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Akron-based Goodyear opening a $500 million plant in Mexico
The new facility, slated to open in 2017, will be able to produce 6 million tires a year
by WKSU's KABIR BHATIA


Reporter
Kabir Bhatia
 
Goodyear CEO Rich Kramer says the new plant will allow the company to better serve customers in both North and South America
Courtesy of WKSU
Akron-based Goodyear will spend $500 million on a new plant in Mexico. WKSU’s Kabir Bhatia reports on today’s announcement, which is expected to create 1,000 jobs.
LISTEN: Akron-based Goodyear picks Mexico for new tire plant

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The new plant in San Luis Potosi is slated to open in 2017, and will produce what the company calls “high-value-added” tires. Goodyear expects demand to increase by 10 million tires over the next four years.

CEO Rich Kramer says they will break ground on the new factory in June, which will be the company’s most state-of-the-art facility.

“It also will reflect Goodyear’s commitment to the environment. It will be a zero-waste-to-landfill and a zero-solvent facility. And it will also use natural gas, energy efficient [LED] lighting and other state-of-the-art health and safety equipment.”

Goodyear ruled out Northeast Ohio last year, citing labor costs and the lack of a deep-sea port. Spokesman Keith Price adds that several factors led to picking Mexico.

"San Luis Potosi is a location that we felt could best serve both our Latin American and our North American markets.  It has the infrastructure and a skilled workforce necessary for us to be able to provide customers in both regions with high-quality tires in a timely manner.”

The company employs about 67,000 people around the world, and first established operations in Mexico in 1940.


The full press conference is available below, or at this link.

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Three reasons Akron is out of the running for Goodyear's new tire plant
Tuesday, September 2, 2014

 
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