Goodyear held its groundbreaking ceremony on Nov 2 for the Phase 5 expansion of its Pulandian plant in Dalian, announcing plans to invest an additional $485 million to add 56,700 square meters to its existing premises.The new investment will bring Goodyear's total investment in the plant to $1.6 billion and provide the company with about 5 million additional tires for the Chinese market and Asia Pacific when the expansion is completed in 2020.

Executives of the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company and guests lay the foundation for the plant expansion, in Dalian, Liaoning province, Nov 2, 2016. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The ceremony was graced by Lu Lin, Deputy Mayor of Dalian, who was joined by Richard J. Kramer, chairman, CEO and president of the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. The ceremony was also attended by Chris Delaney, president of Asia Pacific Region and Iain McDaniels, Managing Director of China, both from The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company.

"The completion of the Pulandian plant in 2011 and Phase 5 of the expansion project today speaks to our long-term strategy of sustainable growth for the region. Our investment in this project will focus on increasing our production of premium large rim diameter tires that are growing at rates above the total industry where we can capture the value of our brand and help our customers grow," said Kramer "The city of Dalian has been supportive of our developments here, and we look forward to continuing this fruitful partnership."

Richard J. Kramer, chairman, CEO and president of the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, gives a speech at the groundbreaking ceremony in Dalian, Liaoning province, Nov 2, 2016. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

"The expansion of the project is a great event in Dalian's economic and social development, and it will help drive and accelerate the upgrading of industry structure in Pulandian district. Over the past 20 years, Goodyear and Dalian have established a very solid partnership based on mutual trust and benefit, which has become a role model in cooperation between Dalian and renowned multinational companies," said Lu Lin, deputy mayor of Dalian.

Goodyear was the first global tire manufacturer to enter China when it invested in a plant in Dalian in 1994. The new Pulandian factory – 780,000 square meters in size – was completed in 2011 and began operations the following year. Goodyear built the plant with the aim of being one of the leading green tire manufacturers in the world. The plant was selected by the Dalian municipality as one of the future manufacturing investment demonstration programs.

"Goodyear's latest investment in Phase 5 of the Pulandian plant strengthens our presence in China. As one of our most important and key growth markets, our global brand and innovative product portfolio in China will give us a competitive edge when Phase 5 of the plant is fully operational," said Chris Delaney, president of Asia Pacific Region, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company.

Throughout its manufacturing supply chain, from the selection of raw materials through to production and the final stringent checks, Goodyear has continued to champion the highest quality standards in its products. Every Goodyear tire is produced with the highest quality, giving drivers peace of mind, knowing that Goodyear tires are reliable and safe.

Renowned for its uncompromising quality, Goodyear China Pulandian plant is also noted for being one of the tire industry's most environmentally conscious factories in the world. As a Zero-Waste to-Landfill factory, the plant reuses and recycles the waste produced during the manufacturing process, thus minimizing the impact on the environment."

The plant in Pulandian also houses the Goodyear Development Center in China – its sole research and development center in Asia Pacific. Since its opening in March 2015, the center's R&D capabilities have enabled Goodyear to produce high-quality premium tires products demanded by mainstream auto manufacturers.

With the expansion of the Goodyear China Pulandian plant, the company continues to excel in tire standards in China. The investment is expected to enable Goodyear to leverage its R&D capabilities and cutting edge innovations, setting new performance and technology benchmarks for the tire industry.