Goodyear reopens China tire factory

Goodyear’s tire plant in Pulandian, China, has restarted production after temporarily closing down to help curb the dangerous coronavirus outbreak in that nation.

The plant resumed partial production on February 9, Richard Kramer, Goodyear’s chairman and chief executive officer, told industry analysts on Feb.10.

Goodyear is also recommending that associates in China who can work remotely plan to do so and return to the office on Feb. 17 unless otherwise notified.

Goodyear also said it will donate approximately $285,000 to support frontline doctors and nurses stationed in Hubei province and Dalian city hospitals by using its global procurement resources to secure items including masks, gloves, shoe covers, bed sheets and gowns.

Goodyear had previously said the Pulandian factory, plus offices in Shanghai, would remain closed over an extended Chinese New Year holiday through at least Feb. 10. The widespread virus has claimed more than 1,000 lives, almost exclusively on mainland China.

The plant, which opened in 2012, has 1,900 workers. The Akron tire maker has invested nearly another $500 million in recent years to expand production there. The factory makes tires solely for Goodyear’s Asia-Pacific market.