Nokian Tyres plc rolled out a number of new products and set production records at its Dayton, Tenn., plant this past year. The facility enjoyed its "best year on record" in 2022, say Nokian officials.
The plant "set production records on a frequent basis. Thriving domestic production offers a buffer against global uncertainty, especially when it comes to some of the company's most popular products in North America."
Nokian's Dayton plant builds all-season and all-weather tires for the domestic market, according to Tommi Heinonen, Nokian's vice president of sales, who adds that the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine is not impacting the U.S. facility "at all."
This past fall, Nokian announced it would exit tire manufacturing in Russia, where it had manufactured 80% of its products.
Nokian plans to expand production of its Nokian Tyres One and Nokian Tyres WR G4 products, which are made at the Dayton facility.
And for the first time, the company also will manufacture "select" light truck tires at the plant, which opened in 2019.
This past year saw Nokian launch several new products, including the Hakkapeliitta R5, which Heinonen says "is flying off the shelves," and the company's Outpost line of all-terrain tires.
"Those products have been a great success story," says Heinonen, who credits the company's dealers for driving its North American success.
