Turkish production costs too high, comments Goodyear’s Rzonzef

Goodyear has been present in Turkey for half a century now, however the tyre maker hints it may need a little persuasion to maintain its production facilities there. In an interview with Istanbul-based daily Hürriyet, Goodyear’s EMEA Commercial Business Unit vice-president Michel Rzonzef said the cost of tyre production in Turkey is too high despite a weakening of the Turkish lira’s value; this is creating an impediment to new tyre investments.

“We want to invest in a lot of spots around the world, but if Turkey wants to attract more investment, its production costs have to be more feasible,” Rzonzef stated. “This could mean giving auto producers more incentives or pulling production costs down.”

Yet despite these issues – Rzonzef referred to them as “obstacles” – the business unit vice-president stated that “Turkey is in a good place in terms of auto production.”