Bridgestone announces job cuts at US off-road tire plant

Nashville, Tennessee – Bridgestone has announced plans to cut jobs at its off-road tire manufacturing plant in Bloomington, Illinois, in response to market changes.

In an 18 Aug statement, the Japanese tire maker said it had notified United Steelworkers (USW) members of its decision to cut workforce “to align capacity with demand in response to challenging conditions and market changes in the off-the-road tire markets.”

According to Bridgestone, the premium market is shifting towards radial products, and the group has decided to “exit production of unprofitable tires” following a thorough review.

This, it said, will result in a reduction in workforce, which the company hopes to achieve through a voluntary programme.

Bridgestone did not provide further details about the number of jobs to be cut.

The tire maker said the decision was part of strategic initiatives to optimise its business footprint, strengthen competitiveness, and enhance the quality of its North American operations.

Operational since 1965, the former Firestone facility manufactures large tires for mining and construction in Bloomington.

As of 2020, the factory employed around 450 people.