GOODYEAR South Africa will continue to produce tyres for the agricultural industry despite the announcement yesterday by the global tyre manufacturer that it would exit the farm tyre business in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) regions.
Goodyear EMEA management and Goodyear Dunlop Tires Europe (GDTE) said in a statement the project remained subject to consultation with the European Central Works Council and relevant countries' employee representative bodies, where required.
This project is expected to primarily impact Goodyear Dunlop Tires France's Amiens North plant which accounts for nearly 60% of Goodyear farm tyre production in the EMEA region.
Goodyear SA group public relations manager Lize Hayward said if the decision went ahead, the company's production of tyres for the local market, such as tyres for tractors and other agricultural equipment, would be maintained.
Goodyear Dunlop Tires France has presented a plan to the French Central Works Council to close its Amiens North facility.
The project to exit the EMEA farm tyre business is also expected to impact farm tyre manufacturing in other locations in the region. The project remains subject to consultation with the relevant employee representative bodies and other local approvals.
"The company's intention to exit the EMEA farm tyre business is consistent with our strategy to strengthen Goodyear's focus on its core businesses," Goodyear EMEA president and GDTE chairman Arthur de Bok said.
Goodyear previously sold its farm tyre businesses in North America (2005) and Latin America (2011). Goodyear's Asia Pacific farm tyre business is not impacted by the project.
