Bridgestone Americas Holding Inc.

Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire will layoff at least 158 employees at its plant in La Vergne, Tenn., due to a decrease in demand for passenger and light truck tires. According to a recent news release, the tire company will layoff 148 hourly and at least 10 salaried workers at the facility. The La Vergne plant, which employs 1,700 workers, makes bus, passenger and light truck tires. The plant is a sister plant of the Bridgestone Firestone facility in Wilson, which employs about 2,200, including contractors. No layoffs have been announced for the Wilson plan and the plant manager for the Wilson plant, said that while steps have been taken to reduce the inventory at the plant, he still is hiring and plans to add 30-40 people in December.