Goodyear to end car, light truck production at English plant

BIRMINGHAM, England (May 18)—Goodyear Dunlop Tires Europe B.V. will phase out production of car and light truck tires at its Birmingham plant by year-end and move the capacity to other European plants. The move will eliminate 600 jobs at the 84-year-old factory that Goodyear acquired last year in its global alliance with Sumitomo Rubber Industries. Earlier this year, Goodyear Dunlop began phasing out production of truck tires and molds at the Birmingham plant, moves that were to cut 650 jobs. Production of motorcycle and racing tires will continue at the scaled-down facility, the company said, along with certain administration, sales and marketing activities, tallying 500 jobs. Goodyear Dunlop said the decision to phase-out production in England is based on price pressures caused in part by the strength of the British pound vs. the Euro—which makes exporting British-made products increasingly difficult—and a steady decline in the British car market.