Gatik's autonomous fleet, consisting of Class 3–7 box trucks, has made significant strides in enhancing the safety, accuracy and overall performance of autonomous vehicles (AVs). Equipping the fleet’s Goodyear Endurance® RSA® tires with Goodyear SightLine technology, the company’s comprehensive tire intelligence solution, enables Gatik to advance the safety and overall accuracy of its efficient fleet operations, while also improving delivery uptime and reliability. This year, Gatik plans to implement the intelligent tire solution into a significant portion of its autonomous fleet across the U.S. and Canada.

“Being the vehicle’s only contact point to the road, the tire can play a pivotal role in enabling the vehicle to react like a driver would,” said Chris Helsel, senior vice president, Global Operations and Chief Technology Officer, Goodyear. “Gatik is revolutionizing the autonomous technology space, and by providing real-time insights through intelligent tire data, we can support Gatik’s autonomous driving system to become even more safe, reliable and efficient.”

Through extensive on-road testing in a wide variety of challenging real-world driving scenarios, tire intelligence data regarding road conditions and tire health have helped Gatik advance its AV controllers with insights about accurate cornering and braking stiffness, rolling resistance and tire load. This data, which is communicated between Goodyear SightLine technology and Gatik’s autonomous driving system through a real-time feedback loop, has enabled Gatik to yield numerous performance enhancements, including the ability to adapt swiftly and safely to a variety of road conditions, even when the mass or payload of the truck varies by delivery.

"The groundbreaking integration of Goodyear SightLine technology into Gatik's autonomous fleet is a first in the industry. The real-time data derived from intelligent tire technology not only enhances the safety and predictability of our autonomous vehicles, but also enables us to maintain high levels of efficiency, reliability and delivery uptime throughout our operations," said Gautam Narang, Gatik CEO and Co-founder. "Our partnership with Goodyear is another step in advancing Gatik's leadership in autonomous technology, underscoring our commitment to ensuring that the true advantages of B2B middle mile logistics are brought to market."

The companies have partnered to conduct ongoing, rigorous testing at Goodyear’s San Angelo, Texas, Proving Grounds. Through this collaboration, Gatik is able to ensure its autonomous vehicles are tested extensively in a safe, closed course environment for both common and unusual road scenarios, including traffic lights, road signs, evasive maneuvers, tight turns, collision avoidance, precise lane keeping and minimum risk stopping distances.

Goodyear and Gatik have future plans to incorporate Goodyear's advanced predictive road condition monitoring solution into Gatik’s autonomous driving system. This integration will enable Gatik to strategically plan its operations, ensuring a consistent and reliable movement of goods for Gatik’s diverse customer base, encompassing the nation’s largest grocers, retailers, distributors, e-commerce platforms, and CPG companies.

A full  press kit can be downloaded here.

The ABS is an important safety component in modern vehicles designed to help the driver maintain steering control while braking. Through collaborative research and testing on a physical test vehicle, Goodyear and TNO effectively showcased that an improved ABS, equipped with information about the tire type and characteristics such as wear state, can potentially enhance overall system efficiency and reduce braking distance by as much as 5.75 feet¹.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were over 1.7 million rear-end crashes in 2021, accounting for nearly a third of all crashes in the United States². This integration can improve stopping distance performance, which has the potential to help drivers avoid accidents and reduce the severity of collisions, leading to enhanced road safety.

“Our collaborative work with TNO has yielded invaluable insights, with exciting possibilities to deliver greater value to our customers and support the future of mobility,” said Werner Happenhofer, vice president, Tire Intelligence and eMobility solutions, Goodyear. “At Goodyear, we believe that by harnessing the power of tire intelligence, we can contribute to the bold goal of future mobility to reduce accidents.”  

Goodyear and TNO began collaborating in 2021 through joint research and testing initiatives to evaluate and quantify the performance of the ABS controller on a physical car through the integration of intelligent tire information.

"TNO is dedicated to enhancing the safety, efficiency and sustainability of vehicles,” said Machteld de Kroon, managing director, Unit Mobility & Built Environment, TNO. “Our collaboration with Goodyear aims to minimize every centimeter of braking distance. We firmly believe that by improving the integration of tires and braking systems, we can contribute to reducing accidents and ultimately saving lives."

Today, Goodyear SightLine, the company’s suite of tire intelligence technologies, provides line of sight to the conditions of the tire, vehicle and road through advanced algorithms and real-time monitoring. Goodyear’s developments in tire intelligence technologies are poised to transform the future of transportation, ushering in a new era of smart and sustainable mobility. 

Full media pack is available for download on THIS LINK.

Together, the organizations plan to bring a robust tire sensing system to market, combining TDK’s software, sensor and electronic component expertise with Goodyear’s know-how in tire development, intelligent solutions and industry trends.

“As the automotive industry continues to technologically advance, so too does the need for real time intelligence from the road to the tire to the car. This alliance will have the joint benefit of accelerating both technology and customer access to the highest performance sensor technology in the market,” said Jim Tran, General Manager, Americas HQ and Deputy General Manager, Technology & Intellectual Property Center, TDK Corporation. “We look forward to this collaboration with Goodyear, a worldwide market leader in the automotive segment.”

The two industry leaders are in the process of conducting market research and technical exploration for a joint solution that delivers actionable insights improving vehicle performance, safety and efficiency.

“Working with influential organizations like TDK is essential to further innovate in the intelligence space. TDK’s expertise in the sensor and electronics space will be instrumental in maximizing the utility of what a tire can provide,” said Chris Helsel, Senior Vice President, Global Operations and Chief Technology Officer, Goodyear. “We are driving toward a mobility future where vehicles themselves are smarter, safer and more sustainable. Collaborations like this one can play a critical role in achieving these objectives.”

Both TDK and Goodyear will demonstrate their latest technologies and system solutions at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show (CES) from January 9-12, 2024, in Las Vegas (TDK - Central Hall (LVCC) Booth 20521, Goodyear – West Hall (LVCC) Booth 4917).

Full media package available for download on THIS LINK.

Collaboration named a CES 2024 Innovation Award Honoree

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, a global leader in connected mobility, and ZF, a global leader in vehicle systems and industrial technology, announced successful integration of tire intelligence technologies with vehicle motion control software.

The collaboration delivers Goodyear SightLine,* a suite of tire intelligence technologies, into the ZF cubiX®** ecosystem, a scalable vehicle motion control software that coordinates all dimensions of vehicle dynamics. This provides further tire and road data into the chassis system and enables an improved driving experience with better comfort, control and efficiency. 

“Goodyear SightLine will deepen our connection to the road and expand the scope and value of cubiX® by supporting the era of software-defined vehicles,” said Martin Fischer, Member of the Board of Management responsible for the ZF Chassis Solution division. “By joining our ecosystems, our customers will unlock a range of possibilities to customize and optimize their solutions in both vehicle motion and tire intelligence.”

Through research, virtual simulation and real-world testing, Goodyear and ZF have identified the potential of an integrated solution in improving vehicle performance and safety. Reducing the risk of hydroplaning, the Goodyear SightLine solution is capable of detecting partial hydroplaning early and offers recommendations for optimal speed to enhance vehicle control. Moreover, when heightened hydroplaning severity is detected, equipped with tire intelligence data, the cubiX software is designed to instruct the chassis actuators to apply corrective measures, stabilizing the vehicle.

Additionally, the synergy between Goodyear SightLine and cubiX capabilities can provide enhanced vehicle responsiveness, more direct and linear steering, improved turn-in response, increased stability, reduced controller workload and minimized intrusive interventions.

“Tires are the only part of the vehicle that touch the road and by digitizing this connection and equipping vehicle control actuators with critical insights, we can help optimize vehicle performance and safety,” said Chris Helsel, senior vice president, Global Operations and Chief Technology Officer, Goodyear. “This collaboration with ZF is a great way to demonstrate what tire intelligence, actionable insights and elite software applications can do for mobility.” 

Showcasing innovative design and engineering features, the integration of cubiX® and SightLine was recently named a CES 2024 Innovation Award Honoree within the vehicle technology and advanced mobility category.

*Goodyear SightLine, the company’s suite of tire intelligence technologies, provides line of sight to the conditions of the tire, vehicle and road. The technology communicates tire state, identification, road friction and other tire characteristics. Goodyear SightLine will continue to provide this integral information to make fleets, vehicles and, in the future, autonomous driving systems safer and more efficient. 

** cubiX®, ZF's first pure software product, coordinates vehicle dynamics as a holistic system. ZF cubiX® can control braking and steering systems, the vehicle’s (semi-) active damping system and further chassis and drive actuators. It offers another decisive advantage: The platform is compatible with various actuators such as dampers, brakes or rear-axle steering – regardless of the manufacturer or the specific design. This gives manufacturers the flexibility to implement different model series with one and the same control platform without additional integration effort. Future updates or upgrades to the software can be carried out "over-the-air" – i.e. wirelessly without a visit to the workshop.

B Roll available for download ON THIS LINK.

Last weekend, Goodyear continued its partnership with DAF to supply tyres for the coveted DAF Driver Challenge 2022. The competition, which is held annually and spans across Europe to find the most skilful truck drivers, took place at Goodyear’s proving ground in Luxembourg on 1st and 2nd October. Over 1000 contestants from 18 countries took part in regional trials, with 15 drivers invited to compete in the finals. 

Goodyear was the exclusive supplier and partner of the event, which saw Gábor Szabados from Hungary eventually crowned the winner. On their way to being named Europe’s most skilful truck driver, they faced various challenges ranging from coupling a trailer and reversing to eco-driving and daily checks such as tyre health monitoring.

Goodyear’s proving ground hosted the two-day event, which today is used for testing passenger and truck tyres to deliver the highest levels of performance and efficiency. Finalists participated in seven different technical and handling workshops on the Goodyear track, getting a feel of the types of tests tyres are subject to while in development. 

Maciej Szymański, Director of Marketing for Commercial Business Europe at Goodyear commented: “It is an honour for Goodyear to partner with such a prestigious competition which aligns with our values of always striving to deliver the best results. We are particularly proud of our partnership with DAF, which is committed to increasing its sustainability initiatives without compromising performance. On behalf of Goodyear, I would like to congratulate every driver who took part in the DAF Driver Challenge 2022 and Gábor Szabados for being named “DAF Driver Challenge Champion 2022”.

Using a range of sustainable materials in the tire tread compound, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has developed the Eagle GO concept tire, which will be fitted to Citroën’s new concept car, oli. 

For more than 120 years, Goodyear has pursued sustainable, low-maintenance innovations and inventions and partnering with Citroën continues a long-standing relationship between both brands. The Eagle GO is the third Goodyear concept tire developed with Citroën and has been created to optimise efficiency, durability and comfort.  

Sustainable-material tread compound 

This concept tire uses a compound in the tread, the part of the tire that wears, made of nearly all sustainable or recycled materials. These materials include sunflower oils, pine tree resins, natural rubber and rice husk ash silica. These materials are described below. 

•  Sunflower oils and pine tree resins are renewable solutions to replace petroleum-derived oils. These materials are currently being used to make ‘Vegetable Ink’ for printers. Goodyear’s goal is to fully replace petroleum-derived oils in its products by 2040. 
• Natural rubber from the Hevea brasiliensis tree is used to replace synthetic petroleum-based rubber, using responsible farming and cultivation methods¹. 
• Rice husk ash silica from rice processing can reduce waste going to landfills and has previously been used in reinforced concrete. 

Renewable tread 

The Eagle GO concept tire has the potential to be renewed twice across its lifetime, which increases the lifespan of the tire. Goodyear has set an objective for the Eagle GO concept tire to achieve up to 500,000km through the reuse of the sustainable carcass and renewable tread.   

Intelligent technology 

The Eagle GO concept tire uses Goodyear SightLine technology, which includes a sensor that monitors a variety of tire health parameters. This technology is already being applied to help Goodyear fleet customers and could significantly reduce waste and increase efficiency by maintaining ideal pressure and tire condition. Monitoring the health of the tire is an important factor in determining whether or when a tire can be renewed, thus increasing circularity and efficiency. Adding this technology to the Eagle GO concept tire is in line with Goodyear’s goal to reinvent tires and service, delivering data-and-sensor-enabled intelligence in all new products by 2027.  

 “Tire architecture has come a long way by incorporating sustainable materials and smart technologies,“ explained Laurent Colantonio, Regional Technology Director Consumer EMEA.  “With Citroën, we have a relationship that provides a great testbed for developing and testing new technologies and techniques.   

“Concept tires are a fantastic way for Goodyear to research and develop ground-breaking technologies that can make its way into our products. The learnings from this project will go towards our future as a mobility enabler that consistently innovates its products and services.” 

^[1] In line with Goodyear’s Natural Rubber Procurement Policy 

The return of Bauma, the world’s leading trade fair for construction and mining equipment, provides Goodyear with an opportunity to demonstrate the role tyres and tyre management solutions play in helping the industry achieve efficiency and sustainability targets.  

Goodyear will have a prominent stand at the global show, taking place in Munich from 24–30 October. The 72m², two-story Goodyear stand will showcase a combination of Goodyear’s latest tyre and solutions technologies which, when combined, can help operators drive efficiency across their fleets. 

Trusted Products - simplifying choice to boost efficiency

The Goodyear GP-3E for wheel loaders, articulated dump trucks and graders will make its European exhibition debut at Bauma 2022. After listening to customer feedback on the challenges of high costs and the importance of driver comfort levels, the GP-3E features an innovative lightweight tyre design. The key benefits are an optimised cost per hour supporting sustainability goals as well as low vibration levels supporting a high level of comfort for the driver. This versatile product is suitable for a variety of applications with well-balanced traction and flotation levels.

Another new tyre on show is the Goodyear Powerload®. Designed for compact wheel loaders and graders, Powerload is the compact tyre that likes it tough. Smooth Guard Technology™, an extra thick and smooth rubber layer protection in the shoulder area and sidewall, improves cut resistance. The advanced, self-cleaning tread design provides superb forward and lateral traction for continued operation in tough conditions.   

Both GP-3E and Powerload are Electric Drive Ready. This means they can be used on electric and hybrid powertrains, as well as conventional diesel machines. 

Tyre Management Solutions - driving operational excellence

Goodyear has long led developments in Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) technology.  At Bauma, Goodyear will showcase its enhanced ‘TPMS Heavy Duty’ which communicates through the Goodyear FleetHub (mobile + web app) or Goodyear DriverHub (mobile app), giving drivers and fleet managers predictive and prescriptive information to allow proactive and preventive maintenance of their fleets.

Octavian Velcan, Managing Director Goodyear Off-The-Road EMEA for Goodyear: “Bauma is the perfect platform for Goodyear to demonstrate how combining tyres and tyre management solutions together with reliable services can drive safety and reduce costs. Our latest tyre innovations and fully integrated TPMS support optimised uptime and efficiencies for our customers. We are looking forward to productive discussions on how we can help operators flourish during a very competitive period for the industry.”  

The Goodyear stand will be located in Hall A6, stand 224.

Goodyear has a long history of winning at Le Mans, with 14 overall victories in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, arguably the world’s most prestigious car race, dating back to 1965. In the world of truck racing, the spirit of the ‘24 Heures’ lives on with the Goodyear FIA ETRC round on 24-25 September. Over the Saturday and Sunday, Goodyear FIA ETRC teams will contest four races of 11 laps each, racing flat out on the Le Mans Bugatti circuit. In the race for the championship, Norbert Kiss could be crowned Goodyear FIA ETRC champion for a fourth time this weekend.

As the title partner to the pinnacle of European truck racing, Goodyear supplies tyres and support to every team on the grid, but the partnership goes much further than that. Goodyear, the FIA, and championship organiser ETRA work together to further their respective sustainability goals, making Goodyear FIA ETRC a true showcase for a responsible future of transportation. 

Goodyear uses technology derived from racing, such as stronger carcass technology, in the development of its products for the road. The pursuit of ultimate durability and versality on the track helps teams to shave valuable seconds off their lap time and fight for the victory, and this same approach is true of fleet operators across Europe who demand reliable performance and support. Racing is the most extreme arena for Goodyear to continue developing this technology and approach. 

Furthermore, Goodyear has also now introduced retreading into the lifecycle of racing tyres used in Goodyear FIA ETRC. This means that tyres used in the Goodyear FIA ETRC are retreaded into standard on road Goodyear tyres that can be used by transportation fleets.

The championship is paving the way in other areas, too. In 2020, FIA ETRC identified sustainability as one of its three strategic pillars, with the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2038. A year later, it became the first FIA-regulated championship to switch to 100 percent sustainable fuel. Its use of biodiesel cements its role as being a role model for the road haulage industry as a whole.

During the Le Mans race weekend, Goodyear will showcase its Drive Results Tour truck that has been touring Europe and visiting Goodyear FIA ETRC races throughout the summer. The Drive Results Tour showcases Goodyear’s Total Mobility value proposition that provides European fleets with an end-to-end solution that helps them to improve their efficiency and competitiveness while cutting their environmental impact. When visiting the roadshow truck at events like Le Mans, visitors can receive a tailored experience that guides them through steps they can take to improve their own fleet. 

Maciej Szymanski, Marketing Director Commercial Europe, Goodyear: “Goodyear FIA ETRC is the pinnacle of European truck racing and Goodyear is proud to work with the FIA and ETRA to use it as a platform for showing what the future of the industry can look like. We develop technologies on the racetrack that go into road applications, while also using forward-thinking approaches to make Goodyear FIA ETRC a true role model for responsible transportation.”

The 63% sustainable-material demonstration truck tire includes 15 featured ingredients across 20 tire components, including those described below. This demonstration tire is labelled “A” in fuel efficiency meaning it can offer the same fuel saving as the most efficient Goodyear truck tires currently offered. 

• Carbon black is included in tires for compound reinforcement and to help increase their tread life and has traditionally been made by burning various types of petroleum or coal tar-based products. This demonstration tire features four different carbon blacks that are produced from plant-based oil, end-of-life tire pyrolysis oil, carbon dioxide capture and conversion and a low-carbon methane pyrolysis process.
• Some of the petroleum-based oils in this demonstration tire were replaced by the use of rapeseed oil. Rapeseed oil is a bio-based resource that helps keep a tire's rubber compound pliable in changing temperatures. The use of bio-based rapeseed oil is in line with the company's goal of fully replacing petroleum-derived oils in its products by 2040.
• Silica is an ingredient often used in tires to help improve grip and reduce fuel consumption. This demonstration tire contains a unique variety of silica produced from rice husk ash, a byproduct of rice processing that is often discarded and put into landfills. A high-quality silica has been produced from this waste ash.
• Polyester is recycled from plastic bottles and other plastic waste by reverting the polyester into its base chemicals and reforming them into technical grade polyester feasible for tire cords, which enables better retreadability.

In the future, this demonstration tire can be connected and monitor a variety of tire health parameters. This has the potential to reduce waste and increase efficiency by maintaining ideal pressure and tire condition. Monitoring the health of the tire is an important factor in determining whether or when a tire can be renewed, thus potentially contributing to circularity and increasing efficiency. 

This demonstration truck tire is in line with the company's commitment to increase the use of sustainable materials. Additionally, a tire made of sustainable materials, providing low rolling resistance and being fully retreadable, with the possibility of connecting to tire health monitoring with the Goodyear Total Mobility solution, has the potential to positively affect circularity and climate impact. Goodyear Total Mobility is an end-to-end fleet offering that brings together its full range of premium commercial truck tires, its suite of data-driven monitoring and predictive analytics solutions, and more than 2,000 service locations across Europe. 

Grégory Boucharlat, Vice President Commercial Europe: “Development of our integrated offering of products and mobility solutions under the Goodyear Total Mobility umbrella can further support our customers in the demanding transport market and help them in achieving their own sustainability goals. Goodyear is committed to the development of products and solutions that help support the ambitions and aspirations of our business partners to be more competitive, more efficient and more sustainable.”

The direction of developing the Goodyear Total Mobility solution is consistent with the expectations and challenges faced by the transport industry in Europe. The recent Sustainable Reality Survey, conducted with the participation of over 1,400 representatives of the transport industry, confirms that achieving sustainable development goals is an important objective of the transport fleet business. Goodyear Total Mobility and the concept of creating a truck tire made from sustainable materials should support transport companies in achieving that objective in the coming years.

* The 63% sustainable-material truck tire presented at IAA Transportation has been produced as a demonstration tire. 

Within this page you can find the following assets:

Feature Articles: 

Goodyear reimagines the tire for a multi-modal future
Goodyear SightLine: Tire intelligence drives innovation

Video: 
Goodyear Beyond Tires
Goodyear SightLine Brand Film

A range of photo and b-roll footage of the event, including interviews with  experts from the team.

Starship Technologies, a Goodyear Ventures portfolio company, builds and operates a network of over 1,000 last mile autonomous robots that carry and deliver packages, groceries and food directly to customers.

To address Starship’s request related to tire health and maintenance, Goodyear developed a specially engineered airless tire designed to extend tire life and reduce maintenance activities for Starship’s delivery fleet.

Goodyear and Starship have entered an in-field testing phase at Bowling Green State University to evaluate vehicle and tire dependencies. Early on-vehicle tire testing data has shown positive results with respect to treadwear, braking and vibration dampening.

“We are excited to extend our unique airless tire architectures into new forms of mobility,” said Michael Rachita, Goodyear’s senior program manager, non-pneumatic tires. “The micro delivery space presents a different set of needs as it relates to the tire, and our NPT technology is ideal to meet those needs to help enable a maintenance-free and long-lasting experience.”

“Our delivery robots make thousands of deliveries every day in all types of weather conditions and terrain,” said Siim Viilup, mechanical engineering manager, Starship Technologies. “To make sure we can keep up with the growing demand for our services, we need tires that are reliable and keep our robots on the move around the clock and around the globe. It’s great to see these new tires offering reliability as well as cost savings as we scale our business.”

“We set an ambitious goal in 2020 to create a tire made 100% from sustainable materials in 10 years, and our scientists and engineers have made great progress toward that goal,” said Chris Helsel, senior vice president, global operations and chief technology officer. “This is an exciting achievement that demonstrates our commitment to increasing the use of sustainable materials in our tires.”

The 70% sustainable-material tire includes 13 featured ingredients across nine different tire components, including those described below. Company performance indicators have shown the component properties to deliver strong overall tire performance.

·         Carbon black is included in tires for compound reinforcement and to help increase their life and has traditionally been made by burning various types of petroleum products. Goodyear’s new tire features three different carbon blacks that are produced from methane, carbon dioxide, and plant-based oil. Initial life cycle assessments demonstrate either reduced carbon emissions compared with current methods of carbon black production or the use of bio-based or waste feedstock sources.

·         The use of soybean oil in tires is a significant Goodyear innovation that helps keep a tire’s rubber compound pliable in changing temperatures. Soybean oil is a bio-based resource that reduces Goodyear’s use of petroleum-based products. While nearly 100% of soy protein is used in food/animal feed applications, a significant surplus of oil is left over and available for use in industrial applications.

·         Silica is an ingredient often used in tires to help improve grip and reduce fuel consumption. Goodyear’s new tire contains a unique variety of silica produced from rice husk ash, a byproduct of rice processing that is often discarded and put into landfills. A high-quality silica has been produced from this waste ash.

·         Polyester is recycled from plastic bottles and other plastic waste by reverting the polyester into its base chemicals and reforming them into technical grade polyester feasible for tire cords. 

The 70% sustainable-material tire has been produced as a demonstration tire.

The Citroën Skate and its "Pod" concepts were inspired by The Urban Collëctif, a project between Citroën, the international hotel group, Accor, and the JCDecaux media company. The vehicle and tires were revealed today in Paris. 

"We are proud to be introducing the prototype of our spherical concept tire as an integral part of the Citroën Autonomous Mobility Vision,” explains Hans Vrijsen, managing director, Original Equipment at Goodyear. “The Eagle 360 prototype is compact and its shape makes it agile and maneuverable, ideal for future urban and autonomous mobility solutions.” 

For over 120 years, Goodyear has continuously pursued innovations and inventions. As mobility evolved, Goodyear partnered with pioneers in everything from lunar exploration to land speed records to drive change and discovery.

Goodyear first introduced the Eagle 360 concept at the Geneva International Motor Show in 2016, following up in 2017 with a second iteration, the Eagle 360 Urban concept. Time magazine declared the Eagle 360 concept as one of the 25 best innovations of 2016[1]. 

The Eagle 360 prototype draws its inspiration from these concepts and shares several innovative features with them, as well as introducing new features of its own:

• High maneuverability: With its spherical shape, this multi-orientation prototype tire can move in all directions, delivering both maneuverability and passenger comfort. The Eagle 360 prototype provides a smooth ride by creating a fluid, lateral movement. This helps the Citroën Skate platform to easily overtake obstacles.
• Maintenance-free: The Eagle 360 prototype is a non-pneumatic tire. With no need for pressure monitoring or risk of puncture, it minimizes downtime for the Citroën Autonomous Mobility Vision. 
• Long-lasting: With four times the tread surface of a standard tire, the Eagle 360 prototype would also wear four times slower than a traditional tire, leading to less frequent tire replacement.
• Extended range: By using a stiff inner structure and low rolling resistance rubber compound, the Eagle 360 prototype is designed for low deflection at the point of contact with the road. This can contribute to reducing energy loss and lowering rolling resistance, which can help to extend the battery range of an electric vehicle.
• Consistent grip: By using hexagonal siping, the Eagle 360 prototype is designed to provide consistent grip independent of the driving direction.

This is the latest in a series of partnerships between Goodyear and the Citroën Design Team, building on their recent collaboration on the autonomous, connected, electric Citroën 19_19 Concept that was revealed to mark Citroen’s centenary year in 2019.

Throughout the project, Goodyear's Advanced Design Studio team collaborated closely with the Citroën Design Team to design and deliver a bespoke Eagle 360 prototype which is in total harmony with the vision and objectives of the Citroën Autonomous Mobility Vision.

“Concept tires are the basis for an innovative company like Goodyear to engage with future mobility challenges and develop new, groundbreaking products and services. We are honored to have partnered with Citroën on this unique mobility project and to have taken a further step in the development of one of our most innovative concepts,” Vrijsen concluded.

These ripples can grow into waves and cause the kind of disruption that changes the course of history. Howard Schultz, chairman and CEO of Starbucks, describes innovation: “Innovation must be disruptive. And by disruptive, I mean disruptive. You've got to fracture and break the rules and disrupt."

Innovation is about introducing something new, creating value and growth; disruption comes from taking that new thing and running with it as far as possible, creating major change. Not only do they allow businesses to differentiate themselves and flourish, but contribute to the advancement of the industry as a whole.

Innovation is also what allows us to anticipate the needs of consumers of the future. For Goodyear, this means contributing to the evolution of the automotive industry. Far more than a tire business, it's investing in — and partnering with — the innovators to help them change the industry.

Powerful partnerships

The future of mobility is a major focus for Goodyear; all types of vehicles are set to become more accessible to more people and have a wider variety of functions than ever before. Just this year, Goodyear partnered with Dutch research organisation TNO to connect its intelligent tires with TNO's ABS system, to reduce stopping distance loss by up to 30%. The aim of this cooperation is to maximize safety for the drivers of the future.

Goodyear also announced a highly exciting collaboration with electric car rental company UFODRIVE. This will see UFODRIVE's eMobility SaaS platform combined with Goodyear's intelligent tire monitoring system to improve electric vehicle fleet performance. As part of this collaboration, they'll conduct studies aimed at maximizing energy usage, saving on tire replacement costs, and minimizing the carbon impact of fleets.

Then there's Voyomotive, a connected car technology company with which Goodyear has joined forces to pilot tire monitoring solutions to improve vehicle efficiency. The aim is to give customers the ability to proactively correct anomalies and get their tire inflation right long before the car can alert them, improving efficiency.

Investing in a new age

Investing in innovation is important to the progression of a business because it supports the creation and development of new ideas. It enables the bringing together of a diverse range of expertise for the best possible outcome. The biggest and fastest-moving companies in the world invest in innovation constantly, knowing that it's how businesses progress and thrive in the fast-moving modern world.

Alongside some vital partnerships, Goodyear is investing in visionary startups through Goodyear Ventures. These are organizations that are changing the face of the future of mobility – something Goodyear, with its long legacy of innovation, is able to elevate.

For example, Starship Technologies is creating a shift in the supply chain with autonomous robots that can carry and deliver items — something that will drastically change last-mile logistics. At a customer's request via an app, parcels and groceries can be picked up by these advanced robots and delivered anywhere within a four-mile radius. Not only do they save money and energy compared with using vehicles, but they're safe and secure, moving at pedestrian speed with the intelligence to move around obstacles.

The interest in the future and autonomy doesn't end there. Goodyear has invested in TuSimple, a company that has created a new standard in safety with self-driving technology specifically designed for heavy-duty trucks. These reliable, low-cost freight services are set to transform logistics as we know it.

Autonomous technology is far from the only area Goodyear Ventures is investing in. With Envoy, it's diversified its portfolio by investing in an organisation that is making the future of mobility a community affair. It's an electric car-sharing service and platform that provides EVs as exclusive amenities in workplaces, hotels, and apartments, with dedicated parking spaces and charging stations. With short-term car rental services already growing in popularity, mobility as a service is the inevitable evolution.

Leading by example

This is why Goodyear is far, far more than just tires. In fact, it's always had one foot in advanced innovation. From building and testing the first American-made synthetic rubber tire in 1937, to creating the first tires that landed on the moon for Apollo 14 in 1971, to inventing the Eagle radial racing tyre that enabled Al Unser Sr. to gain his fourth Indianapolis 500 victory in 1987, Goodyear has never stopped aiming as high as imaginable.

Some businesses innovate without realizing it, always improving their operations in small ways for benefit of their customers. Others make it a priority, which is the best way to optimize innovation and contribute to true disruption. Whether or not it's about writing the script for the future of mobility, the way Goodyear is doing with its partners, these powerful collaborations are what shape the future across each and every sector of business.

For more information on Goodyear Ventures, go to www.goodyearventures.com.

Goodyear SightLine will help enable seamless, safe and reliable mobility for all vehicles starting with cargo vans serving the field service, construction and last-mile delivery industries.

Later this year, Goodyear SightLine will also be available to Goodyear’s original equipment customers and emerging fleet and mobility providers.

Initially available in North America and Europe, Goodyear SightLine uses sensors with cloud-based algorithms to communicate with fleet operators in real-time.

Goodyear’s proprietary predictive maintenance technologies can help to address many challenges facing drivers and fleet managers today, including predicting breakdowns, minimizing downtime and monitoring tire pressure and wear for enhanced safety and more cost-efficient mobility.

"Much like smart watches that monitor vitals like heartrates and oxygen levels, Goodyear SightLine’s tire intelligence monitors the health of a tire,” said Chris Helsel, senior vice president, global operations and chief technology officer. “Goodyear SightLine takes the mystery out of understanding tires and provides proactive mobility insights to communicate when tires need service or replacement.”

Goodyear has accumulated billions of test miles on tire solutions powered by Goodyear SightLine through pilot programs and with its launch establishes the groundwork for a connected-tire future in which every tire provides intelligence. Goodyear has articulated a company goal to have tire intelligence in all new products by 2027.

In the future, Goodyear SightLine technology will not only provide feedback on the tire, but provide feedback on road conditions, enabling connected, autonomous mobility. Initial testing has shown integrating Goodyear SightLine technology into a vehicle’s control’s system can reduce stopping distance loss by 30%.

For more information, visit www.goodyearsightline.com.

“In 2020, Goodyear associates were more agile and resilient than ever before, delivering on immediate business needs and serving our customers, first responders and essential workers,” said Richard J. Kramer, chairman, chief executive officer and president. “Our actions continue to be guided by Goodyear Better Future, our corporate responsibility framework, that unites us in our commitment to safety, quality, integrity and responsibility.”

Goodyear’s 2020 report is organized by the pillars of the Better Future framework, which are Sustainable Sourcing, Responsible Operations, Advanced Mobility and Inspiring Culture. Some of the report’s highlights include:

Sustainable Sourcing: In 2020, Goodyear introduced its fourth consumer tire line that features soybean oil as a replacement for petroleum-derived oils. Soybean oil is a bio-based, renewable resource that helps keep a tire’s rubber compound pliable in low temperatures, a key performance achievement in maintaining and enhancing grip in dry, wet and winter weather.

Responsible Operations: In 2020, Goodyear continued its work to reduce its environment impact, achieving a 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions intensity, a 19% reduction in energy intensity and a 55% reduction in water intensity, all compared to a 2010 baseline.

Advanced Mobility: In 2020, Goodyear continued its focus on improving fuel efficiency by achieving a 31% reduction in rolling resistance and an 8.2% reduction in tire weight in its global consumer tire portfolio from a 2005 baseline. In addition, Goodyear introduced bold technology goals, including for all Goodyear tires to be data- and sensor-enabled intelligent tires by 2027 and for the development of a 100% sustainable-material and maintenance-free tire by 2030.

Inspiring Culture: In 2020, associate membership in Goodyear’s Employee Resources Groups (ERGs) continued to grow. The seven ERGs now have more than 3,000 global members and 32 global chapters. Despite the pandemic, the ERGs held more than 200 professional development and networking events in the past two years.

Goodyear’s 2020 report was prepared in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards: Core option. This year’s report can be found on Goodyear's Corporate Website corporate.goodyear.com 

About The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company

Goodyear is one of the world’s largest tire companies. It employs about 62,000 people and manufactures its products in 46 facilities in 21 countries around the world. Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio, and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg, strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry. For more information about Goodyear and its products, go to www.goodyear.com/corporate.

Goodyear’s concept tires are tailor-made to benefit the modern, sleek and sporty design of the Lexus. They support EV motors and are designed to improve the overall comfort and performance of the car.
 

“We are proud to have worked on this project with Lexus, a company that has been pioneering innovations in mobility for 30 years”, explains Mike Rytokoski, Vice-President and Chief Marketing Officer, Goodyear Europe, “This collaboration demonstrates once again the critical role tires can play in shaping the future of electric mobility.”
 

The LF-30 Electrified concept tire includes several innovative features:

• EV motor cooling: Drawing on Goodyear’s expertise in aerodynamics, the concept tires are designed to improve the cooling of the EV motors. Cool air enters through the front bumper intake and fins on the tires drive the flow towards the electric motor positioned behind each wheel. The hot air produced by the EV motor is then expelled towards the outer edge of the rim of the LF-30 Electrified.
   
• Reduced aerodynamic drag: The tire design along with the outer tire shape would improve the Lexus’ aerodynamics by reducing drag, resulting in higher efficiency and battery range.
   
• Noise reduction through biomimicry: Goodyear found inspiration in nature when designing the concept tires. The leading edges of the cooling fins are covered with fine velvet like on the wings of an owl, which enables the predator to silently catch their prey at night. Through this biomimetic solution, the rolling noise of the tire would be reduced to a minimum.
   

Goodyear’s concept tire for the Lexus LF-30 Electrified concept comes in a 285/35R24 size.

“Goodyear wants the tire to be an even more powerful contributor to answering consumers’ specific mobility needs, said Mike Rytokoski, Vice-President and Chief Marketing Officer, Goodyear Europe, “It was with that ambition that we set out to create a concept tire primed for the future of personalized and convenient electric mobility.”

The reCharge concept includes a number of innovative features that are built around three pillars:

Personalized

• At the core of the reCharge concept is a reloadable and biodegradable tread compound that can be recharged with individual capsules, radically simplifying the process of replacing your tires. Filled with a customized liquid compound, these capsules allow the tread to regenerate and the tire to adapt over time to climatic circumstances, road conditions, or simply how you want to travel. Thanks to artificial intelligence a driver profile would be created around which the liquid compound would be customized, generating a compound blend tailored to each individual.

Sustainable

• The compound itself would be made from a biological material and would be reinforced with fibres inspired by one of the toughest natural materials in the world - spider silk. This would make it both extremely durable and 100 percent biodegradable.

Hassle-Free

• In addition to radically simplifying the process of replacing your tires with rechargeable capsules, the tread would be supported by a light-weight, non-pneumatic frame and tall-and-narrow shape. This is a thin, robust low-maintenance construction that would eliminate the need for pressure maintenance or downtime related to punctures.

“The Goodyear reCharge is a concept tire without compromise, supporting personalized, sustainable and hassle-free electric mobility,” concluded Sebastien Fontaine, Lead Designer at the Goodyear Innovation Centre in Luxembourg.

Goodyear is developing a bespoke tyre for Pure ETCR which will incorporate a combination of technologies inspired by Goodyear’s latest electric vehicle tyres and the new Eagle F1 SuperSport ultra-high performance range. The definitive specification of tyre will be unveiled in the Spring, ahead of the first Pure ETCR event.

A proven motorsport construction will be used, but with a treaded design that means Pure ETCR drivers can use the same tyres in both wet and dry conditions, reducing the number of tyres that need to be taken to each event. This aligns with Goodyear and Pure ETCR’s mission of working together to find sustainable solutions for the future of mobility and motorsport.

Mike Rytokoski, Vice-President and Chief Marketing Officer, Goodyear Europe, said: “Goodyear is a leader in electric vehicle tyre development. In Europe, half of our original equipment tyre developments are for EVs and hybrids.

“We bring a great deal of experience to ETCR in developing tyres for electric vehicles. High-performance road electric vehicles have very different needs to their petrol or diesel equivalents. They are heavier and have more torque, delivered immediately. Goodyear has developed tyres that can cope with this instant power delivery, delivering high grip and traction hand in hand with low rolling resistance to increase range and efficiency. Our partnership with Pure ETCR is much more than just supplying race tyres. Together, we will use racing to develop technology to thrill the next generation of high-performance driver.”

Pure ETCR will be promoted by Eurosport Events; the same organisation behind the WTCR – FIA World Touring Car Cup, which Goodyear will also supply in 2020, and will feature high-performance production-based cars representing numerous manufacturers.

The radical event format, which is based around a number of short, action-packed, wheel-to-wheel heats building towards a Grand Final, requires tyres with instant performance. For Goodyear, the focus will be on ensuring the tyres have rapid warm-up times as well as the consistency to be raced hard throughout the event. This means the drivers can go flat out from the very beginning of a race.

François Ribeiro, Head of Eurosport Events, the Pure ETCR promoter, said: “We are extremely pleased to welcome Goodyear to Pure ETCR as a founding partner of the series. Goodyear has a unique racing legacy and is all about performance and innovation; a perfect partner for our new modern electric racing flagship. This venture perfectly complements our partnership with Goodyear in WTCR, which we also expect to be highly successful. With a bespoke high-performance, all-weather design, fewer tyres need to be produced for Pure ETCR and this aligns perfectly with our sustainability commitments. We have no doubt that Goodyear will be a first-class partner on the technical and marketing fronts of Pure ETCR, a great platform to activate Goodyear #backtoracing.”

Goodyear’s return to motorsport

Since the announcement of Goodyear’s return to international motorsport last Summer, the tyre manufacturer has taken an FIA World Endurance Championship LMP2 win with Jota Sport, and Jackie Chan DC Racing heads the title race. Goodyear’s comeback also includes becoming the official tyre supplier for FIA World Touring Car Cup, returning to German and UK motorsport (as the new sole tyre supplier for the British Touring Car Championship) and supplying tyres to leading European Le Mans Series teams.

One pair of tires for Goodyear, one giant leap for the future of mobility: almost 50 years ago, Goodyear’s non-pneumatic XLTs were the first to ever leave a tire track on the moon. The 1950s and 60s were a period of intense innovation for Goodyear as it actively worked with pioneers to drive change and discovery. To this day, Goodyear has never seized reinventing both itself and mobility by creating and presenting state-of-the-art tires.

Since 1898 – back when its first products included carriage tires and horseshoe pads –Goodyear has been a company of technology driven firsts that partners with pioneers to shape the future of mobility. In 1969, that partner was NASA as Goodyear was chosen to create with non-pneumatic tires to equip a cart that astronauts could use to transport rock samples two years later.

The Modularized Equipment Transporter (MET), a two-wheeled unpowered cart used to carry equipment and samples collected by the astronauts on Apollo 14. The MET was about 75 kg when loaded, and was pulled at speeds up to 4 km/hr. Its wheels were made of smooth rubber and were supported by nitrogen filled inner-tubes. To make it easier to pull the cart through soft lunar soil and over rocks, the MET wheels were designed to be fairly compliant.

It’s a milestone that highlighted the extraordinary period of intense innovation for Goodyear. In 1965, its tires equipped Craig Breedlove’s jet-powered car, the Spirit of America, on its way to a new land speed record. In 1977, Goodyear changed the perception of consumers by offering them the choice to keep the same set of tires all year round with the iconic Tiempo: the world’s first all-season tire.

Goodyear’s innovations have been redefining tire performance, enriching people’s driving experience and pushing mobility boundaries for over 120 years. Goodyear proves it still is indispensable in today’s changing FACE of mobility – with a focus on Fleets, Autonomous, Connected and Electric vehicles – by annually showcasing futuristic concept tires like the Eagle 360, Oxygene and AERO at the Geneva International Motor Show.

“Goodyear’s C100 concept tire was specifically designed for the Citroën 19_19 Concept vehicle,” said Mike Rytokoski, Chief Marketing Officer, Consumer Europe at Goodyear. “It features technology to deliver maximum comfort and efficiency for electric mobility and the intelligent capabilities needed to support an autonomous vehicle.”

The C100 concept includes several innovative features:

• “Tall and Narrow” Structure: The C100 is nearly one meter in diameter, which compares to 60 cm for an average tire. This larger diameter would deliver efficiency, comfort and performance benefits, from lower rolling resistance – to increase the energy efficiency and range of the Citroën 19_19 Concept vehicle – to improved ride and wet performance.
• Custom Tread Design: The C100 features a custom, nature-inspired tread design that provides both comfort and handling benefits. With nearly 100 more blocks in its tread band than the average tire, the C100 would deliver a far quieter ride, a crucial consideration for ensuring comfort in electric vehicles. In addition, the C100’s tread groove compound is inspired by the attributes of a natural sponge. With its ability to stiffen in the dry or soften in the wet, this adaptable tread would enhance handling, grip and braking in both conditions.
• Intelligence and Connectivity: The C100 concept is designed to use advanced sensor technology. It would be able to sense road surface and weather conditions and communicate with the Citroën 19_19 Concept vehicle’s autonomous control system to improve driving performance. It would also feature advanced active wear technology to assess the state of the tire, allowing for proactive tire maintenance.

While the C100 is a purely conceptual design, some of its featured technologies, such as a “tall and narrow” structure, are already being supplied by Goodyear today, while others, such as intelligent tire capabilities, are being developed.

“Citroën is a mobility pioneer that throughout its history has developed iconic vehicles and groundbreaking new technologies. As they mark their 100th anniversary, Goodyear is honored to partner with Citroën in writing another chapter in the future of mobility,” Rytokoski concluded.

The AERO concept includes a number of innovative features:

• Multimodal Design: The AERO is a multimodal tilt-rotor concept. It would serve as a drive train to transfer and absorb forces to and from the road in a traditional orientation and an aircraft propulsion system to provide lift in another orientation. With capable vehicles, the AERO would give future commuters the freedom to move seamlessly from the road to the sky.
   
• Non-Pneumatic Structure: The concept’s spokes would provide support to carry the weight of the vehicle and act as fan blades to provide lift when the tire is tilted. This unique airless tire uses a non-pneumatic structure that is flexible enough to dampen shocks when driving on the road, and strong enough to rotate at the high speeds necessary for the rotors to create vertical lift.
   
• Magnetic Propulsion: The AERO concept would use magnetic force to provide frictionless propulsion. This would enable the high rotating speeds required to drive the vehicle on the ground and, when the wheel is tilted, lift a vehicle into the air and propel it forward.
   
• Optical Sensing: The AERO would use light-based, fiber optic sensors to monitor road conditions, tire wear and the structural integrity of the tire itself.
   
• Artificial Intelligence: The concept would also feature an embedded A.I. processor that would combine information from the tire’s sensors with data from vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication. The A.I. processor would analyze these streams of data to recommend a course of action - allowing a vehicle to adapt to a flying or driving mode – and identify and resolve potential tire-related issues before they happen.

While the AERO is a purely conceptual design, some of its featured technologies, such as a non-pneumatic structure and intelligent tire capabilities, are being developed by Goodyear today, while others might become the basis for new ideas and potentially new products in the future.

Goodyear’s concepts are meant to trigger a debate on the tires and transport technologies for a new mobility ecosystem.

More news from Goodyear at GIMS 2019

• Autonomous Concept Vehicle Golden Sahara II with Goodyear Tire
• New Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport range

About Goodyear

Goodyear is one of the world's largest tire companies. It employs about 64,000 people and manufactures its products in 47 facilities in 21 countries around the world. Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio, and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg, strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry. For more information about Goodyear and its products, go to www.goodyear.com/corporate or follow us on Twitter @Goodyearpress.

Goodyear will conduct testing at the Mcity Test Facility with electric and autonomous vehicles, further developing its intelligent tires and the application of sensors, and extending its role in managing the connection of tires to the road, to vehicles and, ultimately, to consumers.

"To generate mobility solutions involving tires – and even beyond tires – we are actively working with key players to shape the future for autonomous vehicles and ride-sharing fleets, and the activity at Mcity will help get us there even faster," said Chris Helsel, Goodyear’s chief technology officer.

The Mcity Test Facility is a purpose-built proving ground for testing connected and autonomous vehicles and technologies in simulated urban and suburban driving environments. Goodyear is the only tire company participating in research at the test facility. It joins nearly 60 other companies working with Mcity, including automotive manufacturers and suppliers, chip and hardware makers, insurance providers, and companies engaged in such technologies as advanced modeling, big data acquisition, and intelligent transportation systems.

"We're pleased to welcome Goodyear to our growing team of forward-thinking partners, especially considering the company’s reputation as a longtime industry leader," said Huei Peng, director of Mcity and the Roger L. McCarthy Professor of Mechanical Engineering at U-M. "Even as we test and plan for future forms of mobility, we acknowledge the critical role of tires in evolving forms of transportation."

For Goodyear, Mcity represents an extension of the company’s global innovation network that includes innovation centers, development centers and tire proving grounds around the world. The network also includes open innovation partnerships with numerous customers, suppliers, governments and universities.

"Just as our presence in Silicon Valley has accelerated Goodyear’s fast-advancing work in future mobility, the collaboration with other stakeholders at Mcity will offer potential benefits to deliver solutions in tire electronics and information systems, enhancing overall vehicle performance, safety and the consumer experience," said Helsel.

The innovative facility, with about 16 acres of roads and traffic infrastructure, is recognized as one of the leading connected and automated test facilities in the world. It combines early-stage research; testing in the state-of-the-art, real-world environment of the Mcity Test Facility; and on-road vehicle deployments to further prove new technologies.

Geneva, March 6th, 2018 – At the 2018 Geneva International Motor Show, Goodyear showcased the latest advances on its intelligent tire prototype, a complete tire information system that includes a tire, sensors and cloud-based algorithms that all work together to communicate in real-time with fleet operators via a mobile app.

 “As shared mobility continues to grow in popularity, we are seeing applications where kilometers driven per vehicle will increase substantially in the years ahead,” said Chris Delaney, President of Goodyear Europe, Middle East and Africa. “For shared fleet operators, proactively managing tire service issues is critical to both the customer experience and the business model.”

The Goodyear intelligent tire prototype allows for continuous connectivity and real-time data sharing, enabling optimal tire usage for safer and more cost-efficient mobility and maximized uptime.

The sensors in Goodyear’s intelligent tire, together with the vehicle and third-party information, provide real-time data to Goodyear’s proprietary algorithms. Thanks to these algorithms, information on tire ID and status - including wear, temperature and pressure - is continuously updated and shared with fleet operators.

“Tire performance and wear information provide a real-time signal for when a tire needs service to extend its life, fuel economy and performance attributes,” Delaney continued. “This kind of proactive maintenance allows fleet operators to precisely identify and resolve tire-related and potential service issues before they happen.”

Shared mobility is continuing to grow based on desires for reduced cost and increased convenience for consumers. In 2015, shared kilometers accounted for 4% of global kilometers traveled. This number is projected to exceed 25% by 2030.[1]

“As the face of mobility continues to evolve, so will the needs of consumers and fleet operators,” said Delaney. “Goodyear is anticipating the products, services and experiences that will deliver the mobility that consumers and fleet operators need.”

About Goodyear

Goodyear is one of the world’s largest tire companies. It employs about 64,000 people and manufactures its products in 48 facilities in 22 countries around the world. Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry. For more information about Goodyear and its products, go to https://www.goodyear.eu.   

[1] https://www.morganstanley.com/ideas/car-of-future-is-autonomous-electric-shared-mobility

Brussels, Belgium - November 9, 2017 – The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company announced today that it has completed the previously announced acquisition of Ventech Systems GmbH, a leader in automated tire inspection technology, from Grenzebach Maschinenbau GmbH to support its fleet services in Europe and other geographies of the world.

Ventech Systems provides a fully-automated tire inspection system that quickly and easily checks tire pressure, tread depth and vehicle weight for buses, trucks, cars and other vehicles.

The company, based in Dorsten, Germany, will be integrated into the Goodyear Proactive Solutions business in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region, where Goodyear’s Proactive Solutions program is currently available.

Andre Weisz, managing director, Goodyear Proactive Solutions, has been named chief executive officer of Ventech Systems. Andreas Pietsch, Ventech Systems chief operating officer, will remain in that position.

Last year, Goodyear launched Goodyear Proactive Solutions to provide a full suite of operations management solutions supporting fleet owners to improve safety, decrease fuel use, reduce their carbon footprint and support the digital transformation of their fleet.

The acquisition strengthens Goodyear’s one stop value proposition towards fleets, including premium tires, advanced technology and mobile fleet solutions as well as a complete service package to allow them to optimize their total cost of ownership and efficiency.

Goodyear is one of the world’s largest tire companies. It employs about 65,000 people and manufactures its products in 48 facilities in 22 countries around the world. Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry. For more information about Goodyear and its products, go to www.goodyear.com/corporate​​. GT-FN

AKRON, Ohio, September 20, 2017 – The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company announced today that it has agreed to acquire Ventech Systems GmbH, a leader in automated tire inspection technology, from Grenzebach Maschinenbau GmbH.

Ventech Systems (https://ventech.de/en), based in Dorsten, Germany, delivers innovative measuring devices for the vehicle industry. The company was founded in 2006. It provides a fully-automated tire inspection system that quickly and easily checks tire pressure, tread depth and vehicle weight for buses, trucks, cars and other vehicles.

“Over the past three years, our Goodyear Proactive Solutions business has collaborated with Ventech Systems to integrate its data gathering and analysis capabilities into our fleet management solution,” said Christopher Helsel, Goodyear vice president and chief technology officer. “Feedback from our fleet customers has been excellent, and we view this as an important opportunity to enhance our service and value proposition for customers.”

“Goodyear and Ventech Systems are both companies founded and driven by innovation,” said Andreas Pietsch, Ventech Systems chief operating officer and business manager. “Goodyear’s strong market presence enables additional worldwide growth opportunities for Ventech Systems. We are excited to support Goodyear’s fleet customers with our unique technology in terms of process optimization, business efficiency and road safety.”

Truck tire care and maintenance is one of the largest contributors to commercial fleet uptime and total cost of operations. Last year, Goodyear launched Goodyear Proactive Solutions in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region to provide a full suite of demonstrated Vehicle-To-Fleet operations management solutions supporting fleet owners to improve vehicle and fleet safety, decrease fuel use, reduce their carbon footprint and support the digital transformation of their fleet.

The acquisition of Ventech Systems will further expand Goodyear Proactive Solutions’ commercial offerings with an efficient, user-friendly closed loop service enabling fleet operators to measure tire pressure, tread depth and vehicle weight on all their vehicles each time they enter or exit their depot.

In addition to its Goodyear Proactive Solutions mobile tire/fleet management offerings, Goodyear is also working with automakers to provide tire information to vehicle control systems to enhance safety and performance. Earlier this month it announced that it is equipping Tesloop, a city-to-city mobility service that exclusively uses Tesla electric vehicles, with wireless sensors in its tires to improve overall tire management and maximize uptime for its growing fleet.

The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter. The business and technology will be integrated into the company’s Goodyear Proactive Solutions business.

Goodyear is one of the world’s largest tire companies. It employs about 65,000 people and manufactures its products in 47 facilities in 21 countries around the world. Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry. For more information about Goodyear and its products, go to www.goodyear.com/corporate​​. GT-FN

• Intelligent tire integrates with connected car fleet to deliver data-driven diagnostics
• Focus on data gathering and analytics to serve shared mobility business models
• Effort builds on successful launch of Goodyear Proactive Solutions for commercial fleets

Goodyear announced that it is equipping Tesloop, a city-to-city mobility service that exclusively uses Tesla electric vehicles, with wireless sensors in its tires to improve overall tire management and maximize uptime for its growing fleet.

“We want to build the future, not just observe or read about it,” said Chris Helsel, Goodyear’s chief technology officer. “As the new mobility ecosystem continues to take shape, we are taking steps to match the pace of technical change in the transportation industry and develop tire innovations that meet the intelligence of the vehicles riding on them.”

The wireless sensors continuously measure and record tire temperature and pressure, which is paired with other vehicle data and connected to Goodyear’s cloud-based proprietary algorithms to enhance overall fleet operations and predict when the tires need service or replacement.

As part of the program with Tesloop, Goodyear is also extending its mobile fleet solutions to passenger vehicles, providing tire maintenance and repair while Tesloop vehicles are at charging stations, during regularly planned downtime.

“When you are operating cars nearly 24/7/365, minimizing tire incidents is critical to the customer experience and the business model,” said Rahul Sonnad, Tesloop’s CEO. “The possibilities for data-driven tire diagnostics are remarkable and promise to help a business like Tesloop operate more efficiently and make our vehicles the safest on the road.”

Tesloop operates a fleet of Teslas that average up to 17,000 miles per vehicle, per month. Its highest-mileage vehicle, a Tesla Model S in operation since 2015, recently exceeded 300,000 service miles. Goodyear has been working with Tesloop since January 2017 to study the effect of autonomous technologies on tires.

Goodyear’s effort with Tesloop builds on its successful commercialization of Goodyear Proactive Solutions for truck fleets, using advanced telematics and predictive analytics technology to allow fleet operators to optimize fuel efficiency and precisely identify and resolve tire-related issues before they happen.

In addition to its fleet management offerings, Goodyear is also working with automakers to provide tire information to vehicle control systems to enhance safety and performance.

Helsel added, “Goodyear is breaking new ground with the combination of fleet management expertise, intelligent products, and a vast service network to deliver complete solutions for the future of mobility.” 

Geneva, March 8th - Goodyear presents its latest concept tire, Goodyear CityCube, designed for the Toyota i-TRIL concept car unveiled at the 2017 Geneva International Motor Show.

Thanks to advanced sensor technology and a unique tread design, the CityCube can identify a variety of road conditions and transmit this data to the vehicle to support the advanced collision prevention systems.

The front wheels on the Toyota i-TRIL tilt, which inspired Goodyear’s designers to think about motorcycle tire design. The result is a unique contour shape and mixed fitment, a tall and narrow tire at the front and a wider asymmetric design for the rear.

The front tilting wheels fit Tall and Narrow tires with reverse direction, inspired by the symmetric design of motorcycle tires.

This helps enhance safe driving and removes water for the larger rear tire, providing better grip.

The rear tires have an asymmetric design with a more solid inside part for more cornering stability.

Goodyear has also introduced a new Hologram Texture to the design, with state of the art gradient sidewall colours which offer a unique, premium and appealing appearance.

Tailored to meet Toyota’s exacting requirements, CityCube is designed to be lightweight with low rolling resistance, which is an important feature for future electric vehicle tires. The CityCube also has a reduced groove volume, providing higher mileage and reduces noise levels which can add to a better city life.

David Anckaert, General Director OE Product Development EMEA at Goodyear, commented: “We are delighted to present this innovative concept tire for the Toyota i-TRIL concept car. Once again, Goodyear confirms its expertise in the development of tailor-made solutions for car manufacturers. We are committed to designing solutions to enable new mobility trends, such as autonomous vehicles and smart cities.

Geneva, March 7th - Goodyear has revealed its long-term vision for future smart, connected tires. In an evolving mobility ecosystem defined by the transition to driverless vehicles and shared mobility in urban centers, Goodyear aims to revolutionize the interaction between tires, vehicles and their surroundings. Goodyear unveiled the Eagle 360 Urban, its latest concept tire, at the Geneva International Motor Show. This 3-D printed sphere is the first concept tire to be powered by Artificial Intelligence and able to sense, decide, transform and interact.

“A revolution will take place at the intersection of autonomy, mobility and connectivity. As this unfolds, tire technology will be even more important than it is today. To safely navigate their surroundings, the autonomous vehicles of the future will need to learn to cope with the millions of possible unknowns we face in every day driving scenarios. To do so they will need access to data and the ability to learn and adapt,” said Jean-Claude Kihn, president of Goodyear Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Last year, with the Eagle 360 concept tire, Goodyear presented a unique, multi-directional sphere to match the demands of autonomous driving through increased levels of comfort, safety and maneuverability. The positive feedback received encouraged the manufacturer to take this concept even further.

This year, with the Eagle 360 Urban, Goodyear is pushing the boundaries again, aiming to illustrate a vision of how the future could look. Powered by Artificial Intelligence, Goodyear is giving the concept tire a ‘brain’. Combined with a bionic skin and morphing tread, the Eagle 360 Urban has the ability to put knowledge into practice. The tire will become part of the vehicle’s ‘nervous system’ and the connected world of the Internet of Things. That way, it is ready to rapidly adapt to changing circumstances, as well as the evolving needs of Mobility as a Service (MaaS) for fleets and their users. 

Goodyear’s Eagle 360 Urban features bionic skin with a sensor network that allows the concept tire to check on its own status and gather information on its environment, including the road surface. Via connectivity with other vehicles as well as infrastructure, traffic and mobility management systems, the Eagle 360 Urban also captures information on its surroundings in real-time.

By combining these sources of information and processing them instantaneously using neural networks trained with deep learning algorithms, the Eagle 360 Urban decides the most appropriate course of action. And, powered by Artificial Intelligence, the Eagle 360 Urban learns from previous actions how to optimize future responses.

Made of super-elastic polymer, the tire’s bionic skin has a flexibility similar to that of human skin, allowing it to expand and contract. This outer layer covers a foam-like material that is strong enough to remain flexible despite the weight of a vehicle. Thanks to this flexibility, actuator elements beneath the tire’s surface, which are components that change shape with an electrical input, working like human muscles, can re-shape the individual sections of the tire’s tread design, adding ‘dimples’ for wet conditions or smoothing the tread for dry conditions. A new tread with a safer contact patch is thus deployed.

Using this morphing tread, the Eagle 360 Urban transforms and adapts to changing road and weather conditions.  The concept tire can then interact to share the information it has captured, the related action and its success with other vehicles and all of the elements making up the Internet of Things.

When the tire’s bionic skin is damaged, the sensors in the tread can locate the puncture. The tire then rotates to create a different contact patch. This reduces pressure on the puncture and allows the self-healing process to start. The self-healing works thanks to materials which are specifically designed to be able to flow towards the puncture. They react physically and chemically with each other to form new molecular bonds, closing the puncture.

This new generation of tires will create added value for OEM partners and the evolving providers of Mobility as a Service (MaaS) by maximizing uptime and providing proactive maintenance. For the everyday commuter they will offer an improved experience by adding a new dimension to the safety performance and learning capabilities of autonomous driving.

This year Goodyear invited students from French design school ISD RUBIKA​ to envision and develop a concept vehicle tailor-made for the Eagle 360 Urban concept tire. Working closely together with Goodyear’s designers, the students created Vision UMOD, a vehicle for future cities and adapted to the needs of future mobility.[1]

KEY FEATURES AND BENEFITS

1. The Artificial Intelligence unit serves as the ‘brain’ of the tire and enables the tire to:

• Continuously sense the road condition and the surrounding environment in real-time and check on its own status in real-time.
• Process the information it captures using neural networks trained with deep learning algorithms to decide what to do and learn for the future.
• Transform using its own morphing tread and tire/vehicle interface.
• Interact with other vehicles and all of the elements making up the Internet of Things to share the information it has captured and lessons learned.

2. The bionic skin’s high-sensory capacity tread, with its sensor network, captures information on road and weather conditions and transmits this input to:

• the tire to optimize the morphing of the tread.
• the vehicle’s ‘nervous system’ to improve the car’s braking, handling and efficiency.
• all of the elements making up the Internet of Things to inform other tires and vehicles expected to take the same road.

3. The intelligent morphing tread prepares the vehicle for the unexpected by proactively providing safety under all conditions. Depending on the road and weather conditions, the most appropriate tread pattern appears autonomously with the help of the bionic skin of the tire. 

4.The bionic skin allows self-healing repair. And, in combination with the Artificial Intelligence unit, it measures current and predicts future tire wear to allow automated tire management, enabling predictive and proactive maintenance. This maximizes uptime and safety, offering an improved mobility user experience at all times for Mobility as a Service (MaaS) providers.

5. The spherical shape moves in all directions and contributes to comfort, safety and maneuverability to match the demands of autonomous mobility and mobility as a service. The shape also copes with space limitations in smart cities (smaller parking spaces, platoon driving, maneuvering, easy to replace...).

Connect & Download

Visit our stand at Geneva International Motor Show: Stand 2056, Hall 2 or visit our EMEA newsroom​

Goodyear Eagle 360 Urban and RUBIKA Vision UMOD video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAdw09M-F-g​

[1] Created by: Laurent Cariou, Mathis Cosson, Hugo Glorennec & Alexandre Moulin 

Geneva, March 7th – At the 2017 Geneva International Motor Show, Goodyear unveiled what the tire of the near future could look like. The IntelliGrip Urban is a concept tire designed for future-generation autonomous electric ride-sharing vehicles in urban areas.

On-demand transportation – or ride-sharing – as an alternative to taxis, rental cars, or actual driving is no longer just the choice of millennials. The value in convenience of immediacy, location and payment is appealing to all demographics and is bringing ride sharing services into the mainstream. The trend toward urban life creates an ideal environment for the adoption of these new modes of transportation.

“With a focus on vehicles for future urban areas, the IntelliGrip Urban concept tire’s technical features aim to maximize uptime and energy efficiency. This is crucial for ‘Mobility as a Service’ providers to offer improved mobility to their customers,” said Jean-Claude Kihn, president of Goodyear Europe, Middle East and Africa.

The Goodyear IntelliGrip Urban, with its advanced Sensor-in-Tire technology, is a smart tire designed to support autonomous vehicle control systems and enhance passenger safety. The concept tire senses road and weather conditions. By gathering this critical data and sending it directly to the vehicle’s computer system, it enables the car to optimize speed, braking, handling and stability.

Future-generation autonomous fleets will be operating in a complex environment, with other vehicles, drivers, pedestrians and data from all of the elements making up the Internet of Things. Tires such as the Goodyear IntelliGrip Urban could play a critical role in this evolving ecosystem.

Furthermore, fleet operators will benefit from the tire’s tall and narrow shape, which reduces rolling resistance to increase energy efficiency and range of electrical vehicle fleets in an urban environment. The IntelliGrip Urban’s sensor technology would also allow operators to precisely identify and resolve tire-related issues before they happen.

KEY FEATURES AND BENEFITS

The IntelliGrip Urban would enable fleets to monitor their vehicles and tires in real time, giving them a competitive advantage whilst helping to increase their profitability, supported by following key features:

• Sensor-in-Tire technology helps autonomous cars to better read road conditions, supporting and enhancing passenger safety and peace of mind. The entire fleet can benefit from the crucial Tire-to-Vehicle information exchange via the cloud.
• Proactive maintenance allows fleet operators to precisely identify and resolve tire-related and potential safety issues before they happen. A one-stop, user-friendly solution to maximize tire performance and schedule proactive maintenance helps to reduce total cost of operations and improve the uptime, efficiency and sustainability of the fleet.
• Tall and Narrow shape reduces the rolling resistance of the tire in order to increase the energy efficiency and range of the electrical vehicle fleet in an urban environment. The concept tire’s shape also contributes to improved aquaplaning performance, which allowed Goodyear’s designers to decrease the amount of grooves on the tire, increasing mileage and reducing noise levels.

The specially-designed tread provides grip in both winter and summer conditions in urban environments, maximizing uptime and optimizing the efficiency for fleets.

###

Note to editor: Follow us on Twitter @GoodyearPress and join our ThinkGoodMobility group on LinkedIn. All press materials are available for download at news.goodyear.eu

About Goodyear
Goodyear is one of the world’s largest tire companies. It employs about 66,000 people and manufactures its products in 48 facilities in 21 countries around the world. Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry. For more information about Goodyear and its products, go to www.goodyear.com/corporate.

Here’s a sneak preview of what Goodyear will have in store: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTKg-vu6IRk&feature=youtu.be​​

Technology is emerging so that we can climb into our cars, enter a destination, and sit back and relax as the driving is done for us. This could be the future of mobility with autonomous vehicles (AVs), and Goodyear is helping drivers to "think ahead" to the roads of tomorrow.

As one of the world's largest tire manufacturers, we want to know what drivers think about AVs. In collaboration with the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), we conducted a study to find out about their attitudes using an online survey in 11 European countries and focus groups in four European countries. Here is what we learned: 
    
• Comfort. Just over a quarter (26%) of respondents said that they would be comfortable using an AV themselves, while 29% said that they would be comfortable driving alongside one. Conversely, 44% feel uncomfortable about using an AV, whilst 41% feel uncomfortable about driving alongside one.  

• Safety. Twice as many respondents agreed (43%) than disagreed (19%) that AVs would be safer, since most accidents are caused by human error. However, concerns about AV technology persist, with 73% of respondents fearing that "autonomous vehicles could malfunction." 

• Behavior. Focus group participants expected AVs to be "well-behaved" and abide by the rules of the road. They saw the potential for AVs to "weed out" the "bad behavior" of other drivers. And almost twice as many survey respondents agreed (37%) as disagreed (21%) that "machines don't have emotions so they might be better drivers than humans." At the same time, 60% were concerned that "machines don't have the common sense needed to interact with human drivers."

• Sociability. The respondents most open to AVs are those who, on average, have a more "combative" view of the road and are anxious about the behavior of other drivers. The respondents least open to AVs are those who, on average, are more sociable drivers who enjoy their interactions with other drivers.  

• Control. 70% of respondents agreed that "as a point of principle, humans should be in control of their vehicles." And 80% would want AVs to have a steering wheel. 

• Innovation. A clear majority of respondents (64%) were in favor of "smart tires" with intelligent sensors capable of assessing road and weather conditions in AVs. 

• Leisure. Becoming leisurely passengers on the road with time to relax or work was a possibility readily discussed by focus group participants. Although many (82%) survey respondents reported that they would struggle to let go and would prefer to keep aware of the road around them.
 
These results come as no surprise to Goodyear. Carlos Cipollitti, General Director of the Goodyear Innovation Centre in Luxembourg, said: "AVs are coming. Understanding how drivers experience the road today and how they feel AVs should fit in is crucial. Goodyear is exploring some of the key areas that are shaping the future of mobility. We hope that the insights generated by this research will help all relevant stakeholders to work together towards a successful introduction of AVs."

Dr. Chris Tennant, who led the project for LSE, explains: "AVs are not simply another new technology. They are emerging in an intensely social space with a wide range of factors influencing the public's levels of openness towards them."

The study is part of Goodyear's ThinkGoodMobility​ platform. It was conducted using a combination of focus groups in 4 European countries with 48 participants, and an online survey with approximately 12,000 respondents in 11 European countries. It builds on widely reported research with LSE in 2015 that explored the social behavior of drivers on the road. 

Goodyear envisions a future in which our products will become more connected with the vehicle itself, other vehicles and infrastructure. In this context, our research in EMEA contributes to the wider debates on the future of mobility and road safety.

Country Snapshots

• Polish and French respondents expressed the greatest level of belief, on average, that AVs would be safer than conventional cars.
• French and German respondents expressed the greatest level of concern, on average, about the lack of human control in AVs, while Dutch respondents were the least concerned.
• UK and Polish respondents expressed the greatest level of belief, on average, that machines don't have emotions so they might be better drivers than humans, whereas Belgian respondents the lowest.
• Czech respondents expressed the greatest level of concern, on average, that AVs lack the common sense required to interact with human drivers, whereas Italians were the least concerned.
• Czech respondents would miss the enjoyment of driving the most, while Dutch respondents were the least concerned about this loss.

11 European Countries Surveyed

• Spain, Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Serbia, France, Poland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden and the UK.

About ThinkGoodMobility

ThinkGoodMobility is a content and knowledge platform empowered by Goodyear on smart, safe and sustainable mobility.

About LSE

The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) is one of the foremost social science universities in the world.

LSE is a specialist university with an international intake and a global reach. Its research and teaching span the full breadth of the social sciences, from economics, politics and law to sociology, anthropology, accounting and finance.

Founded in 1895, the School has an outstanding reputation for academic excellence. 16 Nobel Prize winners have been LSE staff or alumni. The School has a cosmopolitan student body, with around 9,500 full time students from 140 countries. LSE has a staff of over 3,000, with about 46 per cent drawn from countries outside the UK.

Contact LSE:

• Rehanna Neky, Marketing and Communications Manager, +44 20 7852 3711, R.Neky@lse.ac.uk

Publications: 

• Download the full study and infographic​ on the ThinkGoodMobility website
• ThinkGoodMobility: Millennials' view on the Future of Mobility in Europe​, a 2015 survey from ThinkYoung and Goodyear.
• Executive summary of The Ripple Effect of Drivers' Behavior on the Road​​, a 2015 study from LSE and Goodyear.
• Available upon request: previous road safety surveys commissioned by Goodyear

 We are on the verge of a revolution: traditional thinking on mobility, connectivity and even the role of the driver is already undergoing major changes. Advanced technologies and innovation will become even more important as road safety, reliability and flexibility are key for future mobility.   

THINKGOODMOBILITY Platform

ThinkGoodMobility platform is an initiative from Goodyear EMEA in collaboration with ThinkYoung and various stakeholders in the field of future mobility. The aim is to connect like-minded people to think and engage on safe, green and smart mobility.  

• How will current and future trends impact the way we get from A to B?
• What impact will autonomous driving have on road safety and mobility more generally?
• How will big data change our lives and our work in the automotive industry?
• What will be the next big thing? 

Societal challenges, current and future needs are at the core of ThinkGoodMobility. 

ThinkGoodMobility Challenge
The ThinkGoodMobility Challenge gives a voice to young people to share their ideas on how to address challenges like congestion, emissions, population growth, energy efficiency, ...

Find out more about the sophisticated and innovative ideas of the Top 3 innovators within the 2015 ThinkGoodMobility Challenge. + Link to TGM challenge video with all top 3 innovators.

ThinkGoodMobility Research on Future Mobility

2016 ThinkGoodMobility Survey in collaboration with LSE
Autonomous Vehicles negotiating a space on the road.

How flexible are self-driving cars in adapting to the social landscape of the road? Will drivers take advantage of autonomous vehicles (AVs) strict adherence to the rules of the road? Or, on the contrary, can rule-abiding driverless cars lead the way to positive change, encouraging higher standards of behavior and safety from all drivers?

2015 ThinkGoodMobility Survey in collaboration with ThinkYoung
Millennials views on Future Mobility in Europe !     

Millennials are often looked at as a game changing generation. The 2015 ThinkGoodMobility Survey is the first to investigate the views of young people (age 18-30) studying Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Design and Mathematics from 12 European countries on future mobility.

• Do they still want to own a car?
• If they do, will they share it with others?
• How personalized to their needs do they expect cars to be?’
• How much do they care about their carbon footprint?
• Will they fancy self-driving technologies as much as the latest app?

Partnerships

Goodyear works with leading research institutions such as the London School of Economics and European think thanks such as ThinkYoung which focuses on young people.
 

Goodyear collaborates with key stakeholders(fleets, drivers, manufacturers, logistic providers, policy makers) to address the increasing challenges in the transport industry and shape the fleets of the future, better enabling future commercial mobility. 

Goodyear and ThinkYoung announce today that Artur Ząbczyk, a student at Poland’s Silesian University of Technology, has won their first ThinkGoodMobility Challenge. Ząbczyk’s Management and Recovery System (MaRS) is an innovative combination that recycles energy from cars, with a real-time data traffic network to minimize travel time and costs for everybody.

Imagine a smart system that can recycle all forms of energy (heat, kinetic and energy of impact) produced by the vehicle to set it ‘sailing’ (e.g. idle mode) in traffic. On top, MaRS complements the energy recovery with a smart information network including all cars on the road, contributing real-time data about velocity, accidents, and traffic signals. The system further optimizes traffic flow and the energy recovery of the cars.

Ząbczyk, 23, said: “I’m thrilled to have won the first ThinkGoodMobility Challenge. It gives my generation the chance to share smart and sustainable ideas on how to address our future mobility needs with a positive impact on the environment and society.”

“Young people will lead the way to address new societal challenges and their future needs are at the core of our innovation thinking.” Carlos Cipollitti, general director of the Goodyear Innovation Center in Luxembourg and member of the jury adds. “Artur’s proposal stood out for its sophistication and potential for implementation. Using existing technology, he created a unified system to significantly improve efficiency for both the driver and the environment. MaRS could transform inner city travel in just a few years, radically reducing emissions and costs as well as improving our quality of life.”

“I really enjoyed being part of the challenge. My most important learning as an engineer is that technology and a solid business plan must go hand in hand. If you want to convince potential partners or users, you need to take them on a journey. ” concludes Ząbczyk.

Ząbczyk’s entry was selected as the winner from 73 submissions across Europe by a jury composed of professors from Europe’s top universities, mobility innovators and industry experts. “It was great to see such a high degree of enthusiasm and innovation. The jury had quite a challenging job as all TOP 3 ideas had merit. In fact, combining these three concepts, if done successfully, could help to revolutionize  mobility over the next decade,” explains Jeremy White, Product Editor of WIRED and member of the jury.

Second place went to Jacopo Runchi from Italy with a cool 2-4 wheel modular vehicle and finishing third was Siddartha Khastgir from the UK , who developed an area-wide smart zone and credit system, rewarding travelers for making smart mobility choices. The Challenge is related to Goodyear’s research and innovation in the field of future transport and is part of its broader ThinkGoodMobility platform.

- END  -

Note to the editor

• All TOP 20 ThinkGoodMobility Challenge ideas are avaiable on the Thinkgoodmobility website​
• Carlos Cipollitti, general director of the Goodyear Innovation Center in Luxembourg and member of the ThinkGoodMobility Challenge is available for interviews.

The ThinkGoodMobility Challenge, organised by Goodyear in collaboration with ThinkYoung asks Millennials for innovative ideas to revolutionize future mobility and address challenges such as congestion, interconnectivity, sustainability and road safety towards 2025.  

The ThinkGoodMoblity challenge ran from October 15, 2015 till March 30, 2016.  

The jury consisted of:
Prof. Paul Jennings – Warwick University, UK
Prof. Thomas Engel – Luxembourg University
Jeremy White – Wired Magazine UK
Laurianne Krid – FIA
Camille Feyder – Delphi
Andrea Gerosa – ThinkYoung
Carlos Cipollitti – Goodyear Innovation Center Luxembourg

About ThinkGoodMobility
ThinkGoodMobility is a content and knowledge platform empowered by Goodyear on smart, safe and sustainable mobility. 

For more information:

Thinkgoodmobility research​
LinkedIn ThinkGoodMobility group​

About ThinkYoung
ThinkYoung is the first think tank that focuses on young people. It was founded in 2007 and has expanded to have offices in Brussels, Geneva and Hong Kong.
ThinkYoung carries out research, surveys, documentary films and policy proposals focusing on five fields of action: entrepreneurship, education, EU-Asia relations, EU enlargement, and environment. // www.thinkyoung.eu​

Goodyear and the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) today announced a new pan-European research project to investigate the attitudes and readiness of drivers to share the road with autonomous vehicles.

The research will capture driver opinions from 11 European countries through surveys and focus groups as part of Goodyear's ThinkGoodMobility​ platform, focused on smart, safe and sustainable future mobility.

"Self-driving cars are being designed to predictably adhere to the rules of the road, but less predictable is how human drivers may interact with computer drivers," said Olivier Rousseau, vice president of Goodyear's consumer tire business in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. "Our latest collaboration with the LSE will explore this changing driving environment as autonomous vehicles and driver assist technologies continue to become more common."

Researchers at IHS Automotive recently predicted there will be sales of nearly 21 million autonomous vehicles globally in 2035.

According to a 2015 Goodyear/LSE survey of drivers from 15 European countries, 88 percent of respondents agreed that there are "unwritten rules" that govern driver interactions with pedestrians, cyclists and other vehicles on the road.

"A key question for this year's research is how the unwritten rules and driver behavior that we employ will apply to self-driving cars, and to what extent self-driving cars will need to learn the common sense humans use to make every-day driving situations work," explained Dr. Chris Tennant, who is leading the research project at the LSE.

Preliminary focus group discussions have already raised questions from drivers about the flexibility of self-driving cars to adapt to the social landscape of the road; whether human drivers will take advantage of computer drivers' strict adherence to the rules of the road; or, to the contrary, how rule-abiding self-driving cars might lead the way to positive change, encouraging higher standards of behavior and safety from all drivers.

"The questions raised in our focus groups suggest that drivers' interactions with autonomous vehicles will develop as we are increasingly exposed to them," Tennant added. "We believe that this research project will generate valuable insights into how autonomous vehicles can be properly integrated into the dynamic social space of our roads."

Goodyear and LSE plan to publicly report their research findings in October 2016.

About Goodyear
Goodyear is one of the world's largest tire companies. It employs approximately 66,000 people and manufactures its products in 49 facilities in 22 countries around the world. Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry.

About LSE
The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) is one of the foremost social science universities in the world. LSE is a specialist university with an international intake and a global reach. Its research and teaching span the full breadth of the social sciences, from economics, politics and law to sociology, anthropology, accounting and finance. Founded in 1895, the School has an outstanding reputation for academic excellence. Sixteen Nobel Prize winners have been LSE staff or alumni. The School has a cosmopolitan student body, with around 9,500 full-time students from 140 countries. LSE has a staff of over 3,000, with about 46 per cent drawn from countries outside the UK. This research project has been commissioned via LSE Consulting.

About ThinkGoodMobility
ThinkGoodMobility is a content and knowledge platform empowered by Goodyear on smart, safe and sustainable mobility. 

Previous ThinkGoodMobility publications:

• ThinkGoodMobility: Millennials' view on the Future of Mobility in Europe, a 2015 survey from ThinkYoung and Goodyear.​
• Executive summary of The Ripple Effect of Drivers' Behavior on the Road, a 2015 study from LSE and Goodyear.​
• The full results of previous road safety surveys commissioned by Goodyear are available on request.

More information:

• ThinkGoodMobility​ website

LinkedIn ThinkGoodMobility​​ discussion group.  

The ThinkGoodMobility jury was really pleased with the level of thought, quality and creativity that was put into the applications. It is clear young people across Europe see a lot of potential in flexible transport systems, autonomous vehicles, smart applications, virtual mobility systems and sustainable city management.

The “ThinkGoodMobility Challenge” gives a voice to the very people who might shape the future of mobility, the Millennials. From October 15 2015 till March 30 2016, university students across Europe were invited to share their ideas on how to address future mobility trends and challenges such as congestion, sustainability, urban pollution, interconnectivity, population growth and road safety towards 2025.

“The Challenge follows the recent “ThinkGoodMobility Survey,”  where young people across Europe clearly indicated that they don’t want to be seen as a generation that stood still and are in favour of more eco-friendly and smart safety technologies.  The challenge gives them the opportunity to come up with innovative, impactful and feasible ideas and concepts for smart and sustainable mobility” adds Carlos Cipollitti, General Director of the Goodyear Innovation Center in Luxembourg.

Take a look at the ThinkGoodMobility top 5 !

§ Siddartha Khastgir:  The SASS City concept: Smart Affordable Safe and Sustainable City concept

§ Artur Zabczyk:              Distributed Energy Recovery System

§ Alfonso Gomez:           SmartPark

4. Jacopo Runchi :           2-4 Wheel Modular Linkeable Vehicle

5. Thomas Vermin:  SmartSeat

The Top 3 will get the opportunity to further fine tune their idea and concept with the support of a team of expert coaches that will provide guidance on:

§ How to visualize, conceptualize and industrialize their idea,

§ How to turn the idea in a solid business case.

The winner of the challenge will be selected amongst the Top 3 on May 23.

For more information about the “ThinkGoodMobility Challenge”, the top 20 and the projects, visit http://www.thinkgoodmobility.goodyear.eu/

-         END      -

About ThinkGoodMobility
ThinkGoodMobility is a content and knowledge platform empowered by Goodyear on smart, safe and sustainable mobility. 

For more information:

·        ThinkGoodMobility research​

·   ThinkGoodMobility Challenge​

·        ThinkGoodMobility website​

·        LinkedIn ThinkGoodMobility​ discussion group. 

About Goodyear
Goodyear is one of the world’s largest tire companies. It employs about 66,000 people and manufactures its products in 49 facilities in 22 countries around the world. Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry. For more information about Goodyear and its products, go to www.goodyear.com/corporate.

About Think Young
ThinkYoung is the first think tank that focuses on young people. It was founded in 2007 and has expanded to have offices in Brussels, Geneva and Hong Kong.
ThinkYoung carries out research, surveys, documentary films and policy proposals focusing on five fields of action: entrepreneurship, education, EU-Asia relations, EU enlargement, and environment.

For more information please visit: www.thinkyoung.eu

-  STORM Eindhoven team ride around the world in 80 days to demonstrate the potential of sustainable transport.

-  RoadSmart III chosen for ‘Stronger for Longer’ Performance : 82% better front tyre durability than average of tested competition*

-  STORM Pulse tested at Dunlop’s Mireval Proving Ground

‘STORM Pulse’ is the world’s first long-distance electric motorcycle, with a range of 380 kilometres. The radical motorcycle has been developed by the Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) student team who will be riding this motorcycle around the world in 80 days in 2016.

For this challenge, the team have chosen Dunlop’s latest Sport Touring tyre – the RoadSmart III.

STORM Eindhoven needed a tyre that could cope with the world’s most demanding roads. They chose the RoadSmart III after tests confirmed it having an incredible 82%* more mileage potential (Front) than an average of key competitors.

This enduring performance is critical for a project that will see the STORM riders tackling the toughest roads throughout Europe, Asia and North America - a total of 26,000 kilometres.

The STORM Pulse has been described as the ‘Tesla of motorcycles’ . Its innovative modular battery pack means riders can swap batteries in a matter of minutes. For short journeys, only part of the battery pack can be used to make the motorcycle lighter and even easier to steer.

Another reason why the team chose the Dunlop RoadSmart III was that in the bike’s 190/55ZR17 rear tyre size, Dunlop have designed both a GT and an SP (Sport) version allowing riders to choose the right tyre for their motorcycle’s particular characteristics. STORM chose the GT version as it matched the immense torque and traction demands of their 240Nm torque powertrain.

Andy Marfleet, Marketing Manager, Dunlop Europe Moto, is proud that STORM Eindhoven have chosen RoadSmart III: “Testing has proven that the RoadSmart III has best in class grip and handling in dry whilst delivering a huge step forward in mileage performance. Tackling a 26,000km world tour on such a high torque machine demands optimum stability, traction and durability. The tyre is designed for such a challenge”

-ends-

For more information on Dunlop Europe, visit www.dunlop.eu or follow us on Twitter @DunlopMoto

More details on the project at: www.storm-eindhoven.com

Contact: James Bailey, Director, Motorsport Communications +44 7770 682413 jbailey@goodyear.com

*Calculated against the German legal limit of 1.6mm minimum tread depth. Compared to average performance of 3 leading competitor products in Sport Touring Radial segment (Michelin Pilot Road 4 GT, Bridgestone T30 Evo, Pirelli Angel GT). Tested by Motorrad Test Center in November 2015 by order of Goodyear Dunlop. Tyre size Front 120/70ZR17 and rear 180/55ZR17   Test Bike: Yamaha FJR 1300A; road testing took place on mixed surface roads around Almeria, Spain

About Dunlop Europe

Dunlop Europe is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of high and ultra high performance tyres with an impressive track record of motor sport successes. Dunlop Europe is a technical partner of Suzuki Endurance Race Team, Honda Racing and GMT94 Yamaha in Endurance Racing, Kawasaki and Team HRC in MXGP and the Official tyre supplier to the FIM Moto2 and Moto3 World Championship.

Dunlop Europe’s extensive racing experience has led to innovative technologies for tyres designed for everyday riding.

Dunlop Europe tyres were on the bike that won the first 500cc championship for motorcycles in 1949 and dominated the series through the following decades. In 1991 a bike on Dunlop Europe tyres won the first of three consecutive World Superbike titles and in 2008 Marco Simoncelli took Dunlop Europe’s 200th consecutive 250cc GP win, a series in which Dunlop Europe claimed 17 World Championships. 2010 saw Dunlop Europe become sole tyre supplier to Moto2 with Moto3 following in 2012 and the partnership with Dorna to continue supplying the two main MotoGP support races was renewed for 2015 onwards.

Endurance racing has been dominated by Dunlop Europe teams and riders, with ten Endurance World Championship titles out of twelve since 2002 accrued while each of John McGuinness’ Isle of Man TT wins were on Dunlop Europe tyres. Dunlop Europe has won every major motorcycle accolade going – from GP World Championships to the Isle of Man TT, from World Superbike and Supersport to World Endurance, with similar across-the-board success in motocross and other off-road championships.

The latest Dunlop Europe road tyres are fitted as standard on motorcycles from leading manufacturers such as Honda, Kawasaki, KTM, Ducati, Yamaha, Harley-Davidson and Suzuki.

Geneva, Switzerland, March 1, 2016 – Today, Goodyear presented its vision for tires to support early generation autonomous vehicles at the 2016 Geneva International Motor Show. The Goodyear IntelliGrip concept tire, with its advanced sensor technology, is designed to support autonomous vehicle control systems. As autonomous vehicles rely on data from other vehicles, drivers, pedestrians and smart cities, tires such as the Goodyear IntelliGrip concept could play a critical role in the exchange of information.

According to a study from the World Economic Forum, cities expect autonomous vehicles to become a reality in the next 10 years[1]. In addition, the J.D. Power 2015 U.S. Tech Choice Study[2] concludes that consumers deem collision protection technology most important in the wake of the changing automotive industry.

“By steadily reducing the driver interaction and intervention in self-driving vehicles, tires will play an even more important role as the primary link to the road,” said Joseph Zekoski, Goodyear’s senior vice president and chief technical officer. “Goodyear’s concept tires play a dual role in the future both as creative platforms to push the boundaries of conventional thinking and as testbeds for next-generation technologies.”

Thanks to its advanced sensor technology and specially designed tread, the Goodyear IntelliGrip concept tire can sense many road conditions, including both surface and weather conditions. The IntelliGrip also uses advanced active wear technology, based on Goodyear’s active wear and tire-pressure monitoring system sensor technology, to assess the state of the tire and the vehicle. Goodyear developed special algorithms to account for such variables as inflation pressure and tire temperature to give a better estimation of the state of the tire and as a result, optimize the autonomous control system of the vehicle.

In addition to sensing the road and tire conditions, the tire also communicates with the vehicle’s central computer system, which should contribute to delivering improved driving performance and safety. When the tire senses a rainy or slippery road surface, the autonomous vehicle will adapt its speed. Additionally, it should shorten the stopping distance, provide a better cornering response, optimize stability and even support collision prevention systems.

Goodyear is working with a number of car manufacturers to further adapt this technology to their needs, enhancing connectivity with features such as Electronic Stability Control Systems, Brake Control Systems and Suspension Control Systems.

The IntelliGrip’s microchip was developed with Huf, a leading manufacturer of mechanical and electrical locking systems, tire pressure monitoring systems and telematic systems for the automotive industry worldwide.

For more information on Goodyear at the Geneva International Motor Show, visit us at stand 2056 in Hall 2. Follow us on Twitter @Goodyearpress and join our ThinkGoodMobility group on LinkedIn. All press materials are available for download at www.goodyear.eu​

About Goodyear
Goodyear is one of the world's largest tire companies. It employs approximately 66,000 people and manufactures its products in 49 facilities in 22 countries around the world. Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry. For more information about Goodyear and its products, go to: www.goodyear.eu​​.

[1] Source: World Economic Forum; BCG analysis, city policy maker interviews 2015

[2] The 2015 U.S. Tech Choice Study was fielded in January through March 2015 and is based on an online survey of more than 5,300 consumers who purchased/leased a new vehicle in the past five years. - See more at: http://www.jdpower.com/press-releases/2015-us-tech-choice-study#sthash.rZ6ysrNh.dpuf

Geneva, Switzerland, March 1, 2016 — After 117 years of making tires, Goodyear today presented a vision of a future tire that looks radically different from tires today —it’s a sphere.

Goodyear unveiled its latest concept tire, Eagle-360, at the Geneva International Motor Show. The spherical, 3-D printed tire highlights Goodyear’s vision for the future and presents an inspiring solution for the long-term future when autonomous driving is expected to be more mainstream.

According to a recent study from Navigant Research, 85 million autonomous-capable vehicles are expected to be sold annually around the world by 2035[1], for example. According to the J.D. Power 2015 U.S. Tech Choice Study, consumers are most concerned with ensuring safety through technology in autonomous cars.[2]

“By steadily reducing the driver interaction and intervention in self-driving vehicles, tires will play an even more important role as the primary link to the road,” said Joseph Zekoski, Goodyear’s senior vice president and chief technical officer. “Goodyear’s concept tires play a dual role in the future both as creative platforms to push the boundaries of conventional thinking and as testbeds for next-generation technologies.”

Spherical shape for ultimate maneuverability and safety  

The unique shape of the Goodyear Eagle-360 could contribute to safety and maneuverability to match the demands of autonomous mobility.The spherical shape of the tire is key to delivering ultimate maneuverability. The multi-orientation tires move in all directions, contributing to passenger safety. Active technology allows the tire to move as needed to reduce sliding from potential hazards, such as black ice or sudden obstacles, so it contributes to staying on a safe path.

In addition, the spherical shape of the Goodyear Eagle-360 provides a smooth ride by creating a fluid, lateral movement. This helps the car to overtake an obstacle without changing its driving direction.

Finally, because 360 degree turns are possible with this tire, it could tackle anticipated parking constrictions of the future, as less space will be needed for cars fitted with spherical tires to pull into parking spots. Assuming public parking areas play the same role, this could significantly increase the capacity of public parking areas without increasing their size.

Connected via magnetic levitation

To connect with the body of the car, the Goodyear Eagle-360 concept tire relies on magnetic levitation. The tire is suspended from the car by magnetic fields, similar to magnetic levitation trains, which   increases passenger comfort and reduces noise.

“Though this is purely a concept tire, it showcases some of Goodyear’s best innovative thinking and how the needs of future drivers can be addressed. Based on our own recent research[3], we know that young drivers are looking for smart and sustainable cars to be part of future mobility and that reliability and safety are key for them. We believe the Eagle-360 concept tire could deliver a safe and sustainable solution for our end consumer who is likely to drive or ride in autonomous cars in the future,” said Jean-Claude Kihn, President of Goodyear EMEA. “We also hope it serves as inspiration for the automotive industry as we continue to find solutions for the future, together.”

Sensors ensure connectivity with car and increase safety

Goodyear imagined another feature, connectivity, to optimize driving conditions in autonomous vehicles, which is brought to life in three features. First, sensors inside the Eagle-360 concept tire register the road conditions, including weather and road surface conditions, and communicate this information to the car as well as to other vehicles to enhance safety. Secondly, leveraging Goodyear’s tread wear and pressure monitoring technology, sensors in the Eagle-360 register and regulate the wear of the tire to extend mileage. Finally, because the tread is produced by a 3-D printer, customizing the tire based on the region where the driver lives is a new possibility.

Biomimicry – inspired by nature

Elements of the Eagle-360 design showcase biomimicry, which is the imitation of nature, a principle Goodyear often uses in its designs. The tread mimics the pattern of brain coral, and its multidirectional blocks and grooves help to secure a safe contact patch. The groove bottom has the same elements as a natural sponge, which stiffens when dry yet softens when wet to deliver adequate driving performance and aquaplaning resistance. This texture also absorbs water on the road and ejects water from the tire footprint through centrifugal force to reduce the risk of aquaplaning.

For more information on Goodyear at the Geneva International Motor Show, visit us at stand 2056 in Hall 2. Follow us on Twitter @Goodyearpress and join our ThinkGoodMobility group on LinkedIn. All press materials are available for download at news.goodyear.eu.

About Goodyear
Goodyear is one of the world's largest tire companies. It employs approximately 66,000 people and manufactures its products in 49 facilities in 22 countries around the world. Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry. For more information about Goodyear and its products, go to: www.goodyear.eu​

[1] Source: Navigant Research, Advanced Drive Assistance Systems and the Evolution of Self Driving Functionality: Global Market Analysis and Forecasts: http://www.navigantresearch.com/research/autonomous-vehicles

[2] Source: The 2015 U.S. Tech Choice Study was fielded in January through March 2015 and is based on an online survey of more than 5,300 consumers who purchased/leased a new vehicle in the past five years. - See more at: http://www.jdpower.com/press-releases/2015-us-tech-choice-study#sthash.rZ6ysrNh.dpuf

[3] Source: Goodyear and Think Good Mobility: Millennials Views on the Future of Mobility in Europe: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1HvJzTnvhLfc0dOYWJtTnBfUTA/view

The Challenge follows the recent “ThinkGoodMobility Survey,” in which STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and design and mathematics) students were asked to identify the key challenges for the automobile industry in 2025. The survey shows that young people across Europe don’t want future generations to look back on them as the generation that stood still. The challenge most cited by Millennials is to build a sustainable transport solution with a focus on environmentally-friendly technology. The second most identified challenge was to ensure in 2025 that we can drive an affordable vehicle that is able to keep up with the latest technologies. This digitally savvy generation knows how important innovation and connectivity are, and the Challenge aims to target these ambitious, enthusiastic and creative young people.

“At Goodyear we continuously work to create tires and services that meet the highest standards in road safety, innovation and sustainability to cater to your requirements today and in the future. That is why Goodyear, together with ThinkYoung, invites the drivers of the future to share their vision for smart and sustainable mobility in 2025 and to compete for the best solution”, says Carlos Cipollitti, General Director of the Goodyear Innovation Center Luxembourg.

These drivers of the future are invited to share intelligent, accessible and effective ideas on:

 • SUSTAINABLE Mobility: proposals/ideas for building a sustainable car with a focus on environmentally-friendly technology

 • SMART Mobility: proposals/ideas for building a smart, affordable car, equipped with the latest technologies and higher levels of connectivity     

In order to participate in this new challenge across Europe, entries must be submitted by university students aged between 18 and 30 before December 15 2015. An independent jury of automotive experts, comprising figures from the automotive industry, academia and WIRED magazine as well as Goodyear and Think Young representatives, will evaluate all the different proposals.

Within the framework of the challenge and aside from the recognitions for merit awarded as part of it, a six month internship at the Goodyear Global Innovation Centre in Luxembourg might be granted to an outstanding qualifying candidate who comes up with an inspiring proposal that shows a deep understanding and unique perspective on the future of mobility.  

We invite all drivers of the future to participate and visit thinkgoodmobilty.com​.

Detailed terms and conditions of the challenge, including conditions and requirements to participate, are set out in the Terms and Conditions of the Challenge available online.  

The Challenge follows the recent “ThinkGoodMobility Survey,” in which STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and design and mathematics) students were asked to identify the key challenges for the automobile industry in 2025. The survey shows that young people across Europe don’t want future generations to look back on them as the generation that stood still. The challenge most cited by Millennials is to build a sustainable transport solution with a focus on environmentally-friendly technology. The second most identified challenge was to ensure in 2025 that we can drive an affordable vehicle that is able to keep up with the latest technologies. This digitally savvy generation knows how important innovation and connectivity are, and the Challenge aims to target these ambitious, enthusiastic and creative young people.

“At Goodyear we continuously work to create tires and services that meet the highest standards in road safety, innovation and sustainability to cater to your requirements today and in the future. That is why Goodyear, together with ThinkYoung, invites the drivers of the future to share their vision for smart and sustainable mobility in 2025 and to compete for the best solution”, says Carlos Cipollitti, General Director of the Goodyear Innovation Center Luxembourg.

These drivers of the future are invited to share intelligent, accessible and effective ideas on:

 • SUSTAINABLE Mobility: proposals/ideas for building a sustainable car with a focus on environmentally-friendly technology

 • SMART Mobility: proposals/ideas for building a smart, affordable car, equipped with the latest technologies and higher levels of connectivity     

In order to participate in this new challenge across Europe, entries must be submitted by university students aged between 18 and 30 before December 15 2015. An independent jury of automotive experts, comprising figures from the automotive industry, academia and WIRED magazine as well as Goodyear and Think Young representatives, will evaluate all the different proposals.

Within the framework of the challenge and aside from the recognitions for merit awarded as part of it, a six month internship at the Goodyear Global Innovation Centre in Luxembourg might be granted to an outstanding qualifying candidate who comes up with an inspiring proposal that shows a deep understanding and unique perspective on the future of mobility.  

We invite all drivers of the future to participate and visit thinkgoodmobilty.com​.

Detailed terms and conditions of the challenge, including conditions and requirements to participate, are set out in the Terms and Conditions of the Challenge available online.