The expanded suite of high performing tyres and interoperable data-driven tyre and fleet management solutions will offer transportation companies a one-stop solution enabling more efficient and sustainable operations. The customizable value proposition offered by Goodyear and ZF will further ease the digital transformation process for fleets and OEMS by connecting multiple data streams from one common telematics hardware.

“The turnkey proposition proposed by Goodyear and ZF is addressing the growing complexity linked to demanding fleet operations,” said Grégory Boucharlat, Vice President, Commercial Europe for Goodyear. “It enables operators to stay agile and make informed decisions to boost vehicle uptime, promote more economical driving, extend the service life of tyres and assets, lower emissions and improve customer service delivery management based on an integrated tyre and fleet dataset translated into actionable insights.”

“ZF’s collaboration with Goodyear harnesses the expertise and extensive capabilities of two industry-leaders behind a shared conviction to offer European fleets and trailer builders the benefits of a one-stop Fleet Management solution.“ said Peter Bal, Business Leader – Digital Customer Services, EMEA with ZF’s Commercial Vehicle Control System division. “Our ability to supply an integrated solution, with reduced hardware investment, means customers can benefit from simplified operations as they seek to gain further efficiency, as well as enhanced safety and cargo security.”

One-stop solution for smart tyre and trailer managementIn 2019, Goodyear introduced its customizable Goodyear Total Mobility value proposition, providing full tyre monitoring and management insights from mounting the right tyres per type of operations, planning proactive maintenance and retreading. The innovative offer includes the Goodyear Tyre Pressure Monitoring system with proprietary G-Predict algorithm providing real-time proactive alerts and preventing up to 90% of tyre related breakdowns.¹ 

Through an interoperable and flexible solution, based on a single telematics unit, called TX-TRAILERPULSE^TM, customers can now access the services and support of both companies including ZF’s Transics FMS solutions:

• combining TX-TRAILERPULSE^TM solution and TX-TRAILERFIT^TM insights with FleetOnlineSolutions tyre management of Goodyear will provide a full view on the performance, usage and health of both tyres and the trailer park. Fleets will benefit in terms of faster service, precise tyre mileage insights, avoiding premature tyre change and trailer maintenance. Truck and trailer rental companies can provide increased transparency linked to accurate trailer and tyre-use by the end customer.
• TX-CONNECT^TM shares real-time data on the trailer position, geofencing, traffic and enables customer’s cargo follow-up. Service providers can access the data as well to plan proactive maintenance during waiting and resting times.

The integrated tyre and fleet management offer will bring visibility and operational efficiency to a new height, in terms of:

• Flexibility - customers select a service and solution package in line with their needs

• Simplification - one common hardware and integrated dashboard providing tyre, vehicle and cargo management data access, allowing further integration of brand-agnostic systems already used in the daily operations.
• Time-savings – fact-based decision making and actionable insights to prevent downtime and plan proactive maintenance. Comprehensive set-up resulting in shorter installation time.
• Customer experience – both partners will provide expert road and fleet assistance via a strong pan-European service network.

Supporting advanced mobility and sustainable transport objectivesThe collaboration will build on its joint data-driven monitoring and predictive analytics capabilities to help EU trailer OEMS and commercial fleets smoothly transition to future regulations including the GSR5 TPMS regulations requiring HCV’s to be progressively equipped with TPMS as of July 2022. As well as the EU General Safety Regulation mandated advanced safety functions.

Supporting greener mobility, smart monitoring technology and low rolling resistance tyres are striving to contribute to positively impacting total vehicle CO2 emissions. For example, a 100-truck fleet can lower its emissions by 4% and TCO by €40,000 a year, through fuel-cost savings by using low rolling resistance tyres.²

Moving forward, the partners will continue to deliver the very latest, future-proof and customized support for large fleets and trailer manufacturersacross Europe. 

More information can be found on Goodyear Truck. 

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¹. Comparison of 50 fleets and after installation of Goodyear TPMS in 2019, based on internal field tests.

^2. Potential savings based on a Goodyear calculation model, taking into account the rolling resistance performance of new tyres. Actual savings may vary based upon vehicle condition and maintenance, traffic conditions, driver behaviour and other factors.

Goodyear’s appearance at the Commercial Motor Show will come just two weeks after having also exhibited at the World Servitization Convention, a new event that brought together the world’s leading servitization researchers and business executives. The goal of the convention was to advance servitization strategies, give demonstrations of the technologies enabling advanced services and transform the future of manufacturing.

Marc Preedy, Managing Director, Truck Replacement Sales, comments: “At Goodyear, we strive to be more than just a tyre manufacturer. We believe in being a partner to our customers, and Goodyear Total Mobility is how we achieve that. It’s a complete offering, allowing us to create bespoke packages that can consist of premium tyres, proactive maintenance, support for tyre-related breakdowns and digital solutions. By virtually exhibiting at the Commercial Motor Show, and earlier this month at the World Servitization Convention, we hope to demonstrate that we are here to help to keep fleets moving during these challenging times.”

In recent months, the flexibility offered by Goodyear Total Mobility has been vital. The spread of COVID-19 had a drastic impact, with some industries accelerating production to address a sudden spike in demand, while others have had to lower supply levels, either in response to a drop in market demand or to limit the spread of the virus.

Marc Preedy concludes: “COVID-19 has tested our customers like never before, and yet, there is still the everyday need to stay ahead of the game by running their operations in the most efficient and effective way. We’ve been glad that, so far, our customisable Goodyear Total Mobility offering has provided both the support and the flexibility that they need to do just that. Now, the message that we’re sending from the Commercial Motor Show is that we are there as an added value mobility partner. We want to show how we can drive results for transport and logistics companies, whether that means increasing uptime, reducing total cost of ownership or easing the total carbon footprint of their fleets.”

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. https://www.driveresults.eu/en

In her new role, Kate will be responsible for leading Goodyear’s commercial activity throughout the UK and Ireland, driving growth across truck tyre sales and uptake of Goodyear’s comprehensive fleet offering, Goodyear Total Mobility.

Kate assumes the role having already spent over ten years with Goodyear, most recently as Head of Sales Capability Europe. She has extensive knowledge of the industry and has previously managed some of the company’s largest consumer accounts in the UK, bringing strong sales coaching skills to support the ongoing development of the commercial team.

Kate Norton comments: “After a decade with Goodyear, I’m delighted to be taking on this new role. Not only for the chance it gives me to hone and develop our commercial offering, but also for the opportunity to join such a dedicated team. Our customers in the commercial industry have faced untold challenges these past few months, and we’re proud to have been by their sides. Our Goodyear Total Mobility offering has been pivotal to this, and it’s been a joy to see it already go from strength to strength. Now, as a part of this team, I’m looking forward to taking our important work to all new heights.”

Marc Preedy, Managing Director Truck Replacement Europe, comments: “We couldn’t be happier to have Kate stepping into this role. These are challenging times for the wider commercial industry, but the skills and experience with which Kate will lead the team are sure to be invaluable. We wish her luck and are excited to get to work.”

About The Goodyear Tyre & Rubber Company

Goodyear is one of the world's largest tyre companies. It employs about 62,000 people and manufactures its products in 46 facilities in 21 countries around the world. Its two Innovation Centres 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 wants the tyre 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 tyre primed for the future of personalised 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 tyres. Filled with a customized liquid compound, these capsules allow the tread to regenerate and the tyre 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 customised, 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 tyres 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 tyre without compromise, supporting personalized, sustainable and hassle-free electric mobility,” concluded Sebastien Fontaine, Lead Designer at the Goodyear Innovation Centre in Luxembourg.

Beyond just tire service, AndGo delivers full vehicle readiness, helping consumer fleets boost their performance. Through monitoring of service needs and quick and easy scheduling, AndGo activates Goodyear’s vast service network for convenient scheduling to reduce downtime.

Goodyear Chairman, CEO and President Richard J. Kramer said, “AndGo is another Goodyear innovation that will help enable mobility today and in the future. There is no one better positioned than Goodyear with our service network, intelligent tyre solutions and predictive software to provide premium fleet readiness.”

Fleets engaging AndGo will benefit from continuous care through routine inspections and tyre monitoring leveraging Goodyear’s intelligent tyres. AndGo eliminates the guesswork in fleet management allowing fleets to focus on their end-customers, whether it is today’s drivers or passengers in emerging autonomous vehicles.

AndGo is currently available in select U.S. markets today and will expand to additional markets in mid-2020.

Through collaboration with fleets, AndGo will accelerate and create new standards for mobility, backed by the more than 120 years of Goodyear experience. For more information about AndGo, visit www.andgonow.com.

Goodyear Ventures will continue and expand Goodyear’s growing relationships in new mobility, with a focus on partnering and investing in startups with a shared vision of sustainable, safe and new mobility experiences that make life’s connections easier every day.

Goodyear’s Chairman, CEO and President Richard J. Kramer said, “Goodyear is a technology-driven mobility company that seeks out and partners with other mobility thought leaders ranging from small startups to proven business models. Goodyear Ventures will take this effort to the next level to engage and shape how people move in the future.” Goodyear Ventures will focus on eight themes shaping mobility:

• Electric and autonomous technologies
• Connected mobility solutions
• Next-generation public mobility
• Next-generation aviation mobility
• Future transportation infrastructure
• Future maintenance and operations
• Emerging technologies
• New tyre materials

In addition to capital, Goodyear Ventures’ portfolio companies will have the opportunity to learn and grow with Goodyear through its extensive technology and innovation resources, vast vehicle service network, and global manufacturing and product development footprint. For more information on Goodyear Ventures, go to www.goodyearventures.com.

Goodyear’s concept tyres 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 tyre includes several innovative features:

• EV motor cooling: Drawing on Goodyear’s expertise in aerodynamics, the concept tyres are designed to improve the cooling of the EV motors. Cool air enters through the front bumper intake and fins on the tyres 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 tyre 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 tyres. 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 tyre for the Lexus LF-30 Electrified concept comes in a 285/35R24 size.

This includes the company’s plants in France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Slovenia. It also includes the Dębica plant in Poland.

In order to maintain customer service, warehouses will remain operational on a reduced staffing schedule, with strong social distancing practices in place to protect the health and wellbeing of our employees and business partners, which remain Goodyear’s highest considerations.

These temporary measures will be implemented in full agreement with local social partners and in a way to allow prompt production startup when public health and market conditions improve.

Around the world, Goodyear has also implemented smart working and social distancing measures at its facilities to do its part as a global company to help slow the pandemic.

Goodyear continues to evaluate its production plans with respect to its North American operations and other operations around the world. The company continues to closely monitor and manage its inventory levels and supply of raw materials.

With the campaign, the company asks its Facebook followers across Europe to share their #highwayhero stories and recognize the ongoing efforts of frontline transportation workers for their dedication and outstanding performance under challenging conditions.

“The team at Goodyear is grateful for the health care workers who have been doing an extraordinary job for many weeks now on the front lines of the fight against this awful disease,” said Gregory Boucharlat, vice president of Goodyear’s commercial business unit in Europe. “Likewise, we are equally grateful for the truck drivers and the operations and maintenance teams that have continued working around the clock to supply our grocery stores, deliver critical medical supplies and handle the increased demands of online shopping while most of Europe stays home to flatten the curve. This campaign is a simple way to show our appreciation.”

For each #highwayhero recognition of a friend, colleague or close one for going the extra mile, Goodyear will donate 2 EUR for the first 5,000 recognitions to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for the World Health Organization (WHO).

This social media initiative is an extension of Goodyear’s Highway Hero award program in Germany and the US to support traffic safety. The program has been already successfully running in the US since 1983 and recognizes selfless everyday heroes that have saved lives or mitigated the consequences of accidents through their exemplary actions.

Combining a traction level to meet the severe snow 3PMSF requirement while also delivering rolling resistance performance as an A-class tire is a significant achievement. Enabling both premium traction and premium fuel efficiency – a benefit from rolling resistance performance – helps represent an example of Goodyear’s successful role in future mobility solutions.

The project represented great teamwork and cross-functional collaboration between Goodyear’s technology teams in Luxembourg and Germany, leveraging the most recent tread pattern developments conducted in the replacement all-season lines, as well as new rubber compounding formulations. The Goodyear teams have been working with vehicle manufacturers on this technological breakthrough, with fitments planned for later this year on vehicles such as the Peugeot 2008/3008/5008, DS3 Crossback and DS7 Crossback.

Several additional Goodyear fitments for other original equipment manufacturers will follow this year.

“This project is a great example of anticipating the needs of the customer, demonstrating our technical superiority, and converting advanced technology into customer benefits,” said Xavier Fraipont, Goodyear’s vice president of EMEA Product Development.

Note: In European Tire Labeling, there are three categories: Fuel Efficiency; Wet Grip and Tire External Rolling Noise. In the Fuel Efficiency category, seven classes exist, ranging from G (least efficient) to A (most efficient).