Michelin plans to start operations soon

The new facility, which would focus on a range of radial truck and bus tyres, was expected to start operations in 2012

Tyre manufacturing major Michelin expects to commence production at its new facility near Chennai by mid-2013. The company would start manufacturing truck radial tyres by then, a senior official from the company said.

The facility is expected to start production by the middle of this year, said Prashant Prabhu, president, Michelin Group, Africa, India and Middle East. The company is putting up the equipment at present, he told reporters after launching the company's flagship travel guide series Green Guide in Chennai.

According to a company announcement during the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the state government, in 2009, the tyre manufacturer said that the commitment is towards an investment of Rs 4,000 crore for the plant which would be spread over 290 acres. The company is setting up a tyre manufacturing facility about 50 km north of Chennai, at Thervoy Kandigai, in Thiruvallur district.
 

The manufacturing facility, which would focus on a range of radial truck and bus tyres, was expected to start operations in 2012 with a focus on the Indian market. However, the company officials did not comment on the reasons for the delay in the schedule.

The travel guide the company launched in Tamil Nadu is expected to help the travelers to find out various outlets in Chennai and in the state.