VSEVOLOZHSK, Russia — Russian oil and energy major P.J.S.C. Tatneft has rebranded the former Nokian Tyres operations in Vsevolozhsk it acquired in March as Ikon Tire L.L.C.
The plant in Vsevolozhsk — opened by Nokian in 2005 — continues to produce summer and winter car tires, retaining production processes and technologies, Ikon Tyres said.
As part of the rebranding, the manufacturer will produce premium models of summer and winter tires under the Ikon Autograph brand.
Tires in the mid-price segment will be produced under the Ikon Nordman name for the time being. In the future, however, they will be renamed and will receive the new "Ikon Character" name.
The Ikon Autograph tires previously were named Hakka for summer tires and Hakkapeliitta for winter tires.
The first test tire with the new name Ikon Tires was produced in early June, 18 years after the first tire was rolled out at the plant.
In an online post in May, Andrey Pantyukhov — former Nokian Russia and Asia executive vice president — reported his appointment as head of Tatneft's newly formed tire business division and the CEO of Ikon Tyres.
The Vsevolozhsk-based tire maker, he said, expects to maintain its "honorable place" among consumers and strengthen its "market leadership in Russia and beyond."
Pantyukhov joined Nokian in 2004 and served in various leadership capacities at the Finnish tire manufacturing group for 18 years.
In 2017, he served as interim president and CEO of Nokian for five months until a permanent leader was appointed.
Since closing the deal for the Nokian factory, Tatneft acquired Uzbek tire maker Birinchi Rezinotexnika Zavodi L.L.C. for an enterprise value of $80 million.
