Continental announced its decision to discontinue operations at its Aldora Mills textile manufacturing plant in Barnesville, Georgia (U.S.), by the end of 2026. The facility employs approximately 230 people and produces textile reinforcement materials, including tire cord fabric, hose yarn and knitted fabric, which are used exclusively within Continental’s Tires and ContiTech group sectors. Continental’s main priority is to support all affected employees. In collaboration with local partners, the company will offer career counselling and access to employment resources. Continental acquired the Aldora Mills facility in 1988.

The decision to discontinue operations at the Aldora Mills plant follows a comprehensive business review to safeguard the company’s profitability, competitiveness, and business performance in the Americas region. The plant has not been cost competitive for many years despite continuous turnaround efforts. In addition, ongoing changes in global market dynamics and supply chains have made it necessary to take this decision.

The U.S. remains a key market for Continental. The company reaffirms its commitment to its customers and partners in the United States. With tire manufacturing operations in Plymouth (Indiana), Clinton (Mississippi), Sumter (South Carolina), and Mount Vernon (Illinois), Continental’s U.S. tire plants have an annual production capacity of more than 16 million tires. In total Continental employs more than 8,800 people in the U.S., in both its group sectors Tires and ContiTech.

In the last decade alone, Continental has invested around 1.5 billion USD in its tire manufacturing operations in the United States. In October, the company announced a more than 85 million USD investment to expand its manufacturing operations at the ContiTech plant in Mount Pleasant, Iowa. In September 2024, the company broke ground on its first fully owned tire distribution center in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, scheduled to open in early 2026. The new facility will enhance service levels and customer support across the region, complementing the seven partner-owned distributions centers that currently serve the U.S. market.