Goodyear looks to expand in Russia
MOSCOW-Goodyear is evaluating a number of options in Russia to expand its business there and throughout the former Soviet Union.
The company met recently with representatives of Amtel Holdings Co., which owns controlling interest in one Ukrainian and three Russian tire plants, to discuss an off-take production arrangement. No decisions have been made, a Goodyear spokesman said, but the firm sees great potential in the Russian and Confederation of Independent States markets.
Goodyear already has an off-take agreement with JSC Jaroslavl Tire for the production of Medeo winter tires for Russia, and it has expanded its Moscow sales office the past few years, a spokesman said.
Amtel claims to control more than a third of Russia's tire production via ownership stakes in tire plants in Kirov, Krasnoyarsk and Voronezh. It also is linked to Ukrainian tire maker Rosava and owns stakes in synthetic tire cord, chemical and carbon black producers.
Michelin cutting production in France
CLERMONT-FERRAND, France-Group Michelin plans to cease production of specific tire lines at two plants in France-truck tires at Poitiers and 13-inch passenger car and light truck tires at Bourges-in what the company calls an adjustment of production.
``The production lines (to be closed) no longer meet the demands of today's market,'' a Michelin representative said, noting trends toward larger and lower profile truck tires and 16-inch passenger car and light truck tires.
The phase-outs will affect 190 jobs in Poitiers and 163 in Bourges, a Michelin spokeswoman said. Redeployment will be offered to 50 and 160 of the employees at Poitiers and Bourges, respectively, with retirement accounting for the remaining jobs, she said.