Tatneft starts commercial production at Kazakh tire plant

Moscow – Russian energy group Tatneft has progressed the expansion of its tire business unit which includes the former Nokian tire plant, now renamed Ikon Tyres, as well as a JV tire factory in Saran, Kazakhstan and a synthetic rubber unit in Angren, Uzbekistan.

KamaTyresKz – a JV between Tatneft and Kazakhstan's Allur – began series production of passenger car tires in mid-July, said Andrey Pantyukhov, head of Tatneft’s tire business unit and CEO of Ikon Tyres in a 12 Aug press conference.

The plant has a production capacity to produce 3.5 million tires per year, including 3 million passenger car tires and 500,000 truck tires, under the brand name Attar and Bars.

Commenting on the progress the Ikon Tyres plant in Vsevolozhsk, Russia, Pantyukhov said the facility had “created its own R&D department,” and also developed studs for winter tire lines.

Tatneft acquired the facility for €285 million in March 2023 and created Ikon Tyres following Finnish group Nokian's exit from Russia.

Ikon produces premium and mid-price segment tires – Ikon Autograph (previously produced under the sub-brands Hakka and Hakkapeliitta) and Ikon Nordman.

According to Pantyukhov, new sizes of Ikon tires are currently being developed, tested and certified, with the launch of 30 new sizes expected in 2025-2026.

The product development department, said the company leader, has also been working on the development of new products for the budget brands Bars and Attar.

“A product development roadmap until 2035 has been developed for all plants in the business unit,” he added.