Key Takeaways

  • Pirelli tires is owned by ChemChina, a Chinese state-owned chemical company.
  • In 2005, Pirelli opened up its first Chinese plant in the Shandong Province.
  • Before ChemChina purchased the tire manufacturer, Marco Polo Industrial Holding owned Pirelli.
  • Eventually, ChemChina increased its stake in Pirelli to 65%.
  • The company, founded by Giovanni Battista Pirelli, originally made telegraph cables.

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Pirelli is a tire manufacturer that produces some of the highest quality tires available. But who owns Pirelli tires?

Pirelli tires is owned by ChemChina, a Chinese state-owned chemical company. In 2015, ChemChina acquired a 26% stake in Pirelli and eventually increased its stake to 65%. As a result, Pirelli is now a subsidiary of ChemChina.

As a mechanic with five years experience, I have mounted well over thousands of tires. Pirelli tires are the highest quality tires you can purchase. In addition to mounting tires, I also have received my associates degree in automotive repair. As well, I am ASE certified and still receive training on the latest tools and technology.

Table of Contents

Pirelli Tires

Pirelli is a well known tire manufacturer with a wide and great history. The company has been in business for over 140 years.

Pirelli was started in 1872 in Italy by Giovanni Battista Pirelli. Since then, Pirelli has grown to become one of the world’s largest tire manufacturers.

Pirelli’s presence reaches into 160 different countries. Pirelli is known for producing high quality tires for commercial vehicles, motorcycles, and bicycles.

In 2015 ownership of Pirelli Tyres changed hands. The company was acquired by ChemChina, a Chinese state-owned chemical company.

ChemChina purchased a 26% percent stake in 2015. Eventually, ChemChina increased its stake in Pirelli to 65%.

This made ChemChina a majority stake holder in Pirelli Tires, effectively making the tyre company a subsidiary of ChemChina.

The acquisition of the company by ChemChina was part of a focused effort by the Chinese government to expand its global presence in the automotive industry.

ChemChina saw the opportunity to acquire the company as a way to gain access to advanced tire manufacturing technologies as well as expand its product offerings in the automotive field.

Despite being owned by ChemChina, Pirelli still operates as a separate entity. Pirelli still has headquarters in Milan, Italy and still operates from there to this day.

Pirelli’s management team and employees have remained in place, while the company still continues to produce high quality tires under the brand in the industrial tyre business.

Pirelli History

Pirelli tyre history dates back to 1872. The company, started by Giovanni Battista Pirelli, originally made telegraph cables, bicycle tires, and energy systems. Eventually, Pirelli sold tires specifically.

In 1906, Pirelli started to focus on making automobile tires only. Pirelli completed its rubber business and started to manufacture tires only. By the 1920’s, the company became one of the largest tire manufacturers in the world.

Pirelli tires were and are used in a number of high profile sporting events like the superbike world championship and the first ever Italian Grand Prix in 1921.

The consumer business really started to take off in the years that followed WWII. Even though the Pirelli tire maker factories were heavily damaged during WWII, Pirelli continued to thrive.

In the 1950’s and 1960’s, Pirelli became a pioneer in the development of radial tires. Pirelli’s radial tires were an improvement to traditional bias ply tires. A Pirelli joint venture agreement led to Pirelli radial tires being put on the Lamborghini Miura.

Throughout the 1960’s and the 1970’s Pirello continued to innovate, and became an integral part of the tire market. Pirelli tires were being placed on all sorts of different cars throughout Europe.

During this time, the tire manufacturer created the P6 and P7 tires. In the 1990’s and 2000’s,

The tire manufacturer continued to expand into Turkey, Brazil, and Romania. The company also created P-zero tires during this time as well.

Pirelli is a well known tire market which was purchased by ChemChina. Despite the change in ownership, Pirelli has continued to produce high-quality tires and operate as a separate entity.

The acquisition of Pirelli by ChemChina is part of a larger effort by the Chinese government to expand its global presence in the automotive industry.

Pirelli Today

In 2005, Pirelli opened up its first Chinese plant in the Shandong Province. The factory produced high-performance tires for passenger cars and commercial vehicles.

The former CEO of Pirelli, up until 2022, is Tronchetti Provera.

The tire company has expanded its reach to Latin America by opening up plants in different countries like Mexico.

Before ChemChina purchased the tire manufacturer, Marco Polo Industrial Holding owned Pirelli.

MPIH acquired Pirelli for $7 billion dollars. Pirelli acquired many new different technologies while being owned by MPIH.

Pirelli has a robotic facility called the Modular Integrated Robotized System. The tire manufacturer has seen strong sales growth in the Chinese market, as well as other markets such as Europe and North America.

The tire conglomerate has also continued to invest heavily in research and development. The tire company strives to develop new products to meet the needs of current and new customers..

However, the tire manufacturer has been affected by COVID-19. The pandemic has caused global supply chains to be disrupted and caused widespread economic uncertainty.

The company also has faced backlash from environmentalists. The company has faced pressure to reduce its environmental footprint and to adopt more sustainable manufacturing practices.

Pirelli has listened to the calls for a more sustainable future, and implemented environmentally friendly manufacturing practices. The company aims to reduce its carbon footprint and promote sustainability through its supply chain.

Overall, the current state of affairs regarding Pirelli is mixed. Pirelli has both opportunities and challenges. The company has seen strong growth in some markets, yet has been affected greatly by the pandemic.

The company also faces pressure to adjust its manufacturing practices to become more green, and more sustainable for future generations.

Despite these challenges, Pirelli remained a leading force within the tire industry. Pirelli still has a global reputation for quality and performance that continues to resonate with customers around the world.

Pirelli Tires

Pirelli offers a wide range of tires. The tires that are sold are marketed towards different driving conditions. Here are some of Pirelli’s most popular tire offerings.

  • P Zero: P Zero is Pirelli's flagship ultra-high-performance tire. Designed for sports and luxury cars, it offers excellent grip, handling, and braking performance, even at high speeds. P Zero is available in a variety of sizes and tread patterns to suit different driving needs.
  • Cinturato: Cinturato is Pirelli's line of eco-friendly tires. These tires are designed to provide high performance and comfort while also reducing fuel consumption and emissions. Cinturato is available for both passenger cars and SUVs.
  • Scorpion: Scorpion is Pirelli's line of tires for SUVs and off-road vehicles. These tires are designed to provide excellent traction on a variety of surfaces, from mud and snow to rocky terrain. Scorpion tires are available in different sizes and tread patterns to suit different driving needs.
  • Winter Sottozero: Winter Sottozero is Pirelli's line of winter tires. These tires are designed to provide excellent traction and handling in cold and snowy conditions. Winter Sottozero features a unique tread pattern and specialized rubber compounds that help to improve grip and stability on icy and wet roads.

Overall, Pirelli's tire offerings are designed to meet the needs of different drivers and vehicles.

Who Owns Pirelli Tires?

About The Author

Christopher Sparks

Christopher Sparks

Christopher Sparks has been servicing vehicles since 2012. After completing the automotive studies program at Camden County College, he was awarded an Associates's Degree in Applied Science. His first job was a lube-tech at Jiffy Lube, and is currently an independent B-Technician servicing vehicles for the United States Postal Service. Christopher is ASE certified and loves rebuilding engines.

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