Nokian Is Adding Capacity for Passenger Tires

June 18, 2018

Nokian Tyres plc is increasing production capacity for passenger car tires at its factory in Nokia, Finland, by approximately 30%. The tire maker will hire 80 new employees and run nine additional shifts each week.

The plant currently operates with three shifts five days a week. By the start of 2019 Nokian says it will run four shifts six days a week at the plant.

"Our growth strategy requires increasing production," says Hille Korhonen, CEO and president of Nokian. "Nokian Tyres has experienced strong growth, and our goal is to continue on this path by doubling our North American business and growing our business in Central Europe by 50% over the next five years. At the same time, we want to ensure our continuous market leadership in the Nordic countries and Russia."

Nokian did not state how much of a financial investment it's making in the plant to increase production.

The Nokia site has already undergone expansion for the company's commercial tire business. In December 2017 Nokian announced it was increasing production for its Heavy Tyres unit at the Nokia plant. That capacity increase was expected to grow from approximately 20 million kg (about 44 million pounds) to 32 million kg (about 70.5 million pounds.)

The company also is in the midst of constructing its first plant in the U.S. The Dayton, Tenn. plant will have the capacity to build 4 million tires a year, and will focus on passenger car, SUV and light truck tires. The first tires in the U.S. are expected to roll off the assembly line by 2020, and total capacity should be reached by 2022.