Goodyear turns to shared mobility with fleet maintenance pilot

With on-demand car-sharing and ride-hailing services on the rise, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company is introducing its fleet services business model to shared mobility providers to improve urban fleet operations.

Focused on improving fleet operations for on-demand ride services, Goodyear announced the future launch of an advanced tyre maintenance pilot program with STRATIM, a San Francisco-based start-up whose technology platform tracks, monitors and oversees fleet maintenance for tens of thousands of vehicles. In more than 25 markets across North America these cars are operated by over 50 mobility services.

“As shared mobility continues to grow in popularity, we are seeing applications where miles driven per vehicle increase from 15,000 per year to as much as 5,000 per month,” said Chris Helsel, Goodyear’s Chief Technology Officer. “Those increased miles mean increased demand for tyre maintenance and repair, especially when you consider customer expectations for comfort and safety from a mobility service.”

The new program will use Goodyear’s artificial intelligence technology to help STRATIM’s clients predict when their tyres need service or replacement, improving overall tyre management and maximising uptime across the fleet.

“Vehicle maintenance and uptime are critical metrics for all mobility services,” said Sean Behr, CEO of STRATIM. “Companies that can efficiently take care of their cars, minimise costs and be hyper-efficient will be the companies that win in the long run. Goodyear’s tyre maintenance solutions are game changers for the industry.”

Goodyear sees mobile fleet solutions for passenger vehicles as an emerging market, allowing it to continue serving its traditional customers through the nation’s largest network of tyre and service locations while also looking to what’s next in mobility.

“Our predictive analytics and fleet solutions are great innovations for new mobility providers,” said Helsel. “As these services develop, and as shared mobility and autonomous vehicles get more trial and adoption, Goodyear will continue to innovate with the industry.”