Turkish tyre maker Petlas plans to invest US$360 million in the construction of a new production facility adjacent to its existing plant in K?r?ehir. Established in 1976, Petlas was initially founded to produce aircraft tyres and was later acquired by Abdulkadir Özcan Group (AKO) in 2005. Since then, the company has expanded its production portfolio and focused on exports, becoming the largest tyre exporter from Turkey.
The new facility, which is expected to break ground this year, will focus solely on the production of tyres for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles. This expansion will increase the company’s current annual production capacity of 240,000 tonnes by 100,000 tonnes, reaching a total of 340,000 tonnes – a significant 42% increase.
As a result, Petlas says it will create employment opportunities for 1,850 people, further contributing to the local economy and workforce.
According to Petlas General Manager Hakan Yaln?z, the new plant will be equipped with state-of-the-art tyre production technologies. The construction is expected to be completed between 2025 and 2026, with the new facility joining the ranks of the largest “mega” tyre factories in Europe.
Upon completion, the K?r?ehir facility will maintain its position as the biggest tyre factory under one roof in the region, Petlas says.
Currently, Petlas holds the position of the largest tyre exporter from Turkey, and this expansion will help the company further strengthen its global presence and reach new markets.