Goodyear opens development center in China

PULANDIAN, China (March 27, 2915) — Goodyear has established its first development center in China to help service auto makers in the country and throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

Located at the company's tire plant in Pulandian, the center will expand its capabilities in the sector, the firm said, adding that it will enable Goodyear to increase the speed and efficiency of tire development.

It will also allow the tire maker to bid for new OE platforms in China, including new energy vehicles, Goodyear said.

“China is the world's largest and fastest growing market for passenger cars and commercial trucks, and critical to Goodyear's growth strategy,” Chairman and CEO Richard Kramer said in a statement.

The development center will be an integral part of the company's network of global centers, he said, “and strengthen our innovation leadership role in the global tire industry.”

Goodyear did not say what it invested in the center nor how many are employed there.

Goodyear also recently disclosed plans to expand the Pulandian plant, increasing capacity by more than 2 million units a year.

Core technology will continue to be developed at Goodyear's innovation centers in Akron and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg, while the development center in China will focus on product customization for OE fitments and project support services.

The company also operates development centers in Hanau, Germany, and Hebron, Ohio.