Pirelli launches motorcycle tire production in Argentina

Merlo, Argentina – Pirelli C. & SpA has started the production of motorcycle tires at its facility in Merlo, central Argentina, to become the first local manufacturer of this segment in the country.

In a ceremony to celebrate 111 years of presence in Argentina, the tire maker said it is investing a total of ARS1 billion (€8.6 million) in its production facility in Merlo this year, of which about half goes to the manufacture of motorcycle tires.

The expansion project is in line with Pirelli’s industrial plan unveiled earlier this year and will see the Merlo site producing 450,000 motorcycle tires per year.

According to Pirelli, demand for motorcycle tires in Argentina stands at 1.2 million units per year and the Italian company intends to capture 80% of that market in the future. 

Pirelli said its investments at the Merlo site over the past 12 months had created 300 jobs, of which 70 were directly linked to the motorcycle production lines.

In total, the facility employs 1,400 people, Pirelli added.

Pirelli Argentina was born 111 years ago on the occasion of the 1910 Buenos Aires Exhibition and initially operated in the marketing of rubber items produced in Milan.

The company started production of tires at the Merlo plant in 1951. 

According to ERJ's 2020 Global Tire Report, Pirelli currently manufactures 4 million units of passenger car and light truck tires at the facility.