Michelin North America Inc. will lay off 350 employees at its Opelika, Ala., plant on Oct. 2 as part of "ramp-down activities" at the factory, according to Michelin officials. The plant will close on Oct. 31.
Michelin announced Opelika's closing in April. The facility builds BFGoodrich brand passenger and light truck tires and has a daily capacity of 26,000 units per Modern Tire Dealer research.
"The decision comes in the wake of the continuing economic crisis as consumers are driving fewer miles, purchasing fewer vehicles and delaying tire replacement purchases," Michelin officials said at the time. "The dramatic drop in market demand has created significant overcapacity in the North American tire markets that Michelin does not expect to rebound in the near term."
Michelin plans to consolidate production at its BFGoodrich plants in Tuscaloosa, Ala., and Ft. Wayne, Ind.
