Nashville-based Bridgestone Americas plans to shutter its tire plant located in La Vergne, Tennessee, later this year, which will leave 700 workers based in Rutherford County without jobs.
The U.S. arm of Japanese manufacturing giant Bridgestone Corporation explained the decision on Thursday as part of a plan to “optimize its business footprint” and strengthen competitiveness in the automotive parts industry.
Bridgestone has been “updated and optimizing” its business across the U.S., including in its Nashville headquarters, a statement from the company said. Forthcoming workforce reductions will impact the U.S. corporate, sales, and operations teams. Bridgestone is also paring down its Des Moines tire plant’s capacity…