Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer & Interim President of EMEA Business Unit, Goodyear Tire Rubber
Search every verified Christina Zamarro interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. In a September 2023 interview, Christina Zamarro, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Goodyear, discussed the impact of electric vehicles on the tire industry. She stated that EVs present unique engineering challenges because they can weigh 30 to 40 percent more than internal combustion engine vehicles and have higher torque, which increases stress on tires. Zamarro said Goodyear is developing tires with ultra-low rolling resistance technology to bear the weight and extend battery life, and noted that EV tires can wear out twice as fast as standard tires, though specialized design can reduce that wear by half. Zamarro described the replacement tire business as generally defensive during recessions, with demand dropping only two to three percent. She pointed to a four percent year-over-year increase in U.S. vehicle miles traveled as a positive indicator. On leadership, she advised being decisive and communicating decisions quickly, and encouraged thinking boldly, noting that many executives she has known regretted not taking bold moves earlier in their careers. She also observed that higher interest rates are shifting capital allocation toward debt repayment, and that global labor inflation is driving investment in automation rather than relocating manufacturing to lower-wage regions.
“The electrification of the car park presents a lot of unique challenges for tire manufacturers because these vehicles can weigh as much as 30 to 40 percent more than internal combustion engine vehicles and have significantly more torque, which increases pressure and stress on the tire.”
“We are able to construct new tires that bear the weight and lengthen the battery life of the vehicle through ultra low rolling resistance technology, which creates a mix-up and margin enhancement in our business with our original equipment customers.”
“Electric vehicle tires can wear out as much as two times faster than tires for internal combustion engine vehicles, but with special engineering and fit-for-purpose design, we can shorten that wear by half.”
“Vehicle miles traveled in the U.S. are up year-over-year by four percentage points, indicating strong demand for travel that is in line with pre-COVID levels, which supports our business despite economic headwinds.”
In this episode of the Distinguished Speaker Series, Christina Zamarro (EVP and CFO, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company) and ...
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