Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. is expanding and updating its tire factory in Napanee, Ontario, to build tires for both electric vehicles (EVs) and the all-terrain market.
Goodyear is investing more than $418 million ($575 million CAD) in both construction and new equipment, and says it will add 200 manufacturing jobs to the site, which will boost the plant’s total workforce to more than 1,000 employees.
Construction began earlier this year, and Goodyear said it expects to complete the work by the middle of 2027.
“The installation of new, state-of-the-art equipment and technology will enable the Napanee plant to become a leading producer, delivering products that meet the future needs of a growing and shifting global market,” the tiremaker said.
“Today’s announcement reinforces our long-term commitment to Canada and enhances our agility and flexibility, positioning Goodyear to meet the evolving needs of our customers now and in the future,” said Mark Stewart, CEO and President. “We are appreciative to the federal, provincial and local governments for their support and to our Napanee associates for their dedication to building the next generation of tires.”
The project includes partnerships and funding from both national and local municipalities. The Government of Canada will invest $44.3 million CAD from its Strategic Innovation Fund, while the Government of Ontario will add $20 million CAD via Invest Ontario to support technology and skills training. The local town and town, township and county governments will chip in $2 million CAD over four years through an Industrial Community Improvement Plan.
Goodyear said the site, which is already labeled as a net-zero waste to landfill site, will utilize environmental solutions to increase its energy efficiency and further reduce its carbon emissions.
Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, said, “Companies from across the world are choosing Canada. Today’s announcement that Goodyear is modernizing its Napanee plant will create manufacturing jobs, grow our EV industry and use modern technology to keep our air clean. It’s another vote of confidence in Canada’s auto sector workers.”
Doug Ford, the premier of Ontario, noted Goodyear is adding a “significant boost” to the province's “growing electric vehicle sector, building on the $43 billion that have been invested in the sector over the past four years.”