Pirelli Invests $1.2 Billion to Expand Georgia Plant

The Board of Directors of Pirelli approved a multi-year investment plan worth approximately €1 billion ($1.2 billion) to expand its manufacturing facility and U.S. headquarters in Rome, Georgia. The project, announced by Governor Brian Kemp on September 22, will increase the site's annual production capacity from 450,000 to 6 million tires. The expansion is scheduled to begin in 2027, with the bulk of hiring starting in 2029 and full operational capacity reached by 2033.

The investment will be executed in two phases. The first phase implements the company's proprietary Modular Integrated Robotized System (MIRS) and Cyber Tyre technology, while the second phase establishes a fully automated plant for premium products. This growth supports a "local for local" strategy to better serve the North American market, specifically the High Value segment. The expansion is expected to create 1,000 new jobs with starting salaries exceeding $56,000, increasing the company's regional workforce by roughly five times.

While the plan passed by a majority vote, directors Zhang Haitao, Xi Xiaohong, and Wang Kun voted against the measure. The project follows a 2024 economic mission to Italy led by Governor Kemp and received support from the Georgia Department of Economic Development, the Rome-Floyd Development Authority, Georgia Quick Start, and Georgia Power.