AKRON (Sept. 9, 2002) – The tire industry needs to step up its efforts to improve the value of its products in the consumers' eyes, Goodyear Chairman and CEO Samir Gibara told delegates to the 21st annual meeting of the Tire Society in Akron.
“Today the tire industry is poised like never before in its history to be able to show the value, energize and shape the function and future of its products,” Mr. Gibara said. “This responsibility clearly rests on our shoulders; it cannot be delegated to legislators, regulators or other uninformed third parties.”
Mr. Gibara prefaced his remarks by saying the industry has to accept a share of the blame for allowing tires to be viewed as commodities.