Overview
- The company announced Thursday that it will ramp down BFGoodrich operations in Tuscaloosa and shift nearly all U.S. production to its larger Fort Wayne, Indiana plant.
- Michelin said the Tuscaloosa wind‑down will begin in phases early next year and is scheduled to finish by the end of 2028.
- About 1,200 employees at the Tuscaloosa site will be affected and the company will negotiate separation benefits with union leaders under the current collective bargaining framework.
- Production at Tuscaloosa was temporarily idled for employee briefings and is expected to resume on Monday, June 29, with no separations planned for several months while transition plans are finalized.
- Michelin cited underused capacity at both U.S. BFGoodrich sites and growing competition in the recreation/off‑road tire market and said it will work with public and private stakeholders to seek new uses for the Tuscaloosa site after the wind‑down.