Pirelli Returns Tyre Manufacturing to Italy

Bollate, Italy

Large-scale bicycle tyre manufacturing returned to Italy last month, with Pirelli resuming production at its factory in Bollate.

The historic factory, first opened by Pirelli in 1962, is located a few kilometres from Milan and has been overhauled and modernised.

“The plant will be dedicated to the production of high-tech tyres, including all the models of the P Zero Race family, in its updated version featuring the ‘Made in Italy’ brand,” the company said in a statement.

“Moreover, the plant’s proximity to the Pirelli headquarters and to the R&D department will be an accelerator of the development of Pirelli’s future cycling products.”

The first tyres to roll off the production line included Pirelli’s new four-season version of the P ZERO clincher, the P ZERO Race 4S, a tyre with all-round performance dedicated to road bikes.

Pirelli’s general manager operations, Andrea Casaluci, said: “Bike tyres were the very first tyres Pirelli ever produced and today we are bringing back this part of our business to just a few kilometres from our headquarters.”

As the company celebrates its 150th anniversary this year, it said a complete renovation of the Bollate site would be completed by early 2023.

“The result will be a modern and efficient industrial complex that is well-integrated into the surrounding urban setting, thus enabling it to produce tyres based on the highest quality standards,” it says.