Ikon Tyres’ factory in Vsevolozhsk is operating above 50% of capacity in 2024, compared with about one-third in 2023. Andrei Pantyukhov, head of Tatneft’s tyre division, gave the figures at an Aug 12, 2024 press conference. The plant has 14 production lines and nominal annual capacity of 17 million tyres.
The factory previously exported two-thirds of its output to more than 40 countries. Pantyukhov linked the loss of those export volumes after separation from the Finnish owner to the sharp decline in utilisation during 2022–2023. He forecast record shipments to the domestic market in Russia during 2024, following the removal of earlier allocation restrictions. That shipment forecast remains a company expectation. Interfax
A factory with a new owner
Nokian Tyres opened the Vsevolozhsk plant in September 2005. Tatneft completed its €285 million acquisition of the Finnish company’s Russian tyre business in March 2023. The transaction included Nokian Tyres LLC, Hakka Invest LLC and Nikian Shina LLC. The business subsequently adopted the Ikon Tyres name.
The Vsevolozhsk product portfolio covers premium and mid-price tyres. Its Ikon Autograph family succeeds products previously sold under the Hakka and Hakkapeliitta sub-brands, while Ikon Nordman serves the other established family. The company’s Aug 12 release identifies both families as products manufactured at this site.
Local development adds tyre sizes
The factory established its own research and development function in 2022. Its early work included studs for winter tyres, which the company credits with helping production continue after the shareholder change. Product development later acquired responsibilities across Tatneft’s three tyre factories. The division was organised in April 2023, with local management at each production site reporting to division executives.
During 2024, the Vsevolozhsk team’s development work brought more than 30 new tyre sizes into production, including 245/45 R20, according to the company. Further premium and mid-price sizes were undergoing development, testing and certification. New flagship Ikon Tyres models were scheduled for 2025–2026; they were still future products at the date of the announcement. Ikon Tyres
Production and product checks
The company describes two stages of mandatory quality control for every tyre: a visual inspection and an automated check. Pantyukhov said common production and product standards were being applied across the division. Its product-development roadmap extends to 2035.
- Current factory utilisation: above 50% in 2024.
- Nominal Vsevolozhsk capacity: 17 million tyres annually.
- New sizes introduced at the site in 2024: more than 30.
- Next flagship models: planned for 2025–2026.
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