When asked specifically about that comment, the USW elaborated, saying: “The new commitment to capital investments in our USW plants is designed to be about equal to the amount Goodyear will spend on the new Mexican plant. It is in addition to the $700 million commitment in the current labor agreement and 2015 cap-ex budget.”
Goodyear did not confirm the USW's figure of $500 million in additional spending, but acknowledged it did commit to additional investment, saying:
“The demand for HVA tires in North and Latin America is projected to grow significantly over the next several years. Goodyear and the USW are committed to strengthening Goodyear's U.S. manufacturing environment in order to satisfy that demand and meet our customers' needs.
“Our previously announced capital commitments to Goodyear manufacturing facilities in the U.S. — as well as new and expanded investments that extend through the end of our next labor contract which were referenced by the USW last week — will support our ability to respond to the high demand.”