In the absence of specific information regarding Goodyear’s plans to cut 5% of its salaried workforce worldwide, uncertainty exists as to where the axe will fall. But it appears Luxembourg has been spared the worst, with media firm RTL Luxembourg reporting that Goodyear has “no official plans” to make staff redundant there. But this doesn’t mean they’ll be entirely unaffected by the tyre maker’s belt-tightening.
In what may be a poorly timed coincidence the announcement of a notable reduction in Goodyear’s global workforce came just days after the union representing many employees in Germany confirmed demands for more money. On 25 January, union IG BCE shared details of upcoming negotiations on behalf of 25,000 rubber sector workers, naming Goodyear as one of the “large companies” it represents. The union’s income wishlist includes a cost of living pay rise and one-off inflation bonus.
Players of the rFactor 2 motorsport simulation will benefit from a partnership between Studio 397 and Goodyear. The tyre maker is helping the Studio 397 physics team understand the very deep and complex construction and reactions of racing tyres. The Netherlands-based video game developer says it has benefitted from “an exceptional collaboration and sharing of data and insight of late.”
Goodyear Tire & Rubber is working to ensure its former employees in the USA receive their company pensions following issues with some payments being made. According to the Akron Beacon Journal, a daily newspaper based in Goodyear’s hometown, pensions were due to be paid last Saturday. The publication quotes Doug Grassian, Goodyear’s director of global external and digital communications, as saying the company is working to fix the problem.
In addition to unveiling a demonstration tyre containing 90% sustainable materials, Goodyear announces it will begin selling tyres with up to 70% sustainable-material content during the course of this year. No details are available at present, but Goodyear invites “consumers interested in purchasing this tyre” to register for updates at a US market-focused site.
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company announces that it is “teaming up” with Israel-based mobility incubator Drive TLV, with Drive facilitating collaboration opportunities between its network of start-ups and Goodyear. Drive will also connect the Goodyear Ventures capital fund with potential investment opportunities in this start-up network.
Using a range of sustainable materials in the tyre tread compound, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has developed the Eagle GO. This concept tyre is fitted to Citroën’s new concept car, oli. The Eagle GO is the third Goodyear concept tyre developed with Citroën.
During the second quarter of 2022, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company approved a plan related to the integration of Cooper Tire. This plan aims to streamline the company’s global administrative structure by reducing duplicated positions, and it will also result in the closure of “redundant” Cooper Tire warehouse locations in the Americas. According to Goodyear, the plan will result in “approximately 490 job reductions.”
Larger than ever following its acquisition of Cooper Tire in 2021, Goodyear Tire & Rubber reported year-on-year net sales growth of 31 per cent in Q2 2022. Sales amounted to US$5.2 billion in the three months to 30 June 2022, and Goodyear states that even excluding the Cooper transaction, this figure reflects year-on-year growth of over 15 per cent. Other factors driving this increase included improvements in price/mix, higher volume, and increased sales from other tyre-related businesses.
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has published its report on corporate responsibility performance for 2021. It comments that the report, which summarises the progress made toward achieving the company’s short- and long-term sustainability goals, further demonstrates its commitment to ethical and sustainable processes, materials and programmes.
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has officially opened its new manufacturing facility in Dudelange, Luxembourg, an operation it calls a “first of its kind” for the company. The inauguration on 5 May follows a US$77 million investment in industry 4.0 digital manufacturing processes at the site.
This week, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company achieved a further step towards its goal of fully replacing petroleum-derived oils by 2040. Selected products within the Goodyear Metro Miler range, a city transit tyre available to customers in North America, are now produced using a bio-based soybean oil compound that replaces a portion of the petroleum-based materials used.
The USA has classified natural rubber as a strategic raw material that serves as a critical ingredient in military, aircraft and truck tyres. The country currently relies on rubber imports for its tyre production but wishes to reduce this dependency, and government and military are thus working with private partners to accelerate commercialisation of natural rubber from dandelions. Goodyear Tire & Rubber will play a key role in achieving this goal.
At a ceremony held in Phoenix, Arizona this month, General Motors (GM) honoured 134 suppliers based in 16 countries. The vehicle manufacturer’s 2021 Supplier of the Year awardees included five tyre makers – Bridgestone Corporation, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, Hankook Tire & Technology, Maxxis Tires and Michelin North America.
The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) has appointed Steve McClellan of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company to its Board of Directors. Goodyear says McClellan is joining the board to bolster US-based association’s “leadership in policy advocacy, workforce solutions, legal action, operational excellence and news and insights.”
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