Goodyear to make runflats in Dalian, China

Shanghai, China--The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has announced that it aims to become the first tyre company to manufacture runflat tyres in China directing a $18 million investment in its Dalian tyre plant toward run-flat manufacturing technology.

Pierre Cohade, Goodyear's President of the Asia-Pacific Region said that the investment and subsequent plans would be focused on the manufacture of Goodyear RunOnFlat tires both for original equipment and the replacement market for China and for export. RunOnFlat tyres use specially stiffened sidewalls but do not require special wheels, unlike other competing systems. Cohade said that he expects production to begin in 2007 and annual volume for sale in China and export to reach 200 000 units within five years.

Our European organisation has been very aggressive in supplying RunOnFlat to manufacturers like BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Volkswagen and Ferrari,” Cohade said. In 2004 Goodyear sold more than 1.3 million run-flat tyres. In 2005 we expect that number to be closer to 2 million.”

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Press release listing from Goodyear

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