Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. says it will become the first tire manufacturer to produce run-flat tires in China thanks to an $18 million plant investment.
Goodyear expects to start building run-flats at its Dalian, China, factory in 2007, with annual production volume rising to 200,000 units within five years.
Pierre Cohade, president of Goodyear's Asia-Pacific Region, says the Akron, Ohio-based tiremaker's plans will focus on the manufacture of run-flats for both the original equipment and replacement markets.
Goodyear officials expect demand for run-flats "to increase significantly, reflecting escalating interest from OE manufacturers."
Goodyear currently has more than 100 active run-flat projects with various OEMs, they say.
The company sold more than 1.3 million run-flat tires last year. "In 2005, we expect that number to be closer to two million."
