employees are in shock

In Cholet (Maine-et-Loire), the 955 employees of the Michelin factory are in disbelief on Tuesday November 5. The tire giant’s production site will close its doors by 2026. On the site, production has been at a standstill since Tuesday morning, and the unions have announced a week of strike. The shock wave has spread to the city center, because everyone knows the factory, open since 1970. Many residents fear the economic consequences of such a closure.

The 299 employees of Vannes (Morbihan) also learned of the closure of their factory. Michelin maintains 13 industrial sites in France. The French tire flagship, 135 years old, had been in fragile health for several years. Management justifies its decision by a sluggish automobile market, the surge in energy prices and Chinese competition. Michelin is committed to supporting each of the employees concerned.

Watch the full report in the video above.