GREENVILLE, S.C. — To meet the growing demand for Michelin Retread Technologies products, Michelin is constructing a new tread pressing plant in Mexico, adjacent to its Michelin Mexico headquarters and passenger tire plant in Queretaro.

Construction will begin immediately for the new plant that will employ up to 120 people and is expected to start production in spring 2007. It will produce tread rubber for the commercial truck retread tire market in North America.

“Demand for Michelin retreads in North America is exploding,” said Luc Minguet, chief operating officer of Michelin Americas Truck Tires. “Innovative retreads make a difference in the market. Demand is growing by half a million treads a year and our franchisees plan to open 15 retreading plants this year. This new tread pressing facility is key to support our growth not only in Mexico but in North America.”

Currently, retreads for the Mexican market are being sourced from Michelin’s Covington, Ga, tread pressing plant. Opened in 1999, the Covington plant is completing its own expansion, announced last February, to meet the rapidly growing needs of MRT franchisees and retread plants throughout North America. Scheduled for completion in mid-2006, the expansion will double the capacity of the Covington facility.