Employees at Michelin’s Cholet plant decided to go on strike late Tuesday morning, following management’s announcement of the plant’s closure

On November 5, Michelin confirmed the closure by 2026 of its Cholet (Maine-et-Loire) and Vannes (Morbihan) sites, employing a total of 1,254 people. Group CEO Florent Menegaux expressed his solidarity with the employees: “The fall in activity has led to this decision, but we won’t leave anyone without support,” he told AFP.

Michelin described the closure as “inevitable”, due to the pressure of Asian competition in the light truck and truck tire sector, the two plants’ specialties. Management also pointed to “declining competitiveness in Europe” as a determining factor. For each employee concerned, the company is committed to providing personalized solutions, including outplacement opportunities, job offers within the Group or externally, and early retirement possibilities.

Strike begins in Cholet

In Cholet, where 955 employees mainly manufacture tires for small vans, employees expressed their discontent by taking strike action. “This market segment has declined sharply in Europe in recent years, leading to a drastic drop in production volumes, with no hope of recovery,” Michelin said. Bastien You, CGT representative, described the employees’ reaction as a “spontaneous surge of anger at these job cuts”. He added that future actions would be discussed at upcoming general assemblies.

As for the Vannes plant, where 299 employees produce steel cords for tires manufactured elsewhere in Europe, it has also seen its production volumes reduced in the face of falling demand from the Group’s truck plants in Europe.

In response, Marc Ferracci, Minister Delegate for Industry, stressed the need for Michelin to put in place an “exemplary support plan” to assist employees and the regions affected. The Ministry indicated that it would ensure the quality of retraining and outplacement measures, while exploring options for preserving the local industrial fabric.