Bridgestone breaks ground on $550 million truck tyre project

On Wednesday, Bridgestone Americas held a groundbreaking ceremony for the expansion of one of its truck and bus tyre plants in the USA. An investment of US$550 million will increase the footprint of the Warren County, Tennessee factory by 850,000 square feet (79,000 square metres) and lift production capacity while adding 380 jobs to the plant’s workforce. Bridgestone will also equip the plant for producing tyres featuring Enliten technology.

The investment will also allow for all tyres made in Warren to be equipped with RFID (radio frequency identification) tags that enable more efficient asset management and optimise fleet investments in tyres, including retreading. The plant will incorporate technology for digital readiness in tyres, including the integration of tyre-mounted sensors. Bridgestone will also invest in AI control technology that increases productivity.

The expansion of the 33-year-old facility is underway, and Bridgestone expects construction to be substantially completed by the end of 2026. The plant’s workforce will grow to more than 1,400 teammates and the plant’s footprint to more than 2.8 million square feet (260,000 square metres).

“With new investment and new jobs, we are moving our Warren County Plant forward, driven by growing demand for our products, our commitment to investing in US manufacturing, and our Warren team’s dedication to innovation, efficiency and quality for our customers. We appreciate the partnership we’ve received from the state of Tennessee and Warren County, which is foundational to this expansion,” says Paolo Ferrari, joint global chief operating officer, Bridgestone Corporation, and president and chief executive officer, Bridgestone Americas. “Our company and the Warren County Plant team have a vital role to play in the transformation of mobility. This investment will expand the capabilities of this plant and pave the way for Bridgestone to bolster its sustainable solution offerings for fleets.”

Commitment & passion for excellence

Bridgestone considers the Warren County Tire Plant to be one of its “most productive operations” globally. The plant has a long history of outstanding performance and best practices in manufacturing. The facility shipped its millionth tyre in 1993, only three years after it opened. That same year, the plant produced nearly 2,500 tyres per day. The plant produced its 70 millionth tyre in October 2021.

“Today, with this groundbreaking, we celebrate the commitment and passion for excellence of the teammates, past and present, of the Warren County plant. Through their hard work, Warren County has become a flagship manufacturing facility for our company and a global leader in the commercial tyre sector,” says Scott Damon, chief operating officer, Bridgestone Americas. “We are proud of our team for their 33 years of manufacturing excellence in Warren County. Our confidence in the future of Bridgestone’s truck and bus tyre business is a tribute to the Warren teammates who remain driven to providing our customers with the best tyres and solutions in the world.”