QUERETARO, MEXICO — Construction of a new tread pressing plant in Mexico will attempt to meet the growing demand for Michelin Retread Technologies (MRT) products.

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. It will produce tread rubber for the commercial truck retread tire market in North America and product is expected to begin rolling out of the plant in the spring of 2007.

“Innovative retreads make a difference in the market,” said Luc Minguet, chief operating officer of Michelin Americas Truck Tires. “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.

“In the first quarter alone, our MRT business in Mexico is up over 85 per cent versus last year,” said Eduardo Bernes, director of Michelin Truck Tires Mexico. “And we’ve gained more than 2 points of market share across North America so far this year. This kind of growth validates the strong demand in the marketplace for the innovative products and Michelin quality retreads that only MRT can deliver.”

The growth of Michelin’s retread business is matched by strong demand for new Michelin truck tires. The commercial tire business in North America continues to outperform expectations, according to the tire manufacturer, resulting in significant expansion across the product line. Recent Michelin plant expansions include: Waterville, N.S., Spartanburg, S.C., Anderson, S.C. and Covington, Ga.