Pirelli taking legal action over Russia allegations

Milan – Pirelli has strongly rejected allegations made by Grizzly Research about its Russian operations, insisting that a 'note' from the US investment research firm “does not reflect the truth.”

In a 4 June statement, Pirelli said it "reaffirms, among other things, that it does not produce tires for military use, as is already known and was communicated long ago to the relevant Italian authorities.”

To protect its shareholders and the company’s good name, Pirelli said it has now engaged a legal firm to “take action in all jurisdictions against those who have spread this false information.”

Pirelli’s Russian plants, at Kirov and Voronezh, have respective annual capacities to produce 6 million and 2.3 million passenger car & light truck tires, ERJ's Global Tire Report shows.

Pirelli and Yokohama Rubber Co. have been the only major, foreign tire makers to maintain operations in Russia since 2023.

There was no legal requirement on either company to withdraw from Russia, following the Kremlin's launch of war on Ukraine in early 2022.