Why are trucks showing up at abandoned Alabama industrial plant that was world’s largest tire producer?

More than five years after it shuttered, the former Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. factory in Gadsden is seeing new activity.

Takkion, a renewable energy logistics company, is now leasing the 2.9 million-square-foot site.

Gadsden residents took to social media this week asking questions when hundreds of trucks began appearing at the site, which has been largely inactive since Goodyear ceased operations there in 2020 after more than 90 years of operations.

At one time, it was the largest tire producing plant in the world.

“What’s going on at Goodyear? The parking lot is full of big 18 wheeler trucks‚” asked one person on the “What’s Happening in Gadsden?” Facebook page.

Takkion began operations at the site this week. It’s unclear how many people will be employed there. In all, the compan