Nokian Tyres’ US factory produces first test tyre

The Dayton Factory will serve as a catalyst for Nokian Tyres’ growth strategy in North America; the company aims to double sales in the region by 2023.

“The first tyre milestone is significant for our production team, our employees throughout North America and our team around the globe,” said Nokian Tyres Senior Vice President Mark Earl, who oversees the company’s North American operations. “We’re happy to share this news with our customers, who will benefit from the expanded product range and enhanced service the factory will enable us to offer.”

Between now and the end of the year, Nokian Tyres will produce thousands more tyres for testing and machine calibration purposes. Annual capacity at the factory will be 4 million tyres in 2023, with further expansion potential.

The facility, an investment of $360m, will allow the company to make premium products tailored to the needs of North American consumers, expand its customer base, and strengthen its relationships with existing customers.

Now that trial production is underway, Nokian Tyres will soon turn its attention to growing its team at the factory. The company currently employs approximately 70 team members. The company will employ approximately 400 people at the factory once capacity reaches 4 million tyres.

The factory's production team recently returned home from an intensive six-week training experience at Nokian Tyres’ other factories in Russia and Finland. The training trip immersed employees in the company’s production processes and introduced them to its life-driven culture.

“We aren’t just focused on building premium products; we also want to offer a premium experience for members of our team,” Dayton Factory Operations Director Peter Chia said. “Simply put: We want to be the employer of choice in Southeast Tennessee.”