On the same day Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. announced that Jonathan Rich will replace John Polhemus as president of its North American Tire division on Dec. 1, the company revealed its October original equipment consumer and commercial tire and replacement commercial tire shipments fell below industry levels.
If Goodyear "had been able to fill back-orders in October, (commercial replacement) shipment growth would have been higher than the industry," say Goodyear officials.
Goodyear is boosting production and importing tires from Brazil and Japan to meet demand.
Both Goodyear and the industry in general were down 3% from last year in consumer replacement shipments.
However, shipments of the tiremaker's Goodyear and Dunlop brands increased vs. October 2001.
Goodyear's stock closed at $7 a share yesterday.
For an interview with incoming Goodyear North American Tire President Rich, see our breaking news item.
The interview was conducted yesterday, just hours after Rich's promotion was announced.
