GREENVILLE, S.C. (Aug. 7) — Michelin North America Inc. will spend $350 million to expand each of its four manufacturing plants in South Carolina over the next four years.
The Greenville-based tire maker said it will upgrade plants in Anderson, Greenville, Lexington and Spartanburg counties, adding about 100 jobs to the 7,850 already employed in the state.
The investments will:
- Increase production of semi-finished materials in Anderson to support tire manufacturing plants in North America;
- Improve tire building facilities in Greenville;
- Modernize equipment and increase earthmover tire production in Lexington; and
- Increase production of X One wide single tires and military tires in Spartanburg.
Jim Micali, chairman and president of Michelin, said the firm will remain competitive in North America by continuing to manufacture tires in more efficient operations with skilled professional employees, which will offset increasing competition from Asian imports and high raw material costs.
Some projects already have begun and all are slated to be completed by the end of 2011. The amount of the final investment depends on agreements with state and county governments, the company said.