On the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the founding of the Silao factory, Pirelli will invest 114-million-euro investment - already envisaged in the 2021-2022 - 2025 industrial plan. 

The construction – planned for the two-year period 2022- 2023 – is aimed at further increasing high value production at the Mexican site. The investment confirms the strategic importance of the plant and will see an increase in production capacity of over one million pieces for a total of 8.5 million tyres by 2025 when fully operational (from 7.2 million at the end of 2022). With an expansion of the production area of 16,000 square meters to over 220,000 and further improvement of the mix, the investment will also create of 400 new jobs for a total of 3,200 employees when fully operational. 

The investment was announced during the visit by the governor of the Mexican state of Guanajuato, Diego Sinhue Rodríguez Vallejo, to the Silao factory for the celebration of its tenth anniversary. The ceremony also saw the participation of the Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of Pirelli, Marco Tronchetti Provera, via video message and was attended by the Ambassador of Italy to Mexico, Luigi De Chiara, the President and CEO of Pirelli North America, Claudio Zanardo and the CEO and General Manager of Pirelli Neumaticos SA Mexico, Paolo Benea.

“The Silao plant has made an important contribution to the success of Pirelli’s global strategy of becoming the leader in the High Value segment. When we chose Silao, and the Guanajuato region, as the location for a new plant 10 years ago, our expectations were very high. Today I am happy to say that we have achieved our goals and that the factory and the people who work there have exceeded our expectations. In fact, the Silao plant is one of the most technologically advanced in the Group and will soon host a new Pirelli R&D Centre. As we have for 10 years, we continue to strongly believe in Silao and its people”, said Marco Tronchetti Provera, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of Pirelli.

“Mexico is a strategic area for Pirelli for all its activities in North and Central America and with this investment we will further increase Pirelli’s technological and industrial competitiveness. I wish to thank all the people and the institutions, who over these years have contributed to the growth of the Silao factory”, said Claudio Zanardo, President and CEO of Pirelli North America.

“In Guanajuato we are very proud to have Pirelli in our state, and to celebrate its tenth anniversary of the Silao plant, as well as the 150th anniversary of its foundation worldwide.

The presence of Pirelli in Guanajuato, one of the most advanced companies in innovation and technology, supports our continued advancement from manufacturing to mindfacture.

Pirelli and Guanajuato, share values and a vision of the future, enabling us to build a success story together. Constant investments confirm the strategic importance of this plant and ratifies the confidence that Pirelli has in our state. We are thankful for this commitment which will strengthen our development and generate more jobs for Guanajuato families”, said Diego Sinhue Rodríguez Vallejo, the Governor of the Mexican state of Guanajuato.

Located within the Silao “Puerto Interior” industrial hub, in the state of Guanajuato, one of Mexico’s major logistics centers and key economic and technology hubs, Pirelli inaugurated the plant in 2012 to serve the local and North American markets.

In the last ten years, the Silao plant has grown at a remarkable speed, progressing from a capacity of around 1.5 million tyres and a staff of 300 people at the end of 2012 to a capacity of 7.2 million tyres at the end of 2022 and around 2,800 employees. Its production is focused on the High Value segment, producing High Performance and Ultra-High Performance tyres for passenger cars, electric vehicles, SUVs and Light Trucks.

The Mexican plant has always delivered the most innovative Pirelli solutions, like Cyber Tyre, PNCS (Pirelli Noise Cancelling System™), and RFID writing, aimed at tracking tyres to provide product information to the entyre logistics chain. Equipped with the group’s most advanced production processes, in recent years the Mexican factory has implemented the principles of Industry 4.0, in addition to a growing engagement with environmental care, adopting international standards that promote electricity and water savings, and ensure the recycling of waste from the plant.

The commitment announced today brings Pirelli’s investment in the Mexican plant since its foundation to more than 800 million euro and follows the announcement in May 2022 of the creation of the Italian company’s first Research and Development Center in Mexico, which is in addition to the 13 existing centers around the world. Innovation is in fact an essential element of Pirelli’s strategy and the company annually invests around 6% of its revenue from High Value products in R&D and has over 6,700 patents.

 “PIRELLI, THE CULTURE OF INNOVATION”, A BOOK CELEBRATING THE 10th ANNIVERSARY.

To celebrate a milestone as important as the tenth anniversary of its foundation, Pirelli Mexico has published a book entitled “Pirelli, the culture of innovation,” edited by Trilce Ediciones and realised also thanks to the contribution from Fondazione Pirelli and the material housed in the company’s Historical Archives: a way to commemorate the local legacy of a company that in January 2022 marked 150 years of activity with worldwide celebrations. The book retraces the development stages of the Silao plant, its rapid growth, deep roots in the territory and among local communities, and Pirelli’s contribution to the development of the Guanajuato Region.

The celebration of the tenth anniversary of the Silao plant takes on particular importance in a year when Pirelli is commemorating 150 years since its foundation in Milan, where on January 28, 1872, the 23-year-old Giovanni Battista Pirelli founded a rubber factory that would become one of the most innovative and technologically advanced companies in the world. Known for its production excellence and as a lifestyle brand, active in culture, sport and motorsport at the highest levels, Pirelli today has 18 production plants in 12 countries and a commercial reach in over 160 countries.

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French tyre major Michelin has inaugurated its first standalone Michelin Tyres & Services store in Kochi, Kerala. Launched in partnership with Global Tyres, this further adds to the company’s aggressive expansion plans for India.

The new facility spread across 5,500 sqft provides a comprehensive range of tyre-related services under one roof, including tyre sales, professional fitment, wheel balancing, alignment, nitrogen inflation and alloy wheel upgrades.

The store was inaugurated by Prashant Sharma, National Sales Manager at Michelin India, along with the team from Global Tyres.

Shantanu Deshpande, Managing Director, Michelin India, said, “Kochi is an important and fast-evolving mobility market. The launch of our first standalone Michelin Tyres & Services store in the city underscores our commitment to bringing world-class products and services closer to customers. Together with our experienced partner Global Tyres, we aim to deliver a premium experience that matches the expectations of Kochi’s growing base of automotive enthusiasts and discerning drivers.”

The tyre maker stated that Kochi is experiencing a steady rise in personal mobility and premium vehicle ownership.

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Giti Tire Co., a leading Chinese tyre manufacturer, reported a sharp 48.9 percent fall in first-quarter net profit, citing surging raw material costs that outpaced revenue gains.

Net profit attributable to shareholders slid to 23.7 million yuan in the three months to 31 March, down from 46.3 million yuan a year earlier.

“The decrease in net profit was mainly due to the year-on-year increase in raw material prices,” the company said.

Despite the profit decline, Giti’s operating revenue rose 4.8 percent to 1.13 billion yuan, supported by stronger sales volumes. Net cash generated from operating activities rebounded to 35.7 million yuan, compared with an outflow of 45.9 million yuan a year earlier, as receipts from customers increased.

Operating costs jumped to 1.06 billion yuan, with raw material and production expenses comprising the bulk of the rise. Meanwhile, the company’s total assets grew 3.6 percent to 4.5 billion yuan by the end of the quarter.

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Chinese tyre manufacturer Aeolus Tyres opened a new warehouse facility recently in Manila and launched its latest light truck tyre series at an event attended by more than 150 industry stakeholders from across the Philippines.

The warehouse, situated on Luzon Island, marks a significant expansion of Aeolus Tyres’ distribution network in the northern Philippines, aimed at strengthening dealer relationships and enhancing service delivery times across the region.

The company simultaneously unveiled its new light truck tyre range, which features enhanced load-bearing capacity and extended durability. The products have been developed specifically for the Philippine logistics sector, where demanding road conditions and heavy cargo requirements pose particular challenges for commercial vehicle operators.

Fleet operators and industrial partners gathered at the Manila launch event, which also saw the presentation of parent company Prometeon Tyre Group’s localisation strategy for the Philippine market.

The strategy focuses on adapting product specifications to match the country’s diverse terrain and operational requirements, providing more targeted solutions for local customers.

Aeolus Tyres’ warehouse expansion comes as the company seeks to capitalise on growing demand in the Philippine commercial vehicle market, where logistics companies are increasingly seeking reliable tyre solutions that can withstand the archipelago’s challenging road infrastructure.

The new facility is expected to reduce delivery times and improve inventory management for dealers across northern Luzon, one of the Philippines’ key economic regions.

The light truck tyre series launch marks Aeolus Tyres’ latest effort to gain market share in Southeast Asia’s commercial vehicle segment, where competition among international tyre manufacturers has intensified in recent years.

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Continental is positioning itself as a key player in the sustainable transformation of commercial vehicle fleets in Europe through its Conti Eco and Conti Efficient Pro tyre lines. With the EU’s stringent CO₂ reduction targets for heavy-duty vehicles (a 45 percent cut by 2030 compared to 2019 levels), the company emphasises how tyre technology directly impacts fleet electrification and emissions reduction.

The development of these tyre lines is centred on increasing fuel and energy economy, particularly for regional and long-distance transportation. Continental tyres assist business fleets reduce their environmental impact by lowering rolling resistance while maintaining high mileage. The Conti Hybrid tyre is ideal for urban and regional operations with frequent stop-and-go traffic because of its increased resilience, enabling a long service life even under difficult conditions.

Continental prioritises collaboration with fleet operators and manufacturers to develop tyre solutions that meet changing industry expectations. According to Hinnerk Kaiser, Head of Product Development EMEA at Continental, the company's existing portfolio is already well-suited for electric mobility, but it will continue to evolve to assist the larger transition to zero-emission transportation. The emphasis remains on maximising rolling resistance, load capacity and longevity to ensure that tyres make a substantial contribution to sustainable fleet management.

Energy efficiency is still quite important as fuel combustion accounts for 90 percent of the CO₂ emissions of a diesel vehicle and even electric trucks see 75 percent of their emissions connected to the generation of power. By minimising rolling resistance, Continental’s tyres contribute directly to lowering energy consumption and overall fleet emissions, supporting both sustainability and cost efficiency.

Electric commercial vehicles, which are around 30 percent heavier than diesel trucks due to battery weight, necessitate tyres with greater load capability. The Conti Eco HS 5 and Conti Efficient Pro HS 5 lines meet this need with a higher load index, allowing fleet operators to retain payload capacity without sacrificing performance. Markus Erdmann of Designwerk Technologies, a Continental partner in electric mobility, observes that current battery-electric vehicles with around 500 kWh capacity now have low payload drawbacks, due in part to enhanced tyre engineering.

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