French tyre maker Michelin has decided to expand its Shanghai factory, its second expansion after first increasing its capacity in 2021. It will increase the capacity of high-performance radial tyres by 1 million units to 9.5 million units/year. Work on the project’s first phase will be completed by the end of 2026, according to Michelin.
The second stage will also focus on its commitment to clean and efficient production to lower carbon emissions, Michelin noted. The latest expansion project will set up a flexible, green, and intelligent plant of over 70,000 sq m, according to the company.
China is an important market for Michelin, CEO Florent Menegaux said at the project’s opening ceremony. As the country is on the way to high-quality development, the mobility industry and consumers have a higher demand for green and intelligent products, which creates more opportunities for the firm to further develop its local business, he added.
Built in 2001, Michelin’s Shanghai factory is one of its two tyre production bases in China, with the other located in Shenyang, Liaoning province.
The company’s first expansion project in Shanghai included upgrading the plant’s production lines intelligently and raising its capacity from 7 million to 8.5 million units/year.
Michelin has also invested US$28 million in a project for the production of 1.3 million passenger car tyres at its plant in Shenyang, capital of Northeast China’s Liaoning province. Once fully completed, the production capacity of passenger vehicle tyres at the plant will increase to 17.3 million units/year.
Supported by 132,200 employees, nine R&D centres and 67 tyre production facilities across the world, Michelin’s sales revenue grew by 2% year-on-year to US$23 billion in the first three quarters.