Expertise in Nordic Conditions

Nokian Tyres is the largest tire manufacturer in the Nordic countries. The company develops and manufactures summer and winter tires for cars and tires for a range of heavy machinery. It is also the biggest retreading materials manufacturer and the biggest retreader in the Nordic countries. In addition, Nokian Tyres runs the Vianor tire chain with over 360 outlets across Finland, Sweden, Norway, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, Ukraine, Kazakstan, Switzerland and the US. Some Vianor outlets operate on a franchising basis.

Key markets include Nordic countries, Russia, North America, Eastern Europe and Alpine area, i.e. countries with demanding driving conditions caused by changing seasons or other reasons.

The company’s product development, administration and marketing functions are located in the Nokia facility in Finland. The company has two factories, one in the town of Nokia in Finland and the other one in Vsevolozhsk, Russia. The Russian factory is a new one; the operations started in the summer 2005. Certain products are produced as contract manufacturing in other tire manufacturers’ factories for example in the USA, Indonesia, Slovakia and China. Nokian Tyres has its own sales companies in Sweden, Norway, Germany, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Russia and the USA.

In 2007, Nokian Tyres booked net sales of 1.025 billion Euros and employed 3,535 people. Of that Vianor Tire chain employed 1,241 people and the Russian factory 511 people.

Nokian Tyres plc was founded in 1988 and it was listed on the Helsinki Stock Exchange in 1995. The company’s roots go back all the way to 1898, when Suomen Gummitehdas Oy, or the Finnish rubber factory, was established. Passenger car tire production began in 1932 and the company’s best-known brand, the Nokian Hakkapeliitta tire, was launched in 1936.

Company Timeline

1846 Mr. R.W.Thomson invents the pneumatic tire
1886 The first car to use a combustion engine is developed
1898 The Finnish Rubber Works is founded
1904 Factory set up in the town of Nokia
1925 Bicycle tire production starts
1932 Car tire production starts
1936 First Hakkapeliitta tire manufactured
1945 New tire factory built in Nokia
1967 Nokia Corporation established - Rubber, Cable and Paper Divisions
1968 Tire factory expansion
1974 Production of bicycle tires and inner tubes starts in Lieksa
1981 Tire factory expansion
1988 Nokian Tyres Limited established as a joint-venture company
1995 Nokian Tyres plc shares float on the Helsinki Stock Exchange
1996-2001 Tire factory expansions
1998 The first own tire outlets were established in Sweden and Latvia
1999-2000 Own tire chain expanded to Finland and Estonia --> launch of Vianor name started
2002 A new Logistics centre was established in Nokia
2003 Nokia's ownership in Nokian Tyres ended; Bridgestone Europe NV/SA became the largest shareholder.
2005 Nokian Tyres' second factory started production in Vsevolozhsk, Russia.
2006 Sales company in Ukraine
2007 Sales company in Kazakhstan