Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. is investing roughly $50 million to increase the production of high-valued added (HVA) consumer tires at its Uitenhage, South Africa, facility.
The investment will help Goodyear meet the growing market demand for HVA tires in South African and Sub-Sahara Africa, the tiremaker said. The region’s tire market is expected to experience double-digit growth through 2020, with the passenger segment leading the way.
“This is an important investment by Goodyear and is consistent with our strategy to serve the needs of our customers and the company’s focus to invest in high return projects that drive profitable growth,” said Jean-Jacques Wiroth, managing director of Goodyear South Africa.
The expansion will improve the facility’s capability to produce low rolling resistance tires, as well as meet the increased market requirements for HVA 4×4 SUV tires, the tiremaker said. To allow for this plant expansion, Goodyear South Africa proposes relocating the facility’s production of medium radial truck tires to other facilities.
