Michelin North America will restructure its US manufacturing operations, with plans to consolidate production between two tire plants.
The company informed stakeholders on 25 June that it will close its passenger car and light truck tire plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, starting in early 2027 and concluding by year-end 2028. Operations at the site have been temporarily idled until 29 June, as details are communicated to employees.
Tire production and rubber-mixing at Tuscaloosa will be phased out over the next two years.
About 1,200 workers at the site will be affected, with union leaders set to begin discussions on severance packages.
At the same time, Michelin aims to shift nearly all production from its BFGoodrich Tires brand line to its Fort Wayne, Indiana, passenger car and light truck tire plant.
"Due to the size, footprint and infrastructure of the Fort Wayne factory, the site is better positioned to consolidate the capacity and meet future demands for the success of BFGoodrich Tires," said Terry Redmile, senior vice president for manufacturing operations in the Americas.
The move targets structural inefficiencies, particularly underutilization, that have weighed on the long-term sustainability of Michelin's North American manufacturing operations. The company added that its core recreation/off-the-road tire portfolio continues to faces competitive pressures despite maintaining market share and performance benchmarks.
Michelin operates 34 industrial plants across the US and Canada, with production tailored to a wide range of tire segments, such as passenger vehicles, light and heavy trucks and specialty applications for aviation, agriculture and earthmoving equipment, according to a company fact sheet.
