Rutherford County, TN - Rutherford County Mayor Joe Carr is saddened by the news that Bridgestone Americas (Bridgestone), Thursday announced its decision to close its La Vergne, Tennessee, Truck and Bus Radial Tire Plant effective July 31, 2025.

“I’m sorry that closing this facility will impact the lives of 700 Bridgestone employees,” said Mayor Carr. “Business decisions like this are never easy to make, and this decision will affect the community in a myriad of ways.” 

According to a media release distributed by Bridgestone the decision to close the facility located at 1201 Bridgestone Pkwy. La Vergne, Tennessee, was due to a need to operate more efficiently and strengthen its competitiveness. Additional operations in the United States and facilities in Latin America are also expected to have cost optimization measures.  This closure is the second part of a strategic initiative the company announced in 2024.   

“This facility has provided employment for many in the La Vergne community for decades as it was the first Bridgestone plant in the United States, and the employees made the first tire.  Rutherford County remains a great place to live, work, and do business.  As these citizens struggle to find work by the summer, I have full faith the community can come together to help our fellow citizens find job opportunities,” Carr said. 

MORE / PREVIOUS REPORT: In a significant blow to the local economy, Bridgestone Americas announced the impending closure of its Truck and Bus Radial Tire Plant on Thursday, January 23, 2025, The La Vergne, Tennessee facility, which has operated for 4-decades and was the first Bridgestone plant in the United States, will cease operations this summer on July 31, 2025, impacting approximately 700 employees.

Rutherford County Mayor Joe Carr emphasized the importance of the community uniting as the workforce seeks new employment opportunities in the wake of the closure.

Bridgestone’s decision to close the La Vergne facility is part of a broader strategic initiative aimed at optimizing business operations and enhancing competitiveness. According to a media release from the company, the closure is driven by a need for increased efficiency and cost-effectiveness, with additional reductions expected in operations across the United States and in Latin America.

Over the years, the La Vergne plant has played an important role in the local community’s economy and marked a significant milestone in Bridgestone’s history. Founded in Japan in 1931, the company didn’t begin manufacturing tires in America until 1983 when they took over the Firestone Tire & Rubber plant in Rutherford County. Fifty-two years after Bridgestone made its first tire in Japan, the first "made in America" tire rolled out of the La Vergne plant at 1201 Bridgestone Parkway. The four decades that followed that historic day supported several thousand local families, injecting hundreds of millions of dollars into the local economy through salaries, hourly wages, and local and state tax revenue. The plant also helped stimulate demand for manufacturing materials and services used in Rutherford County, contributing to economic growth throughout the South in retail tire sales. Because the plant manufactures bus and truck tires, its local presence has played a vital role in both passenger and product transportation sectors.

Scott Damon, Chief Executive Officer of Bridgestone West and Group President of Bridgestone Americas, remarked, “Decisions like this are not easy because of the impact it has on our teammates and their families. At the same time, we are optimizing our business footprint for the future. We are confident that this decision will strengthen our core business, enabling us to operate more efficiently.”

As Bridgestone moves forward with its strategic initiatives, including workforce reductions at other plants, the impact on the local economy of Rutherford County remains a significant concern. The community now faces the challenge of addressing the employment needs of those affected by the plant’s closure while supporting the company's mission of contributing to society and the economy at large.

For the La Vergne community, the coming months will be critical as residents navigate the transition and seek to rebound from the job losses associated with this significant corporate decision.

Again, the closure is expected on July 31, 2025.

• See original news article HERE.