Goodyear Plans Commercial Tyre Unit for China

Chinese news sources are suggesting strongly that plans are in progress at Goodyear for a new US$500 million facility in Dalian, China. It is said that the plant will be launched in 2010, and will produce commercial truck tyres for the Chinese market – a first for the US giant.

Perhaps these reports are a little more speculative than they first seem. Back in February, T&A reported on www.tyrepress.com that Goodyear were on the verge of signing an agreement to invest up to US$1 billion – a huge figure by anyone’s estimations – in a Dalian-based venture. The latest reports, while quoting a figure only half that size, therefore perhaps have a faint whiff of red herring about them.