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