AKRON (July 23, 2001)—The Goodyear brand gained 3 percentage points of passenger and light truck replacement market share in North America during the second quarter, according to Chairman and CEO Samir Gibara, as the company benefited from a continuing shift in consumer preference for name brand tires and Ford Motor Co.'s recall of 13 million Firestone Wilderness tires.
Even discounting a million units Goodyear shipped as part of the Ford program, Goodyear improved its market share, Mr. Gibara told financial analysts in a conference call July 23. Through the end of June, Ford had replaced 2 million tires, giving Goodyear a 50-percent share of the initial replacement shipments.
Overall, Goodyear shipped 28.9 million tires in North America during the quarter, on par with 2000, Goodyear said. Shipments of Goodyear flag brands—Goodyear, Dunlop and Kelly—were up 10 percent, however, while shipments of tires to private brand customers declined, Mr. Gibara said. The overall passenger and light truck tire replacement market grew by about 1 percent, Goodyear said.
In the commercial tire market, Goodyear's shipments of truck and bus tires were lower than a year ago, but when compared with the market—replacement shipments down 8 percent and original equipment shipments off 41 percent—Goodyear picked up 2 percentage points of market share, Mr. Gibara said.