BRUSSELS, May 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- An icon is back
in the European skies today, as, for the first time in nearly a
decade, the legendary Goodyear Blimp takes flight over Europe. The return of the Goodyear Blimp is
the latest in a series of investments in Goodyear's business in
Europe. This has included an
award-winning refresh of the European product portfolio over the
last 18 months, a realignment of our distribution network to grow
with a dedicated set of partners, the launch of e-commerce options
in select European markets, a new media partnership with Eurosport
and a return to the international motorsport racing scene.
"The Goodyear Blimp is a true icon that has captured the
imaginations of consumers and enthusiasts in the United States and across the world for
nearly one hundred years," said Mike Rytokoski, vice president and
chief marketing officer, Goodyear Europe. "Its return to
Europe has been long-awaited and
is the perfect way to celebrate our return to international
motorsport, our new media partnership with Eurosport and the
cutting-edge additions to our product portfolio."
The Goodyear Blimp operating in Europe will be a Goodyear-branded, Zeppelin NT
airship, operated by Deutsche Zeppelin-Reederei GmbH of
Friedrichshafen, Germany. This
marks the latest chapter in an almost 100-year relationship between
Goodyear and Zeppelin.
The semi-rigid Zeppelin NT airship measures over 75m in length – nearly three quarters the length
of a soccer field – and almost 18m in
height. It is the same model airship as the three Goodyear Blimps
operated by Goodyear in the United
States. It will act as a stunning brand ambassador for
Goodyear as it soars over Europe,
providing unique aerial coverage of key racing events and operating
commercial (passenger) flights across Germany and the region.
"Zeppelin is proud to be furthering and expanding our
long-standing collaboration with Goodyear," said Eckhard Breuer, CEO of Deutsche
Zeppelin-Reederei GmbH. "We look forward to adding Europe to our area of cooperation, giving our
relationship a new, international dimension."
More commonly seen flying in the
United States, the Goodyear Blimp is a European icon in its
own right. It first arrived in Europe in March
1972, making its maiden flight in June that year in
Cardington, England. Christened 'Europa,' the famous
airship took to the skies over Europe over the subsequent 14 years, visiting
Italy, France, Belgium, Scotland and the
Netherlands and appearing at a number of prominent sporting
and cultural events, including the 1985 German Grand Prix at the
Nürburgring, the 1986 French Open at Rolland Garros and even two
British royal weddings, before being retired in 1986.
The Goodyear Blimp returned to tour Europe in subsequent years; however, today's
test flight from Friedrichshafen, Germany is the first time the Goodyear Blimp
has flown in Europe since
2012.
The Goodyear Blimp will fly in the Friedrichshafen, Germany area and more widely around
Germany over the coming weeks and
is ultimately planned to provide aerial coverage of some of the
major remaining European races of the 2020 motorsports
calendar.
The Goodyear Blimp in the skies will add a further, significant
boost to Goodyear's international racing comeback. The company has
already been appointed official tire supplier to the LMP2 class of
the World Endurance Championship (WEC), the European Le Mans
Series, British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) and, via a new
media partnership with leading European sporting broadcaster,
Eurosport, the FIA World Touring Car Cup (WTCR) and Pure ETCR, the
first all-electric multi-brand touring car series.
About The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
Goodyear (NASDAQ: GT) is one of the world's largest tire
companies. It employs about 63,000 people and manufactures its
products in 46 facilities in 21 countries around the world. Its two
Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio,
and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg,
strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set
the technology and performance standard for the industry. For more
information about Goodyear and its products, go to
www.goodyear.com/corporate.
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SOURCE The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company