LA VERGNE, Tenn. (WSMV) – Bridgestone Americas announced on Thursday that they would be closing their La Vergne facility, affecting 700 jobs, according to a spokesperson for Rutherford County.

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

The spokesperson said the closure of the Truck and Bus Radial Tire Plant will be effective on July 31, 2025.

A media release from Bridgestone said the decision to close the facility was “due to a need to operate more efficiently and strengthen its competitiveness” and is part of the second part of an initiative that 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.

The company said they would also be implementing “cost optimization measures” in multiple locations across the U.S. including Des Moines, Iowa.

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