COLMAR-BERG, Luxembourg — Goodyear is planning to redeploy "low-volume" passenger tire production at its factory in Colmar-Berg to other plants in Europe in a move to reduce costs, shore up profitability and "secure competitiveness in this extremely challenging environment."
The move will affect 100 workers at its facilities in Luxembourg, Goodyear said, including the recently opened plant in Dudelange.
The firm has started the consultation and negotiation process on a job protection plan. Subject to this process, Goodyear said it expects to finalize the transfer of the production over a 12- to 18-month time span.
During the transition period, Goodyear expects to continue production of the targeted tires — which it described as "niche" tires for luxury cars — in limited quantities at the factory.
The 69-year-old Colmar-Berg factory's primary production portfolio covers truck, bus and earthmover tires. It also is home to Goodyear's European Innovation Centre, where the company develops prototypes for the European and Asian markets.
The company is in the midst of a multi-year, $36 million investment project at the Colmar-Berg plant to increase OTR tire production capacity and make process improvements.
Employment at the factory is 1,400. Rated capacity is listed as 6,000 tires a day.