NOKIA, Finland (Sept. 28, 2004) — Nokian Tyres P.L.C. has signed an outsourcing agreement with GiTi Tire (China) for the production of Nokian-brand passenger tires at GiTi Tire plants in China for sale in North America.
The agreement calls for GiTi Tire—also known as Grandtour Tire China—to make 500,000 tires next year and gradually expand that to 1.5 million tires, Nokian said. The production agreement covers summer passenger tires initially, Nokian said, starting in October 2004.
GiTi/Grandtour Tire operates tire plants in Yinchuan, Anhui, Chongqing and Putian/Fujian, China.
Nokian did not elaborate on its reasons for the outsourcing agreement. Nokian is represented in North America by Nokian Tyres Inc. in LaVergne, Tenn.