Bridgestone cuts truck tire production

LAVERGNE, Tenn. — Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations announced it will cease passenger and light truck manufacturing at its LaVergne, Tenn., tire plant, and cut the number of commercial truck and bus tires it is producing.

The reason comes as no surprise: "Based on current economic forecasts, it appears that the global economic crisis is going to get worse before it gets better," said Steve Brooks, president, U.S., Canada of BATO. "We are not immune from these challenging times."

Due to the continuing global slow-down in truck tire demand, BATO will reduce commercial truck tire production, which will result in additional layoffs at the plant.

"We hope that the economy will begin to recover later this year; as a result we also hope that we will be in a position to begin calling teammates back to work in the truck and bus tire production area, perhaps as early as the fourth quarter of 2009," Brooks said. "Our hope is that all truck and bus production teammates can return to work by the end of the first quarter of 2010.

"The truck tire market is often seen as a leading indicator of how the economy is doing. As consumer confidence begins to improve and consumer spending increases, more trucks — and truck tires — will be needed to address consumer demand."