Groupe Michelin has started construction on a new passenger tire factory in China under its Michelin Shayang Tire Co. Ltd. subsidiary.
The plant will represent a $1.45 billion investment when completed. Michelin officials laid its cornerstone earlier this week.
"The new factory will produce mainly high performance green tires with low rolling resistance," say Michelin officials. "Its annual capacity will grow gradually to 10 million passenger car and light truck tires, 1.8 million truck and bus tires, and 295,000 retread truck and bus tires."
Michelin says the weight of tires produced at this plant "will be lighter while maintaining the same loading and speed performance, saving raw materials as well as energy consumption."
