Update: Bridgestone announces job cuts at two Spanish tire factories

Madrid – Bridgestone Hispania Manufacturing has announced that it has formally notified employee representatives of its intention to initiate a collective dismissal procedure.

Plants affected by the procedure include its 'agricultural truck & bus radial' (TBR) tire plant in Puente San Miguel (Cantabria), and the TBR tire factory in Basauri (Basque Country), Bridgestone said 1 April.

The move, said the Japanese group, is driven by the “profound changes” occurring in the European tire market and the need to adapt production structure.

In a statement to ERJ, Bridgestone said the dismissal process would affect a total of 546 employees across the two factories.

The cuts, it said, are primarily driven by "both production-related factors and underlying organisational considerations."

"At this time, there are no plans to sell or close the plant. Our focus remains on?optimising operations and intend long-term sustainability," said the Bridgestone statement.

According to the tire maker, the agricultural radial (AGR) and TBR tire sectors have experienced a significant contraction recently.

Bridgestone linked the decline to a challenging macroeconomic environment caused by “inflation, uncertainty and regulatory changes.”

Furthermore, the group noted that the rise of non-European manufacturers, who have progressively gained an increasing market share, has led to heightened competitive pressure.

“The challenging market situation as well as the market structural changes, necessitate an adjustment of production capacity to enhance our competitiveness,” the statement added.

As previously reported by ERJ, Bridgestone's operations in Spain have been hit by an ongoing automotive crisis in the country.

In 2023, the group introduced a temporary employment regulation file (ERTE) to reduce production across its four manufacturing sites in Basauri, Burgos, Puente San Miguel and Usansolo.

Late last year, the tire maker told ERJ that it was considering a second extension of ERTE, involving temporary production cuts between January to March 2025.

The move, Bridgestone said, was in response to "excess stock in the warehouses, which necessitates a reduction in production."