Pirelli Tire North America Inc. has surpassed the five million mark in production at its plant in Silao, Guanajuato, Mexico. Pirelli says it achieved the production figure ahead of schedule.
"We were able to produce five million tires in record time, thanks to the work of our team, which reflects the quality and commitment not only to Pirelli, but also with Mexico," says Thomas Grávalos, CEO and managing director of Pirelli Mexico. "We thank all partners and local suppliers who have made this great achievement a reality for the rubber industry."
The factory was inaugurated on May 31, 2012, and reached its first million tires about a year later — on June 18, 2013.
To celebrate the achievement, the Governor of Guanajuato, Miguel Marquez Marquez, and the Secretary of Economic Development of Guanajuato, Guillermo Romero Pacheco, joined Grávalos and other Pirelli executives and staff of this plant. Pirelli says the Silao plant is among the most modern in its group.
The Governor of Guanajuato, Miguel Marquez Marquez said: "Guanajuato has become a magnet for investment in the automotive industry with the participation of companies such as Pirelli, where we are demonstrating that we can ensure rapid growth in the automotive business in Mexico and Latin America."
The Silao Pirelli plant is the first in Mexico and No. 22 in the world, the company says. It's part of Pirelli’s "Local for Local" strategy for North America, and tires produced in Silao are destined for the U.S., Canada and the growing Mexico market.
Pirelli says "the vast majority" of the tires produced in Silao are sold in the NAFTA region. Plant production focuses on premium, high performance and ultra-high performance tires for cars and trucks. The factory covers an area of 140,000 square meters and its annual production capacity is projected to be 5 to 6 million tires by the end of 2017.
Pirelli's total investment until 2017 will amount to over 400 million. The new facilities are equipped with the latest technology and production processes of the Pirelli group, including the "Green Performance" project.
The jobs that are being created as a result will be more than 1,400 direct jobs and 400 indirect by late 2017.
The commitment of Pirelli to the Silao community includes its sponsorship of the Inter Campus football program for children in the region, in collaboration with the FC Internazionale Italian soccer team, and the Piero Pirelli Institute which will be in operation in 2015. This aims to train technicians from Pirelli and other automotive industries, giving them the opportunity to have a successful career in the manufacturing sector.
