Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co /Oh/ (NASDAQ: GT)

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (GT), a leading manufacturer in the tire industry, operates in most regions of the world. Established in 1898 and headquartered in Akron, Ohio, Goodyear's primary business activities encompass the development, manufacture, distribution, and sale of tires for various applications, including automobiles, trucks, buses, aircraft, motorcycles, and earthmoving, mining, and industrial equipment. Additionally, the company produces and sells rubber-related chemicals and operates commercial truck service and tire retreading centers.

Goodyear generates revenue through the sale of its products, including tires, chemicals, and other related products and services. The company's primary products include Goodyear, Cooper, Dunlop, Kelly, Mastercraft, Roadmaster, Debica, Sava, Fulda, Mickey Thompson, Avon, and Remington brand tires, as well as various private-label brands. Goodyear's products are sold to vehicle manufacturers for mounting as original equipment (OE) and for replacement worldwide. The company operates through three main segments: Americas, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), and Asia Pacific, with each segment responsible for developing, manufacturing, distributing, and selling tires and related products and services in its respective region.

The Americas segment, Goodyear's largest, accounts for approximately 55% of the company's total revenue. This segment develops, manufactures, distributes, and sells tires for various applications in North, Central, and South America, as well as sells tires to various export markets. The Americas segment manufactures tires in eight plants in the United States, two plants in Canada, and six plants in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru.

EMEA, Goodyear's second-largest segment, accounts for approximately 25% of the company's total revenue. This segment develops, manufactures, distributes, and sells tires for various applications in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. EMEA manufactures tires in fifteen plants in France, Germany, Luxembourg, Poland, Serbia, Slovenia, South Africa, and Turkey.

Asia Pacific, Goodyear's smallest segment, accounts for approximately 20% of the company's total revenue. This segment develops, manufactures, distributes, and sells tires for various applications in Asia Pacific. Asia Pacific manufactures tires in nine plants in China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, and Thailand.

Goodyear competes with other major tire manufacturers, including Bridgestone, Michelin, Continental, Hankook, Kumho, Nexen, Pirelli, Sumitomo, Toyo, Yokohama, and various regional and local tire producers. The company's primary competitors in the Americas are Bridgestone and Michelin, while in EMEA, the main competitors are Michelin, Bridgestone, Continental, and Pirelli. Goodyear holds a significant market share in the global tire market, approximately 15%, with a higher market share in the Americas and a lower market share in Asia Pacific.

The company's competitive advantages include its strong brand recognition, global distribution network, and diversified product portfolio. Goodyear's brand recognition is particularly high in the Americas, with a long history of producing high-quality tires. The company's global distribution network allows it to supply tires to vehicle manufacturers and consumers worldwide. Goodyear's diversified product portfolio includes tires for various applications, including passenger cars, trucks, buses, aircraft, motorcycles, and earthmoving, mining, and industrial equipment.

Goodyear's customer base includes vehicle manufacturers, fleet operators, and individual consumers. The company's primary customers are vehicle manufacturers, such as General Motors, Ford, and Toyota, which use Goodyear tires as original equipment on their vehicles. Goodyear also sells tires to fleet operators, such as trucking companies and bus operators, and to individual consumers through its retail network.