Nexen set to begin trial production at Czech plant

Zatec, Czech Republic – Nexen tire Europe is awaiting permission from “appropriate authorities” to start trial production at its greenfield manufacturing plant in the Czech Republic.

Currently, the focus is on completing the finishing touches at the Zatec plant, external communications official Ivan Dzido said in a 4 April update to ERJ.

Nexen broke ground on the €829-million project in the north east of the Czech Republic in October 2015.

Start-up of the first phase of the factory, producing roughly 15,000 units a day, was originally scheduled for 2018.

In his correspondence, Dzido declined to comment on the reasons behind the delay.

Nexen plans to gradually increase the production capacity of the facility to over 12 million units a year.

Zatec is Nexen’s second manufacturing facility outside Korea, after the one in Qingdao, China.

“It will be one of the most modern tire manufacturing plants not only in the Czech Republic and Europe, but also in the world,” the spokesman stated.

The plant, according to Nexen, will meet the growing demands of the European market, and ensure a stable supply of OE tires for global car manufacturers.