Goodyear opens first R&D centre in China

Pulandian, China – Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. has established its first development centre in China, the company announced 26 March.

Located at the company's tire manufacturing facility in Pulandian, the new unit is intended to increase the speed and efficiency” of tire development, especially for China-based vehicle manufacturers.

The development centre “will be an integral part of our network of global innovation centres and strengthen our innovation [efforts] in the global tire industry," said Richard Kramer, the company's chairman and CEO."

The Pulandian centre will also allow Goodyear to enter new original equipment platforms in China, including new energy vehicles, according to the company statement.

"The time is right for us to increase our capabilities in China to ensure we remain first with our customers," said Kramer. The new development center “will allow us to expand our new product offerings, accelerate our speed to market and increase the value we deliver to these key customers."

Goodyear emphasised that core tire technology would continue to be developed at its global Innovation centres in Akron, Ohio and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg.

The China development activities, it said, will be focused on product customisation for OE fitments and project support services.

Goodyear also operates development centres in Hanau, Germany and Hebron, Ohio, its press statement noted.