US favourite for new Michelin plant?

Speculation still exists regarding Michelin’s furtively-named “Project Cougar”, however it appears possible the Felidae plan may find a home in Anderson County, a location in the US state of South Carolina where the tyre maker already employs some 700 workers. Michelin North America has been named as the company considering setting up two projects in the area. Should they go head in Anderson County, these projects would be established with an investment said to be at least US$550 million and likely to be in the “$600 million to $1 billion” range if built according to plan.

While Anderson County Council has agreed upon a set of proposed incentives to offer Michelin, which include tax breaks for up to 40 years, the council is at pains to point out that no decision has been reached at this stage. “This is still very much a competition,” interim council administrator Rusty Burns told the Anderson Independent Mail. “We are competing with others in South Carolina and on other shores.”

Last year both Continental Tire the Americas and Bridgestone Americas committed to major investments in South Carolina.