Pirelli signs Russian retail MoU

According to a forecast published by IHS Global Insight in April, Russia’s premium car segment is expected to grow 5.2 per cent this year and 8.5 per cent in 2014. Pirelli focuses its strategy on this segment and therefore views Russia as a key market. Following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Russian oil and gas company Rosneft, the Italian tyre maker will soon begin construction work on its first flagship ‘PZero Platinum’ tyre shop within the country.

The inaugural PZero Platinum outlet is being built in Sochi, the Black Sea town that will host the 2014 Winter Olympics, and will be located within a new flagship filling station built by Winter Olympics partner Rosneft. The shop is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of this year.

Pirelli says the MoU, signed by Rosneft chairman and Management Board chairman Igor Sechin and Marco Tronchetti Provera, Pirelli’s chairman and CEO, pushes forward the strategic marketing and commercial agreement signed by the parties on 20 December 2012. The MoU also paves the way for the establishment of further points of sales at selected Rosneft filling stations and the implementation of “Safe&Go” tyre check-ups. Pirelli says it and Rosneft will initially focus on the Krasnodar region around Sochi to take advantage of the exposure provided by the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Commenting on the signing, Igor Sechin said: “The MoU signed today underscores the parties’ commitment to long term cooperation. We are delighted to develop our retail network in partnership with Pirelli – one of the world’s leaders in tyre production. We believe implementation of Pirelli’s production and services will make Rosneft filling stations even more appealing to customers and thus will make the partnership beneficial for both Rosneft and Pirelli.”

“For Pirelli, Russia is a key growth market and having a local partner as prestigious as Rosneft will enable us to reach, with their guidance and support, every valuable corner of the country effectively and relatively quickly,” added Marco Tronchetti Provera.

Pirelli has been present in Russia since 2008. Today the Italian tyre maker operates two factories there – in Kirov and Voronezh – together with joint-venture partner Russian Technologies.  

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