “rebuilding activities” in its Latin America operations, including workforce reductions and “cost optimization” efforts in Argentina and Brazil.
These strategic initiatives are all part of the “business rebuilding 2nd stage” from 2024 to 2025 outlined in the company’s Mid Term Business Plan for 2024-2026, the company said.
