550 jobs go in Fulda as Goodyear cuts tyre production there by 50%

Goodyear is cutting up to 50 per cent of the jobs at its tyre factory in Fulda, Germany, which will result in “a similar sized” cut in tyre production, the tyre manufacturer announced today. Since around 1100 people are employed at the Fulda tyre factory, that means around 550 jobs will be cut. The news comes as a result of Goodyear’s review of its manufacturing footprint.

Writing in an official statement, Goodyear confirmed that it has “initiated a consultation” on the subject:

“It is a difficult but necessary choice we need to make to improve our cost structure by decreasing high-cost capacity and optimizing use of the remaining plants in the EMEA manufacturing footprint.

However, while production is being slashed in the city of Fulda, Goodyear representatives said the announcement “will not impact the Fulda brand which remains in our multi-brand product portfolio”, adding: “Fulda tyres are produced in several manufacturing facilities in EMEA, and they will continue to be supplied to customers in Germany and other EMEA markets.”

Asked whether further production cuts at Fulda or other European manufacturing plants are planned, officials replied:

“There will not be other announcements about the manufacturing footprint in EMEA at this time. As we announced at the beginning of the year, the manufacturing footprint review considers all plants in the EMEA manufacturing network to balance our capacity, capability and cost to meet market demands. The announcement we are making today is the result of this review.”