Michelin North America today informed employees, community leaders and other stakeholders that it will reorganize U.S. manufacturing operations starting later this year.
Under the reorganization, the company will consolidate nearly all production for BFGoodrich Tires at its plant in Fort Wayne, Indiana, while operations at the its Tuscaloosa, Alabama site will begin winding down in phases early next year.
Operations at the Alabama plant are expected to conclude by the end of 2028.
BFGoodrich temporarily idled operations in Tuscaloosa to discuss specific details directly with employees starting today. Operations are expected to resume normally on Monday, June 29, 2026. No separations are anticipated for several months, as transition plans are finalized.
The company said it will begin discussions with union leaders to determine separation benefits for wage employees in Tuscaloosa, consistent with the current collective bargaining agreement and U.S. laws.
Both sites operate well below their designed capacities, resulting in structural inefficiencies that cannot be sustained. At the same time, BFGoodrich Tires said it faces intensifying competition in its core recreation/off-road market segment.
“Because of the dedication of our teams in Tuscaloosa, BFGoodrich Tires is celebrated as a pioneering American brand, and an enduring symbol of car and truck culture,” said Terry Redmile, Michelin’s senior vice president for manufacturing operations in the Americas.
“Due to the size, footprint and infrastructure of the Fort Wayne factory, that site is better positioned to consolidate the capacity and meet future demands for the success of BFGoodrich Tires,” Redmile said. “Unfortunately, we could not identify any feasible structure that would enable us to continue operating in Tuscaloosa while also supporting long-term value creation across our factories in North America.”
The reorganization will impact approximately 1,200 employees in Tuscaloosa, as tire-production and rubber-mixing activities gradually ramp down over the next two years. As the wind-down process is completed, Michelin North America intends to collaborate with public and private stakeholders to explore new missions for the Tuscaloosa site, keeping in focus its stewardship and commitment to the community’s long-term success.
