Pirelli & Cie SpA has announced it will invest around $1.2 billion in its Rome, Ga., plant.

The investment is intended to support Pirelli's growth in the "high-value segment in the United States, the world's largest market for this segment, accounting for approximately 40% of global volumes," say Pirelli officials.

"The project will strengthen the company's local-for-local strategy, enhance supply chain resilience and meet the growing demand for technologically advanced 'Made in the U.S.A.' products.

"Furthermore, the investment reinforces Pirelli’s long-term commitment to the country, where the company has operated in the State of Georgia since 2002 and established strong relationships with government institutions,
local authorities and universities."

The expansion plan will kick off in 2027, will span several years and will increase the plant's production capacity, including the manufacturing of Pirelli's CyberTyre, to six million passenger tires by the year 2030. 

The investment will include two phases, according to Pirelli officials.

"The first phase will involve a gradual increase in robotized production based on the latest evolution of MIRS (Modular Integrated Robotized System), a proprietary Pirelli technology, with production capacity progressively increasing from 2028 and ultimately reaching three million tyres per year.

"This will be achieved through autonomous modular robotic systems capable of manufacturing technologically advanced high-value tires.

"In addition, a fully automated conventional production facility will be built using the most advanced manufacturing processes and dedicated to premium products, with an additional production capacity at completion of three million tires per year at full operation."

The project's timeline "is consistent with the industrial requirements of the high-value segment, which requires highly specialized manufacturing processes, small-batch management of a broad product mix and integration of Pirelli’s proprietary technologies."

Pirelli's other plant in the Western Hemisphere is located in Mexico. The facility, which opened in 2018, can build up to 26,000 passenger tires per day when running at full throttle, according to MTD's 2026 Facts Issue.

MTD estimates that the Rome, Ga., plant can currently make up to 1,200 passenger tires per day at maximum capacity.