Bridgestone announces $550M plant expansion to meet demand for smart tires

Bridgestone will invest $550 million to expand a Tennessee tire plant to help meet growing demand in the trucking industry for more intelligent tires, the company said earlier this month.

The company will grow the footprint of its plant in Morrison, Tennessee, from 1.97 million to more than 2.8 million square feet. The facility, set to be completed by May 2024, will allow Bridgestone to equip all tires produced in the plant with RFID tags to assist with fleet management and utilization.

“This investment will further improve the plant’s global competitive position and secure our future growth,” said Chief Operating Officer Scott Damon.

The expansion comes as tire manufacturers look to increase production of sensor-equipped tires that can better handle electric vehicles and monitor tire conditions in real time. Goodyear has also taken steps to grow its portfolio in the space, with the goal of incorporating tire intelligence in all new products by 2027.

Bridgestone said its sensor-equipped tires will help the trucking industry optimize their investment in tire maintenance. The company has seen increased demand from the commercial vehicle sector, and the new investment will substantially increase capacity at its flagship tire plant.

Bridgestone will hire 380 more workers to support the expansion.

“Our production and manufacturing capabilities continue to evolve with our products to meet the needs of our customers,” Damon said.