Michelin to cease tire production at Stoke

STOKE-ON-TRENT, England (Oct. 18)—Groupe Michelin plans to phase out production of car and light truck tires and stop rubber mixing activities at its Stoke-on-Trent plant during the second half of 2001. The move will mean the loss of 950 of the 2,350 jobs at the site, Michelin´s oldest facility in the United Kingdom. Truck tire retreading, tire mold and steel-cord production will continue at the site, which will focus on commercial and support services for Michelin´s activities, according to a company statement. Michelin linked its decision to a decline in profits during the first six months of 2000 and pressure to rationalize its production activities in Europe, which, it said, is home to 60 percent of its output but represents only a third of the world market. The company also aims to concentrate production at plants with larger capacities than the Stoke unit´s output of 2 million tires a year.