Bridgestone Hispania Manufacturing has revealed plans for a substantial workforce reduction at its tire manufacturing plants in Puente San Miguel (Cantabria) and Basauri (Bizkaia), Spain. This decision will impact over 500 employees as the company grapples with significant shifts in the European tire market.

The Japanese-owned tire giant cited a confluence of adverse macroeconomic factors, including persistent inflation, economic uncertainty, and evolving regulatory landscapes, as primary drivers for this restructuring. Furthermore, the increasing presence and competitive pricing of non-European tire manufacturers have intensified pressure, particularly within the radial agricultural and truck/bus tire sectors, leading to a contraction in these segments.

Bridgestone's Spanish operations, which include four manufacturing sites, have already felt the strain of the ongoing challenges within the European automotive industry. In 2023, the company implemented a temporary employment regulation file (ERTE) as a measure to curb production across its facilities.

The two affected plants specialize in distinct tire categories. The Puente San Miguel facility focuses on the production of tires for agricultural machinery, while the Basauri plant manufactures tires for trucks and buses. Local union UGT reported that the total number of job cuts is expected to be 546 across both sites. In response to the announcement, UGT and other unions have indicated their intention to call for strikes at the Puente San Miguel and Basauri factories, although specific details regarding the timing and duration of any industrial action have not yet been disclosed. Bridgestone Hispania currently employs approximately 2,800 individuals in Spain.

Bridgestone emphasized the critical need for the company to bolster its competitiveness in a rapidly transforming market environment. The company has stated its commitment to providing support to the employees who will be affected during this period of transition.

This move by Bridgestone echoes similar actions taken by other major players in the European tire industry. Late last year, Michelin, Bridgestone’s French competitor, announced its own plans for job cuts and factory closures in France, attributing the decisions to high operational costs and increasing competition from lower-priced Asian imports.

The automotive industry in Spain, while showing some signs of recovery with new car sales surpassing one million units in 2024 for the first time since the pandemic, still faces considerable headwinds in 2025. These challenges include shifting car usage trends, elevated vehicle prices, uncertainty surrounding the adoption of electric vehicles, and increasing competition from Chinese automotive brands. This context further complicates the situation for automotive component suppliers like Bridgestone.