Following the expansion, employment at the company’s Warren County plant will reach 1,400 people.
Bridgestone America officials, alongside Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Stuart McWhorter, announced a further $550 million expansion. The investment will go to the Warren County Truck and Bus Radial Tire Plant, located in Morrison, Tennessee.
The expansion and modernization plan for the existing plant will increase its size by 850,000 square feet and add 380 new jobs to Morrison’s market. 1,100 people are already employed at the plant. This will bring Bridgestone to a total of nearly 10,000 US-based manufacturing workers.
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The Warren County Tire Plant opened in 1990. It is currently 2 million square feet and will grow to over 2.8 million square feet when construction is complete in May 2024. The plant is already one of the company’s most productive global operations, producing its 70 millionth tire by the end of 2021.
Following the expansion, the Warren County plant will be able to handle increased capacity and incorporate more modern technologies. All tires produced will have RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tags allowing for better asset management and retreading. AI control technology will be implemented to increase productivity and make better use of knowledge and manufacturing data. Other technologies incorporated will contribute to digital tire preparation, such as the integration of tire-mounted sensors to gain insights into efficient fleet management.
These new advancements will help Bridgestone achieve its goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. In 2004, the Warren County Tire Plant site became a Certified Wildlife Habitat, dedicating 680 acres to local nature and wildlife . Local students from Warren County schools visit the site for lessons and hikes.
Tennessee Industrial Expansion
In prepared remarks, McWhorter said Tennessee’s strong workforce and business-oriented climate attract business. Bridgestone has had a presence in Tennessee for four decades, while other companies are also currently building there.
In March Oak Street Real Estate Capital funded a $90 million construction facility for Portobello America east of Nashville, Tennessee. Amazon announced plans in 2021 to open its 8th Tennessee distribution center in 2022.
