Titan boss slams French rules over Goodyear plant takeover

London – A US tire tycoon has criticised French laws and trade unions, which he said had prevented him from investing in a stricken factory, according to AFP – citing an interview with France Info radio.

Maurice Taylor, chief executive of Titan International had expressed interest in taking over the loss-making Goodyear tire plant in Amiens, northern France.

Goodyear announced in January last year that it was closing the factory, which employs 1,173 people, after years of negotiations with unions failed to come up with a solution to save jobs.

Titan, however, pulled out of a rescue deal because French regulations required it to take on a minimum of 662 employees – about double the amount required under its business plan.

"It's the dumbest thing in the world, Taylor reportedly told France Info. “France should just become Communist and then when it goes all bad like Russia did, then maybe you'd have a chance."