Founded in 1898 by Frank Seiberling, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company is an American multinational tyre manufacturing company based in Akron, Ohio. It is one of the oldest, biggest and best-known tyremakers in the world. Goodyear makes tyres for automobiles, commercial trucks, light trucks, motorcycles, SUVs, racing cars, aeroplanes, farm equipment and heavy earth-mover machinery. Find all the news and analysis you need relating to Goodyear here.
As of 2 February, John T. Lucas will succeed Joseph B. Ruocco as Goodyear Tire & Rubber’s chief human resources officer, and will be appointed a senior vice-president of the company. He comes to Goodyear from Lockheed Martin Corporation, where he served as senior vice-president of human resources and communications.
The following doesn’t apply to you, as your positive appraisal of your own driving skills absolutely matches the reality – but you may be interested to know that while other parents think they are good role models on the road, they may in fact have a negative influence on their children’s future driving habits. This titbit of information was gleaned by Goodyear in its study of over 6,800 parents of novice drivers (aged 16 to 25) from 19 countries. The survey’s results form part of the tyre maker’s ‘Driving Safety First: Improving road safety for novice drivers’ white paper.
Regional government ministers in India met with tyre makers on 18 December to discuss rubber prices. Chief minister of the state of Kerala, Oomen Chandy has chaired a meeting which proposed a minimum guaranteed price for rubber growers – a price of around Rs 125 to 130 (£1.25 to £1.30) per kilogramme was suggested. In recent times the price paid to Indian rubber growers has dipped as low as Rs 90 per kilogramme, a price considered unsustainable.
Former UK and Ireland director of consumer tyres for Goodyear Dunlop, Jürgen Titz, has been appointed head of consumer replacement for the tyre maker’s Germany, Austria and Switzerland, or DACH, region cluster. In his new role, he will coordinate all consumer tyre-related sales and marketing activities in the three German-speaking countries. Titz will also join the management of Goodyear Dunlop Tires Germany, which is led by George Rietbergen. Jürgen Titz succeeds his brother Frank Titz, who as general manager will lead Goodyear’s business in Russia.
According to a report emanating from Goodyear’s hometown, the tyre maker intends to bring its regional headquarters for Latin America back to company headquarters in Akron (Ohio, US) next year. The Akron Beacon Journal wrote on 16 December that efforts to relocate the headquarters in São Paulo, Brazil will begin early in 2015 with the transfer of senior management to Akron. Goodyear will spend several months evaluating which other positions it will move from São Paulo to the US, the Akron Beacon Journal added. The headquarters has been based in São Paulo since 2005, after it was moved from Akron.
An all-new version of the best-selling truck in the USA – the Ford F-150 – is now arriving at dealers, and Goodyear reports it is supplying tyres to four F-150 models. The Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure will be supplied to the 2015 Ford F-150 XL, XLT, Lariat and King Ranch models in sizes 275/55R20, LT 245/70R17 and LT275/65R18, and the Wrangler Fortitude supplied in HT in 275/65R18 and 265/70R17.
During the course of 2014, Goodyear’s FleetFirst fleet tyre management programme has enjoyed considerable growth throughout Europe. Goodyear Dunlop reports that 75 fleets from nine countries have joined the programme since the start of the year, bringing a total of more than 30,000 additional vehicles into FleetFirst. The new additions to FleetFirst include pan-European fleets based in France, Germany, Poland and the United Kingdom. Arguably the best-known of these fleets is Eddie Stobart, which operates more than 5,000 vehicles, while another large UK-based fleet to sign up during the year is Turners Soham Ltd, which operates more than 2,500 vehicles.
A public relations campaign supporting the launch of a Goodyear-brand tyre in China has been honoured as one of the world’s 50 best public relations programmes by The Holmes Group, organiser of the SABRE Awards. At the 2014 Global SABRE Awards, an event billed as the “elite of the elite” that brings together the finest from the SABRE Awards competitions in the Americas, Asia-Pacific and the EMEA region, Goodyear was named winner in the specialist audience – marketing to men category.
Truck fleets in the US are currently testing tyres containing Goodyear Tire & Rubber’s Air Maintenance Technology (AMT) as part of a research project supported by United States Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Vehicle Technology.
France should turn communist when everything goes wrong. That’s the advice Maurice Taylor doled out during an interview with France Info radio. The contents of the interview have been reported by AFP and provide an interesting further chapter to the tome of outspoken comments the Titan International boss has made in relation to the tyre maker’s failed attempt to acquire the Goodyear agricultural tyre facility in Amiens Nord, France.
Goodyear’s latest OTR tyre, the RT-5D, has celebrated its original equipment debut with Volvo. The Swedish firm is fitting its L350F wheel loader with the level 250 (L5) severe service radial in size 875/65 R33. The RT-5D is also currently available in a 29.5R25 size, with further sizes to follow.
TIP Trailer Services has extended its truck tyre contract supply contract with Goodyear until the end of 2016, at which point the two companies will celebrate 10 years of working together. With more than 50,000 vehicles, TIP Trailer Services is one of Europe’s leading equipment services providers, specialising in the leasing and rental of trailers, tankers and other equipment. The contract, which covers the supply, service and management of tyres for TIP Trailer Services, commenced in 2006.
County Tyres has announced the appointment of Phil Stanton in the newly created role of strategy director. Formerly Goodyear Dunlop UK & Ireland sales manager for farm tyres, Stanton joined the group on 1 November to work closely with managing director, Rob Freeman, in developing future strategy.
Goodyear is the largest producer of military tyres in the US, but its connection with the country’s armed forces goes beyond tyre supply. G.I. Jobs magazine – a publication that aims to simply the transition from the military to a successful civilian career – has again named Goodyear Tire & Rubber a Top 100 Military Friendly Employer. This designation recognises the company’s efforts to hire and support veteran employees.
The Federal Aviation Administration in the United States has given its blessing to the Zeppelin series selected by Goodyear to replace its blimp fleet. The FAA approval of the LZ N07-101 series follows certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency in Europe in August. The LZ N07-101 replaces the LZ N07-100 series, and in 2011 Goodyear ordered the first three airships from the new series. Goodyear Zeppelin number one. The first of these has been named Wingfoot One and undertook its maiden flight on 17 March. Parts for the second Goodyear Zeppelin have already started arriving at Goodyear’s airship hangar in Wingfoot Lake, and assembly is scheduled to commence in January 2015. It will take to the air at the start of the 2016 season.
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