AKRON, Ohio (Nov. 21, 2003) — Goodyear has signed an agreement for its commercial truck tires to be standard equipment on all Volvo trucks produced for North America in the next three years.
Goodyear will supply the truck maker with its new-generation G395 LHS, as well as the complete Goodyear commercial portfolio of line-haul, regional and vocational products.
Scott Kress, senior vice president of sales for Volvo Trucks North America Inc., said the company's customers “look to Volvo for a premium ownership experience. We are pleased to have a supplier partner like Goodyear who shares our dedication to meeting customer needs for quality, safety, reliability, fuel efficiency and overall cost of ownership.”
Steve McClellan, Goodyear's vice president, commercial tire systems, noted that Volvo Trucks North America plans to continue to grow its share of the competitive truck equipment business. “Obviously, this holds great opportunity for Goodyear to grow along with them, and to reap the benefits of sales of our replacement tires for the thousands of trucks that will need new or retreaded tires down the road.
“After an extensive evaluation process, Volvo put its confidence in Goodyear because of our innovative production systems, technical investment, testing and development capabilities, reputation for product performance, and extensive network of commercial dealers to offer support to Volvo customers.”
Goodyear truck tires for Volvo vehicles are produced at the Akron-based tire maker's plants in Danville, Va., and Topeka, Kan.
In addition to the new agreement with Volvo Trucks North America, Goodyear said it also has renewed its current standard agreement with Mack Trucks Inc., a subsidiary of the Volvo Group. The Mack agreement will run concurrent with the new Volvo pact, with both extending through October 2006.
Volvo Trucks North America is a member of the Volvo Group, a publicly held company with headquarters in Gothenburg, Sweden. The company had 2002 sales of about $20 billion. Volvo's business areas include heavy trucks, buses, construction equipment, marine and industrial drive systems, aerospace, and financial services.