Goodyear's tire plants in Europe, Middle East, Africa to remain closed

AKRON—Goodyear is keeping all of its tire and retread manufacturing plants closed throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa regions "until further notice," just as it's doing with its manufacturing plants in the Americas.

The Akron-based tire maker said it continues to monitor inventory levels "to keep essential community services moving" as the world continues to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

"During this unprecedented and extremely fluid situation, Goodyear's top priorities are the health and wellbeing of our associates and service to our customers, many of whom continue to provide essential services to the community, such as emergency response and transport of critical goods like food and medicine," the tire maker said.

Goodyear originally said it would close its EMEA facilities abroad at least until April 3.

The European initiative includes 11 tire plants in France, Germany, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland and Slovenia, which collectively employ nearly 12,000 workers, according to Rubber & Plastics News' tire data.

Goodyear, through its LinkedIn page on March 31, shared a letter from Richard Kramer, the company Chairman, CEO and president, that was sent to associates. The letter praised employees for their flexibility during the difficult times and encouraged them to continue to take safety measures that helped to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

"We should not underestimate COVID-19," Kramer wrote."We must take it seriously. This is an unprecedented global health crisis, and it is our shared responsibility to help curb the spread."

Some of its manufacturing facilities may be quiet for now, but some of Goodyear's operations continue throughout the EMEA region.

The Goodyear mold plant in Luxembourg resumed to operate partially this week, the company said, in order to prepare "for a timely restart of production and to maintain inventory, where needed."

In addition, Goodyear said it is adjusting work schedules of employees in its research and development centers and sales offers "to reflect the level of activities."

The company, which has encouraged all workers who are able to perform their work remotely to work from home, has put "preventative measures" in place at all facilities that remain in operation. This, the t ire maker said in a statement April 2, will "help protect associates and reduce the overall spread of COVID-19."

Implemented preventative measures include:

• Additional cleaning and availability of sanitizing products;
• Limiting visitors to business-critical guests only; and
• Practicing appropriate physical and social distancing.

"We are open for business," Kramer wrote in the letter to associates. "Many of our manufacturing plants are shut down temporarily and many other teams are working from home, but the world still needs Goodyear to lean in and deliver our products and services to those who need them—first responders, health care workers, commercial fleets and others who are so essential to keeping the supply chain running."