Nokian Tyres plc will be making tires round-the-clock, seven days a week, at its plant in Dayton, Tenn, in response to rising demand. The company plans to build "as many as one million tires" at the facility this year.
"Once the facility reaches full capacity in the coming years, it will make up to four million tires annually and employ as many as 400 workers," say Nokian officials. (Approximately 300 people now work at the plant, which began production in January 2020.)
Nokian implemented its third production shift at the plant during the week of May 17 and will add a fourth shift in July.
“The demand for our premium tires is rising also in North America, and we are proud to offer products that are tailored to fit the needs of drivers in the region," says Nokian President and CEO Jukka Moisio.
"We are advancing with our growth plans and offer a versatile range of tires for demanding conditions. Last year, we launched a record number of new products globally and we will reach a new record in 2021."
The Dayton plant makes Nokian brand all-season and all-weather tires, including the new Nokian One, which was launched this past January.
The facility's expansion "follows a quarter in which Nokian Tyres set a record for sales volume, increasing year-over-year net sales by 28.5% globally compared to 2020 and 27.5% in North America, with comparable currencies," according to Nokian officials.
Nokian also is boosting capacity at its Finland plant by 30%. The company's plant Russia is operating at full capacity.
