UPDATE: Goodyear Plans Commercial Tyre Unit for China

Following reports on Friday that Goodyear is planning to build a new plant in Dalian, China, T&A can confirm that plans are indeed afoot for a new facility, though Ron Castro, Director of Communications at the company, could not disclose plant capacity figures and forecasts:

“The new factory will build both consumer (passenger) and commercial (MRT) tyres. In fact it will be the first time we will manufacture commercial tyres in China, allowing us to grow our business in the largest commercial vehicle market in the world… The production will mainly be for domestic demand, while a portion will be exported mainly within Asia Pacific… In China, both in the current and future facility, we cater to both replacement and OE passenger markets.”

Figures relating to how much Goodyear is planning to invest in the new facility remain unconfirmed, though recent reports suggest that Goodyear are indeed ready to spend in emerging markets in Asia and South America.