News Summary
Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations has announced the impending closure of its LaVergne truck and bus tire plant, which has been in operation for over five decades. The closure will affect 658 workers and is set to begin on July 31, 2025. Production from this facility will be redistributed to other Bridgestone plants, as the company seeks to enhance operational efficiency. Discussions regarding severance packages for affected employees are ongoing, while local leaders explore new job opportunities in the community.
Tennessee – Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations L.L.C. has officially announced the closure of its LaVergne truck and bus tire plant, which has been operational for 53 years. The closure, set to commence on July 31, 2025, and expected to conclude by the end of December 2025, will affect a total of 658 workers currently employed at the facility. The announcement was made in January 2025, followed by a WARN Notice filed with the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development on May 29, 2025, alerting officials to the impending permanent shutdown.
The LaVergne plant’s production of approximately 2 million tires annually will be redistributed to other Bridgestone facilities as part of the company’s strategy to optimize operations and strengthen market competitiveness. Bridgestone currently maintains only one other truck and bus tire plant in the U.S., located in Warren County, Tennessee, which has a production capacity of around 3.3 million tires per year. This facility is currently undergoing an extensive $550 million expansion that is projected to increase its production capacity by nearly one-third upon completion in 2026. The Warren County plant also employs 1,020 workers, with an anticipated addition of 380 jobs following the expansion.
As negotiations for severance packages continue, employees at the LaVergne plant, represented by the United Steelworkers (USW), have not finalized their separation agreements, despite discussions starting in February 2025. A company representative has expressed optimism regarding reaching a mutually beneficial agreement with the union. Salaried employees have already been informed of their severance estimates.
Those employees covered under the master-contract agreement will have preferential hiring rights at other Bridgestone facilities located in Akron, Des Moines, and Russellville, providing some assistance amid the closure. The LaVergne Mayor, Jason Cole, expressed sadness regarding the impending shutdown, while also underscoring efforts to attract new job opportunities within the community. Furthermore, several companies have shown interest in acquiring the property where the LaVergne plant is situated.
The closure of the LaVergne facility represents a significant shift in Bridgestone’s operational landscape as the company seeks to enhance efficiency and adapt to the competitive market. In light of the ongoing negotiations for employee severance packages, specifics remain undisclosed, but discussions are taking place to ensure the affected workers are adequately supported through the transition. As Bridgestone moves towards streamlining its operations, the local community is left to contend with the potential economic impact of the job losses while seeking new avenues for employment growth.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
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