Nokian officially opens Russian plant

Vsevolozhsk, Russia --Nokian Tyres is today marking the official opening of its tyre plant in Vsevolozhsk. The plant produced its first tyres in June 2005. The ceremony is being attended by Finnish and Russian high-ranking authorities, partners in the construction project, customers, media representatives and the company's own personnel.

In a statement, Nokian said, "The new ultra-modern plant is one of Nokian Tyres' two main production facilities in which the company will invest some EUR 150 million in 2004-2007. Investments in 2005 will total approximately EUR 55 million. The company plans to manufacture some 1.9 million Nokian-branded passenger car tyres at its new plant in 2006. Two years later, production volumes are expected to be around 4 million tyres. Tyres manufactured in Russia will be sold both locally and in the company's other major markets."

it continued, "The plant turned out its first Nokian Hakkapeliitta 4 winter tyres in June, and this year's production volumes are expected to amount to more than 200,000 tyres. The Russian plant has approximately 120 employees, most of them Russians. The factory has been operating in three shifts as of September. Additional recruiting and personnel training programs are in progress."