Michelin’s Cholet And Vannes Plants To Close Down By 2026, More Than Thousand Employees To Be Affected
- By TT News
- November 06, 2024
French tyre major Michelin has announced that it intends to close down production at its Cholet and Vannes plant by early 2026. This move is on the back of severe economic difficulties faced by the plants over several years and is expected to affect 1,254 employees.
The Cholet plant employs 955 people, and mainly manufactures 17-inch and smaller light truck tyres. These represent 85 percent of its operations. The tyre maker states that in recent years, the ‘light truck segment has contracted significantly in Europe, with a major impact on the plant’s production volumes, which fell from around 4.375 million units in 2019 to around 2.625 million in 2024, with no prospects for recovery.’
On the other hand, the Vannes facility employs 299 people and mainly produces metal reinforcements, i.e., cables, handling all of the steps in the manufacturing process. The production is used to manufacture truck and passenger car tyres in Michelin customer sites located in Spain, Italy and the rest of Europe. The production volume has dropped from 41,000 tonnes in 2019 to 34,000 tonnes in 2024, with no prospect of recovery.
Michelin claims that despite its teams’ remarkable engagement and the Group's efforts, the viability of the two plants could not be preserved.
At present, Michelin has decided to halt production at both plants through 11 November to give management and the unions time to propose collective and individual discussions with employees.
It is important to note that the demand has been facing severe headwinds including worsening competitiveness of Europe, notably due to inflation and rising energy prices. This decision Michelin says has been made ‘as a last resort, once all alternative solutions and scenarios have been analysed and evaluated.’
In recent years, European passenger car & light truck and truck tyre demand has shifted towards low-cost tyres mainly from Asia. This has led to structural production overcapacity at some of Michelin's passenger car and light truck and truck tyre plants in Europe.
To ensure the decision does not severely impact its employees, Michelin Group says it is committed to ‘mobilising all available resources to individually support the 1,254 affected employees and the two communities impacted by these closures.’
For this, Michelin Group will record a provision of approximately EUR 330 million in its consolidated financial results for the year 2024.
The Michelin Group currently employs nearly 19,000 people in France, including 9,000 in manufacturing in 15 production plants. Even with the two facilities shut down, the tyre maker claims France will remain the group’s first industrial country in Europe, in both the number of sites and employees.
Alessio Iacovelli Named Deputy Director Replacement Sales West Europe At Linglong Tire
- By TT News
- October 10, 2025
Linglong Tire has announced the promotion of Alessio Iacovelli to Deputy Director of Replacement Sales for Western Europe, effective 1 September 2025. In this elevated role, Iacovelli will take on leadership of the regional sales team with a mandate to accelerate business development. His key objectives will include forging strategic alliances and implementing programmes to strengthen customer loyalty. Iacovelli will report directly to Lisa Zhao, the Director of Replacement Sales for Western Europe, and will collaborate with her to manage key markets, including Germany, the UK, Italy and Spain.
Iacovelli, who began his career with Goodyear and Nexen, first joined Linglong Tire at the end of 2022 as a Sales Manager. In that capacity, he demonstrated significant success in developing the Southern European aftermarket, where he expanded the brand's footprint, defined effective growth strategies and secured robust partnerships with distributors. This strategic appointment and the restructuring of the sales leadership underscore Linglong Tire's intensified focus on achieving its ambitious growth targets across the European continent.
Iacovelli said, "I am very pleased to have been promoted to Deputy Director Replacement Sales West Europe at Linglong Tire. We have fantastic products such as the Sport Master 4S and the Sport Master Winter, both successfully tested in the recently published tyre tests. We have a state-of-the-art development centre in Germany and a new tyre plant in Europe and are successful in original equipment – ideal conditions for achieving our ambitious goals together with my team and the colleagues in Hannover and continuing to grow, especially in Europe."
ARLANXEO To Close French Plant As Chemicals Sector Struggles
- By TT News
- October 10, 2025
German synthetic rubber maker ARLANXEO has launched consultations with worker representatives over the potential closure of its Port Jerome facility in France, citing persistent weak demand and declining competitiveness in the European chemicals industry.
The company, which is majority-owned by Saudi Aramco, had begun an information and consultation period with the Works Council at the site, located in northern France. A final decision on the closure will be taken after the mandatory consultation process concludes and approval is obtained from the French labour authorities, DREETS.
“The European chemical industry continues to face persistent weak demand and declining competitiveness driven by rising costs, unbalanced global markets, and increased regulatory pressure,” said Stephan van Santbrink, ARLANXEO chief executive.
“These conditions have generated a significant burden on the sector across the regional value chain. ARLANXEO has not been an exception to these challenges. The Port Jerome site has remained in a structurally loss-making position. Despite numerous improvement efforts, we do not foresee a viable path to a sustained structural improvement.”
The company did not disclose how many jobs would be affected by a potential closure, nor did it provide details on the facility’s production capacity or annual output.
Van Santbrink acknowledged the impact on workers, saying: “We recognise the impact a potential closure may have on our employees, and we regret the need to consider these steps. We will continue to treat all employees with respect. If we decide to cease operations at the site, we will do our utmost to assist in finding alternative solutions for all impacted employees. In addition, we intend to provide impacted employees with a social plan which reflects their valued contribution to ARLANXEO.”
The announcement adds to a growing list of European chemical producers struggling with high energy costs, sluggish demand and competition from lower-cost producers in Asia and the United States.
ARLANXEO said it would work closely with all affected internal and external stakeholders to minimise the impact of the intended closure.
Continental Appoints Managers For Global Purchasing And Original Equipment Business
- By TT News
- October 07, 2025
Continental's Tires group sector has strengthened its leadership team with two key internal appointments, effective 1 September 2025. Jana Striezel has been named the new head of global purchasing for Continental Tires, while Dennis Bellmund has assumed leadership of the global original equipment business for both passenger and commercial vehicles. Both executives will report directly to Christian Kötz, the member of Continental AG's Executive Board who leads the Tires group sector.
In her new capacity, Striezel will oversee worldwide strategic and operational purchasing. She brings extensive experience from the automotive industry, having previously held several procurement management roles at Renault, where she led purchasing for the Renault brand and its alliance with Nissan and Mitsubishi in Europe. Her career began at Volkswagen in 2014.
Bellmund, who has a 25-year tenure with Continental, steps into his role following the departure of his predecessor, Manja Greimeier, to the ContiTech sector. His extensive background within the company includes recent responsibility for Continental’s tyre retail operations, alongside prior leadership roles in EMEA supply chain management and sales direction for the European replacement tyre business. These appointments signal a strategic reinforcement of Continental's tyre division leadership.
Kötz said, “We’re delighted to welcome Jana Striezel, a highly skilled manager, to our team. She brings extensive expertise in international procurement and will focus on driving forward our purchasing strategy. In Dennis Bellmund, our global original equipment business has gained a highly experienced leader. Thanks to his many years at Continental, he is familiar with our company and our customers’ needs from many different angles. On behalf of the entire management team, I wish both of them every success in their new roles and look forward to working together.”
“On behalf of the entire team, I would like to thank Manja Greimeier for her successful leadership of our original equipment business and wish her all the best and continued success,” added Kötz.
In a significant leadership update, LD Carbon (LDC) has announced a restructuring of the chief executive office at the company. The company confirmed that Seong-Moon Baek will now serve as the sole CEO. This move follows the departure of former co-CEO Yong-Kyung Hwang from the executive position.
The change is effective immediately as the company continues to advance its initiatives in the sustainable materials sector. Chief Commercial Officer Bumseek Kim (BK) formally communicated the development in a statement, saying, “Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at any time.”
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