Tue December 14 04:30 pm 2021 in category Company news
Record-Setting Tire, Growing Domestic Production Highlight Nokian Tyres’ 2021 Achievements
DAYTON, Tenn. – As Nokian Tyres prepares to turn the page to 2022, it looks back on a year filled with achievements, from launching the best-selling product in its North American history to a robust increase in workforce and volume at its North American factory, which will help the company lean on domestic production amidst an uncertain global logistics landscape.
“Overall, it has been an excellent year for us – strong sales and a lot of new product launches,” said Nokian Tyres Vice President of Sales Tommi Heinonen, “great products that have been great success stories, and we’ve heard many success stories from our customers.”
Heinonen pointed to two primary highlights for the company in 2021 – the launch of an all-season tire that exceeded sales projections, and growth at Nokian Tyres’ North American production factory in Dayton, Tennessee.
Launching the One, Refreshing a Legend
When the tiremaker launched the Nokian Tyres One all-season passenger tire in January, it expected drivers and dealers to appreciate the tire’s benefits. Those expectations became reality in a big way – the tire is the best-selling product in Nokian Tyres’ history in the North American region.
“The Nokian Tyres One has been a home run,” Heinonen said. “Customers love it, and when it comes to units sold, it’s our all-time best-selling line in North America.”
The Nokian Tyres One is the company’s first passenger tire to be infused with Aramid sidewalls. The company offers a Pothole Protection program for drivers who buy the tire, which is designed for North American roads and exclusively sold in the region.
Nokian Tyres also launched the latest generation of its flagship studded winter tire this year, the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10. The new product from the inventor of the winter tire comes in three versions – one for passenger vehicles, one for SUVs and for the first time, a tire dedicated to electric vehicles, the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10 EV.
Sustainable Growth in Domestic Production
The company makes the Nokian Tyres One and other all-season and all-weather tires at its growing North American production facility in Dayton, Tennessee, where the company plans to make as many as four million tires per year once the factory reaches full capacity.
The factory took major strides toward that eventual goal in 2021; Nokian Tyres nearly doubled the workforce there this year, from 175 workers to approximately 325.
Nokian Tyres also received recognition for the factory’s sustainability and culture. The factory was the first in the tire industry to earn LEED v4 Silver certification, a result of energy-efficient processes and elements such as the onsite solar panels that partially power production.
In October, Nokian Tyres received the Tennessee Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award, the highest sustainability honor in the state. A few weeks later, the Chattanooga Regional Manufacturers Association honored Nokian Tyres with its Company of the Year award.
“Ramp-up in Dayton is very important, because the more domestic production we have, the fewer tires we need to bring from Europe,” Heinonen said. “The team there is doing a tremendous job, and daily production numbers are increasing. They have massive targets next year, and I’m sure the team will do it.”
The Road Ahead
As Heinonen reflects on the successes and challenges of 2021, he believes Nokian Tyres has set the stage for more growth in 2022. The key is twofold: introducing products that continue the company’s momentum in North America and navigating past external challenges impacting the industry.
“We talk about the Hakkapeliitta Spirit, and this year has been a great example of that,” Heinonen said. “People are willing to go the extra mile, do more and be innovative to find new solutions. It’s all about attitude and the will to win. We want to make 2022 an even better year than 2021.”
Nokian Tyres develops and manufactures premium tires for people who value safety and sustainability. Inspired by our Scandinavian heritage, we craft innovative products for passenger cars, trucks and heavy machinery that give you peace of mind in all driving conditions. Our Vianor chain provides tire and car services. In 2020, the company’s net sales were approximately $1.6 billion and it employed some 4,600 people. Nokian Tyres is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki.
More information: www.nokiantires.com