Nova Motorsport unveils €20m investment at Portuguese tire plant

Westbury, UK - Nova Motorsport is in the advanced stages of a €20-million expansion project at its recently acquired Camac tire factory in Palmeira, Portugal.

The investment, it said, includes a “significant extension” of the factory footprint and transfer of Nova Motorsport’s tire production from Melksham, UK to Palmeira.

The project also “improvements to services and site infrastructure, refurbishment of existing equipment, and a complete overhaul of office spaces,” added a  31 July release.

UK-based Nova Motorsport was founded earler this year with the aim of being a leading supplier of specialist tires for low-volume automotive manufacturers, connoisseurs, and private collectors.

The company acquired assets, including the brand license, for the manufacture and sale of racing tires under the names “Avon Motorsport” and “Avon Racing” from Goodyear in February. (ERJ report)

In April, it purchased the Camac factory, which has a nameplate capacity to produce over 500,000 tires per year. (ERJ report)

The new investment will enable Nova Motorsport to resume the production of Avon Motorsport tire products at the acquired site, said the tire maker.

Furthermore, it will enhance the quality and capability of existing Camac facility and enable the company to develop new motorsport, specialist tires in the future.

The investment is part of Nova Motorsport’s goal to establish a “centre of tire manufacturing excellence in Europe,” said James Weekley, Nova Motorsport commercial director.

The next step, Weekley said, is to produce the first Avon Motorsport products in Portugal and “we remain firmly on track to achieve that.”

Nova Motorsport has also initiated an “extensive recruitment campaign” targeting talent in manufacturing, engineering, technical, and commercial roles.

The company added that it has now integrated its engineering & design resources into the Camac facility and upgraded lab and testing facilities at the site.