Once again Goodyear has been named America's most respected automotive company.

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has - for the second year in a row - been recognized as America's most respected automotive company by the Reputation Institute (RI) and Forbes magazine.

The list, which was released on www.forbes.com, is based on the results RI's Global Pulse consumer opinion survey, which measures the overall respect, trust, esteem, admiration and good feelings consumers hold toward the world's largest companies.

Scores are based on RI's seven dimensions of reputation: products/services, innovation, workplace, citizenship, governance, leadership and performance. RI said the 2009 survey indicates that consumers are most influenced by a company's high-quality products and services.

"This recognition is particularly meaningful as it is based on surveys with the general public - the consumers who buy our tyres and put their trust in Goodyear every day," said Richard J. Kramer, president of Goodyear's North American Tire business. "Our strategies are clearly working."

In addition to being ranked highest among automotive companies, Goodyear ranked No. 32 overall and is only tyre company rated in the top 150.

Goodyear is one of the world's largest tyre companies. It employs approximately 75 000 people and manufactures its products in more than 60 facilities in 25 countries around the world. It has marketing operations in almost every country worldwide.

Goodyear is North America's largest tyre company. It employs about 30 000 people in North America and manufactures its products in more than 20 facilities. 

In South Africa Goodyear represents versatile operations which include a manufacturing facility in the Eastern Cape town of Uitenhage and a wide footprint of well established distribution channels, not only in South Africa, but also in sub-Saharan Africa.

In South Africa Goodyear was announced the winner of the Innovation Award at the country's first Automechanika automotive trade fair in March this year. The winning product is the new Max Technology that delivers tangible cost savings and improved efficiencies for truck owners.

According to the judging panel, the product redefines benchmarks for the Southern African aftermarket sector in which it operates. "The technology constitutes a quantum leap in tyre safety and performance and carries with it substantial environmental benefits."