But the decision is still ar rom being taken

The number one world tyre sa es money, but not e erywhere. The crisis has orced Michelin to reduce its in estments scheduled in 2009 to 700 million euros, although rom the 1.4 billion proposed. Howe er, the sections do not apply to emerging countries. To ollow the growth o these "sanctuary markets" are the amous BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China), Bibendum planned to double its production capacity o tires or cars by 2012 and increase o 40 o its tires or trucks. "L ' India and China, in particular, are two ery large projects, with both o the in estments o the order o 800 million dollars o er se eral years", explains Michel Rollier, Managing Director o the company. Two projects which will mobilize each 100 expatriates.

In India, the Group has just signed an agreement with the State o Tamil Nadu to build a actory o tires or trucks and buses, not ar rom Madras, scheduled or 2012. In China, recently became the irst world automoti e market be ore the United States, "we are close to saturation," adds the pattern o Michelin. Hence the idea o building a "plant bis", or products auto and hea y weight on its existing site o Shenyang, which would accompany the growth o the local market, which cannot meet the other plant on the outskirts o Shanghai. Shenyang, "we are negotiating with local authorities or permits to build;" "the ideal would be to start the work current 2010", says Michel Rollier. This since ten years in the country, Michelin is still small on the niche o the irst monte (sales or new cars) to Asian competitors, but arrogated about 15 o the market o spare tires.

Another signi icant e ort, the Brazil. The group, which employs 4,000 employees on site and operates two plants, is about to in est "a ew hundreds o millions o euros". I the positions o Michelin were already signi icant in hea y weight, "is lack o capacity in tourism tires", he said. The Resende site, de oted to tires or cars, will be signi icantly de eloped. or the Campo Grande, ested in the truck and engineering markets, "i t will become one o the largest plants o Michelin term in the world," predicted Michel Rollier. In General, "the Michelin actories tended to be a bit monolithic." "What I wanted to do, it is to grow gradually," added the man who succeeded in 2006 at Edouard Michelin, disappeared in tragic conditions.

Double capacity in Russia

Last point to monitor, the Russia. irst great Western to be manu acturer implemented, by buying back in 2001, a ormer agricultural equipment plant, Michelin stands ready or the resumption o the local auto market, e en i it is likely to be gradual. irst monte, the group is still marginal, and the replacement, partly occupied by the Russian brands, market has dropped rom 50 million tires year last approximately 36.5 million this year. "But, as o 2010, people resume to buy tires," hope Eric aidy, leader o Michelin in Russia and in the region. While competitors such as Pirelli, Nokian or Yokohama are in their turn, Michelin does not double term the capacity o its plant, to go rom 2 to 4 million tires per year and thus reduce the share o imports rom other European countries. But the decision is still ar rom being taken.

In addition to this growth in the BRICs, but without direct relationship o cause and e ect, the group is more that ne er engaged in a reduction o its work orce in rance. Ha ing decided in June to close its plant in Noyelles-lès-Seclin (Nord) and specialize played-lès-Tours and Montceau-les-Mines, resulting in the disappearance o 1.093 positions the next year, a oluntary departure plan has just been launched, mainly or the more than 58 years. On paper, some 1,800 people among the "Bibs" are eligible or these measures o age, but the exact number is expected in early December. Michelin has had beau lowering its cost in recent years, the net loss in the irst hal (122 million) grow to additional strict measures. "We continue to produce in Europe, must impro e our producti ity", said Michel Rollier.