Construction will begin on Nokian Tyres plc's St. Petersburg, Russia, plant on June 23.
Ground was broken for the facility in early May.
The first phase of construction should be completed by next year, according to Nokian officials.
Investments in the project this year and in 2005 will total 52 million euros.
Production will start in 2005, "and the objective is to manufacture approximately 1.5 million (passenger) tires in 2006."
Nokian wants to ramp up capacity to eight million tires annually within the next 10 years.
"Most of the plant machinery will be new and as automated as possible."
Tires built at the factory will primarily be sold in Russia.
Training for plant personnel begins this fall.
