Titan CEO Ups Ante, Says French Have "No Idea How To Run a Business"

He likes their women and wine, though

An American tyre tycoon has fired off a second virulent missive to France's industry minister, saying his country has "beautiful women and fantastic wine" but "no idea how to run a business".

 Maurice Taylor - chief executive of Titan International - had already incensed the French once this week by saying the country's "so-called" workers put in "three hours a day" with the rest spent eating and talking.

Industry minister Arnaud Montebourg hit back in a written response in which he told Mr Taylor his comments were "extremist and insulting" and displayed "a perfect ignorance of what our country is about".

"Be assured that you can count on me to inspect your tyre imports with a redoubled zeal."