Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. will suspend tire and chemical manufacturing in its Americas region through at least April 3 or until further notice “in response to the sudden decline in market demand resulting from the rapid spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
In a recently released statement, Goodyear officials said that “phased shut down will begin across the company’s tire, retread and chemical plants in Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and the United States over the coming days.”
The Akron, Ohio-based tiremaker’s facility in Peru was closed earlier this week.
“The company will closely monitor the local conditions surrounding its warehouse and distribution operations, as well as inventory and supply levels to continue delivery of Goodyear products.
“To further protect the health and wellbeing of its associates, customers and communities, which remain Goodyear’s top priority, the company is following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and has introduced a number of preventative measures at its facilities, including limiting visitor access and business travel, implementing remote working and social distancing practices and increasing frequency of disinfection.”
According to MTD’s 2020 Facts Issue, Goodyear’s eight tire manufacturing plants in North and Central America – five in the United States, two in Canada and one in Mexico – can, in total, manufacture more than 199,000 units per day at full capacity.
