Cooper Tire To Cease LV Tire Production At England Facility, Cut About 300 Jobs

(RTTNews) - Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. Europe Ltd., a subsidiary of Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. (CTB) said Friday it will move forward with a previously announced proposal to cease light vehicle tire production at its Melksham, England facility. The plan is geared to help Cooper Tire Europe enhance its competitiveness in the global tire industry.

Cooper Tire has concluded the collective consultation process with employee representatives at the facility, which began in October 2018. It is expected that light vehicle tire production will be phased out over a period of about 10 months at the site, with an estimated 300 roles eliminated.

Instead, Cooper Tire Europe will obtain light vehicle tires to meet customer needs from other sites within Cooper's global production network. Employees whose roles will be eliminated will receive appropriate notice, enhanced separation pay and continued career services.

Meanwhile, about 400 roles will remain in Melksham to support functions that will continue there, including motorsports and motorcycle tire production, a materials business, Cooper Tire Europe headquarters and sales and marketing, and the Europe Technical Center.

"We are doing all possible to assist impacted employees as we take this necessary step to enhance Cooper Tire Europe's competitiveness, enable our growth plans and secure a sustainable long-term future for our business," said Jaap van Wessum, General Manager of Cooper Tire Europe.