MOSCOW (Sept. 5, 2013) — Pirelli Tyre S.p.A.'s plan to open premium tire stores throughout Russia at Rosneft Oil Co. branded filling stations is on target, with the first "P Zero Platinum" store due to open in the fourth quarter at a site in Sochi, the city hosting the 2014 Winter Olympics.
Rosneft Chairman Igor Sechin and Pirelli Chairmand and CEO Marco Tronchetti Provera met in Moscow this week to discuss progress of the protocol of understanding signed in April.
The partners also stated Rosneft will open tire stores at Rosneft filling stations in nine Russian regions: Moscow city, Moscow region, Saint Petersburg, Saratov, the Rostov region, the Krasnodar region, Volgograd, Samara and Voronezh.
The partners did not say how many stores they expect to open or elaborate on the timing of the project. Rosneft is considered a leading Russian oil and gas concern, withi 1,800 filling stations throughout Russia.
The companies also discussed the implementation of the Pirelli "Safe & Go" service at Rosneft locations for checking tires. The service will provide Rosneft customers with a mini tire check-up and discounts on new Pirelli tires in selected stations, Pirelli said.
The "Safe & Go" service will be launched in October in Moscow.
This project with Rosneft is part of a broader Pirelli push into retail.
The partners also discussed further possible collaborations, including investment opportunities in Rosneft's Nairit synthetic rubber plant in Yerevan, Armenia.