Arnaud Montebourg, France’s fiery industry minister, has said he has received an offer to buy a Goodyear plant from Maurice Taylor, head of US tyremaker Titan International, who this year lashed out at French working practices, saying he would be “stupid” to buy the factory, reports The Financial Times.
Mr Taylor and Mr Montebourg, famous for his tirades against business leaders, were involved in a furious exchange in February when the outspoken US boss responded to a previous appeal to rescue the Goodyear plant by asking in a letter to the minister: “How stupid do you think we are?”
But Mr Montebourg said on Tuesday Mr Taylor had now made a proposal to take over one of two Goodyear plants threatened with closure in Amiens in northern France, saving 333 jobs out of 1,200, investing “tens of millions” of euros and guaranteeing their employment for four years.
“It is a proposition made by Mr Maurice Taylor who came to see me despite the harsh words that there were,” Mr Montebourg said in a television interview.
The minister added the offer had been made to the government – not to Goodyear. “I am the receiver of this offer. It is not for Mr Taylor or anyone else to comment. It is up to me to make it happen and convince all the parties involved,” he said.
Contacted on Monday by the French news agency AFP when Mr Montebourg first revealed the proposal, Mr Taylor refused to confirm or deny an offer. “I am not up to date on anything in your country of fine wines and beautiful women,” he was quoted as saying.
If Titan does take over the plant it would be a startling volte face by Mr Taylor, known as “The Grizz”.
Read more of this report from The Financial Times.
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