Nexen rolls out first tire from Czech plant

London – Nexen Tire Europe has rolled out its first tires in the trial run of its European production facility in Zatec, the Czech Republic.

The first tire was "ceremonially dispatched" by Nexen Tire CEO Travis Kang on 24 April, Nexen said in a written statement to ERJ.

An official opening ceremony will be held “later this year,” the company said 20 June, without giving further details.

Nexen broke ground on the €829-million project in the north east of the Czech Republic in October 2015.

Start-up of the first phase of the factory, producing roughly 15,000 units a day, was originally scheduled for 2018.

Nexen plans to gradually increase the production capacity of the facility to over 12 million units a year.

Zatec is Nexen’s second manufacturing facility outside Korea, after its unit in Qingdao, China.