As many consumers in emerging markets become wealthier, they are demanding more and more automobiles. Goodyear stands to profit enormously from this trend by providing tires for these new markets. Due to management's decision early in the decade to aggressively pursue growth in developing economies, net sales for emerging markets increased 15% in 2007.
The sale of Goodyear's Engineered Products segment will provide $1.5 billion in cash. That along with Goodyear's cost saving initiiatives could greatly reduce the pressure of the company's large debt.