Going, going, gone: Nokian Tyres has left Russia

In a stock exchange release published this morning, Nokian Tyres plc confirms it has completed the sale of its operations in Russia to vertically integrated oil and gas company PJSC Tatneft after finishing local registration formalities. The Finnish company has “now ended all its operations in Russia,” but this doesn’t mean that the Nokian name will immediately disappear from this market.

As Tyrepress shared yesterday, Tatneft is permitted to sell the existing stocks of Nokian tyres within Russia. Given the extent to which the Vsevolozhsk plant near St. Petersburg contributed to Nokian Tyres’ production capabilities, this may mean that Tatneft can deliver ample quantities of Nokian-branded tyres for some time to come.

And while the Finnish tyre maker may be gone, it probably won’t be forgotten: In addition to the continued availability of Nokian tyres, motorists accustomed to having their tyre and car servicing needs met at Nokian Tyres’ Vianor retail network can still do so – its new owners have taken over all outlets and retained the familiar corporate look, albeit with a name change – to the heart-warmingly Russian-sounding Ivanor.