In response to the rapid spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, to protect its employees and respond to the sudden decline in market demand, Goodyear has announced that it will temporarily close production at its European, North American and South American tyre and retread plants in phases by the end of this week, at least till April 3 and maybe even further if required.
The Akron based tyre giant announced the Americas plant closings after the stock market closed on Wednesday and announced its European plant closings late Tuesday through a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
As far as Europe is concerned, this temporary shut down will include the company’s plants in France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Slovenia and the Dębica plant in Poland.
“A phased shut down will begin across the company’s tyre, retread and chemical plants in Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and the United States over the coming days,” The company stated in a release. It also said that its facility in Peru was already closed earlier this week.
The company's warehouses in the three continents will continue to remain operational to maintain customer service, albeit on a reduced staffing schedule and strong social distancing practices in place to protect the health and wellbeing of the employees and the people.
Goodyear further added that these temporary measures will be implemented in full agreement with local social partners and in a way that would allow prompt production startup when public health and market conditions improve.
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The tyre company underscored that it is following the guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States and is limiting visitor access and business travel. It has also implementing remote working for its employees and ensured that social distancing practices and regular disinfection were being implemented at its facilities.
About Goodyear: Goodyear is one of the world’s largest tyre companies. It employs about 63,000 people and manufactures its products in 47 facilities in 21 countries around the world. Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio, and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg, strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry.
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