1,254 jobs clearly threatened, this is the announced consequence of the closure of the two Michelin factories in Cholet (Maine-et-Loire) and Vannes (Morbihan). A deletion of these sites planned by 2026, at the latest, due in particular to the drop in vehicle sales in Europe and Chinese competition, particularly on the sale of tires for vans and trucks.
As a result, Michelin employees in Cholet mobilized and began a strike, to which the media have devoted time since yesterday, and therefore visibility, allowing angry employees to express themselves in front of all of France.
Big cash flow, but hundreds of jobs at risk
Questioned by BFM, this Cholet employee does not beat around the bush. “Nobody has wanted to tell us anything for over a year (…) and, overnight, in 10 minutes, it was done. They really took us for dogs.” While one of his colleagues declared: “I’m 61 years old, so it doesn’t affect me personally, but I think of all my colleagues. Michelin is a family, but a family that is being destroyed.” Furthermore, an employee spokesperson asked, once again at the BFM microphone: “How could we allow so many Chinese tires to enter our country without reacting? And then, we are kidding ourselves, Michelin has made a lot of money, but nevertheless the employees are toasting…”
