Despite efforts by Akron officials and local union leaders to persuade Goodyear to build its plant where the company was founded, Goodyear said in the letter that a review of logistics, labor costs and access to a deep-sea port led to the decision.
The company announced plans in May for the state-of-the-art factory, which will make about 6 million tires annually.
Goodyear says it expects to make a final decision on the factory’s location in early 2015.