FINDLAY, Ohio — Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. plans to extend the COVID pandemic-induced production suspension at its tire plants in the U.S. and Mexico for at least two more weeks in order to protect the health and safety of employees and respond to falling market demand.
Cooper initially began phasing down production at these plants on March 21 and said at that time they would be idled for two to three weeks. Cooper operates three tire plants in in the U.S. and one in Mexico, employing approximately 5,200 hourly workers
Cooper also said its plants in Serbia and England, where production was idled March 23, remain closed on a temporary basis.
The temporary plant closures affect facilities in Findlay, Ohio; Clarksdale and Tupelo, Miss.; Texarkana, Ark.; and El Salto, Mexico.
The company's plants in China reopened several weeks ago and have continued to ramp up production and remain in operation.
The company continues to monitor supply chain and product inventory levels, and believes it has sufficient supply of product. Cooper's distribution centers in the U.S. have continued to operate and flow product to customers.