Pirelli aims second phase of Mexico investment at green tyres

Pirelli has detailed plans to put the second half of its US$400 million investment in the company’s Silao, Mexico factory towards so-called “green performance” tyre production. Mexico’s president Enrique Peña Nieto met with a delegation of Pirelli’s top management who illustrated the progress of the company’s investment in the country at the announcement.

Pirelli’s $400 million Silao investment forms part of the company’s strategic industrial plan presented in November 2011, he first $200 million has already been spent and investment of the remaining $200 million, to be completed by 2017, is already underway too. According to the company, green performance means “environmentally friendly premium tyres, as part of the strategic direction of the company towards a greener product line”. Overall, the initial project and the new project in Mexico will create 1,400 direct jobs and about 400 indirect jobs in the period to 2017.

The Silao facility, which is equipped with the Pirelli group technology and production processes, was inaugurated on 31 May 2012, and produced its one millionth tyre on 18 June 2013. In line with Pirelli’s regional local for local strategy, tyres produced in Silao serve the US, the Canadian, and the growing Mexican markets. The plant produces high performance and ultra-high performance tyres for cars and light trucks.  It covers an area of 135,000 square metres and its capacity will reach 3.5 million tyres in 2015. When fully operational in 2017, capacity is expected to reach 5.5 million units.

Pirelli’s commitment to the community of Silao includes sponsorship of an InterCampus soccer program for local children, in partnership with the F.C. Internazionale Italian first division team, and a planned state-of-the-art technical training facility near the factory.

Giuliano Menassi, senior vice president Operations for Pirelli Group worldwide said: “Our experience manufacturing in Mexico has been so positive that we have decided to launch a new green performance project. We are grateful to President Peña Nieto for meeting with us today, and to all the federal, state and local authorities who havebeen so helpful to us in realizing this exciting project.” 

As well as the president, the other participants in the meeting included economy secretary Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal, governor of Guanajuato Estate Miguel Márquez Márquez, ProMéxico general director Francisco González Díaz, and the ambassador of Italy in México, Roberto Spinelli. For Pirelli, senior vice president operations Giuliano Menassi, Pirelli Mexico CEO Tom Gravalos and Pirelli Mexico industrial director Fernando Madeira Toledo were in attendance.