Half a century of Michelin tyre making ends in Dundee

Michelin’s tyre plant in Dundee, Scotland has produced its last tyre. Although the facility wasn’t scheduled to close until mid-year, Michelin now says it won’t resume operations after the coronavirus crisis – indeed, it considers doing so “unviable and unwise”. The decision has been taken in agreement with the Unite union, and the company will pay plant workers all wages they’re entitled to through to the planned closure date.

The Dundee plant produced its final tyre on Monday 23 March. Michelin originally planned to halt production until 13 April and then restart production until it ended permanently in June.

Bob MacGregor, regional industrial officer for Unite, comments that “It’s a very sad day for the people of Dundee that 50 years of tyre production at the Michelin plant has come to an end before the summer when it was scheduled to finish.” MacGregor adds, however, that Michelin has acted as “a responsible employer” throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.