Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. abruptly closed its Tultitlan, Mexico, tire manufacturing plant, citing costs "incompatible with current economic conditions."
The union plant, Goodyear's lone Mexican tire-making facility, had the capacity to manufacture 16,000 tires per day, according to Modern Tire Dealer estimates. Passenger and light truck tire capability represented 87% of the total.
A Goodyear spokesman says the company is looking for opportunities to transfer some of the 1,559 employees affected by the decision. Under Mexican law, they will receive severance payments.
The closing, following what the company called "intense efforts" to improve productivity, leaves Goodyear with 13 tire manufacturing plants in North America. Three of those facilities are located in Canada.
The company says it will continue to supply tires to Mexico from North America, Latin America and Europe.
