Frank Seiberling started Goodyear in 1898 in Akron, Ohio. The company
is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol of GT. It
has a very identifiable trademarkâ€"the winged foot. The company's first
products consisted of bicycle and carriage tires, horseshoe pads and poker
chips. (Goodyear, 2003) Currently, Goodyear has manufacturing plants in 28
countries; it has distribution services for all its products all over the
world. The Goodyear tire brand is very well recognized in all the markets
that it serves. The company sells tires under many brand names such as
Dunlop, Kelly, Fulda, Lee, Sava and Debica and has been able to tailor
their products to the markets, geographical conditions and the driving
The company states its mission and goal as "Protect Our Good Name," in
which the company states that it values the good name and reputation that
the company has enjoyed since its inception. The company also states that
it values its customers, associates and shareholders giving importance to
all the company's stakeholders. The corporate web page of Goodyear states
that the company is the "number 1 tire maker in North America and Latin
America and the second largest in Europe." (Porter, 1996) Goodyear, by
identifying its core competency early on, has been able to maintain its
market position and market share. Having tacit knowledge and expert
understanding of the variables affecting the tire industry has helped
Goodyear plan accordingly. The company's ability to use all resources
effectively has determined its current position in the market place.
SWOT analysis of Goodyear Tire Company:
Strengths: The company is very well respected in the tire industry.
Globally, there are seven major tire manufacturers. These are, Michelin
(19.6%), Bridgesto...