If you are a European or, more particularly, Norwegian and Finnish, you might already have heard about Nokian tires. You might even have used one of their tires in your trucks or SUVs.
Also, the company is famous worldwide for its reliable, high-performing, and lasting tires. But, do you know who makes Nokian tires? Well, the answer might surprise you. So, let’s reveal the answer.
Nokia is the owner and manufacturer of the Nokian tires. Yes, you read it right. The giant telecommunication tools and mobile device manufacturer also makes Nokian tires. In fact, it is one of the largest tire producers worldwide.
Currently, it is among the top three tire manufacturers in the Nordic and European markets. The company excels in manufacturing heavy-duty and special tires. Yes, you will see its tires in agricultural sectors, forestry, and mining.
Thus, we thought it was high time to talk about the Nokian tire manufacturer and its history. It will enrich your knowledge. So, stay with us if you wish to know about the Finnish tire maker.
Who Makes Nokian Tires
Nokian tire is famous for its high-quality winter tires. But who is their true manufacturer? As we have mentioned, the telecommunication giant Nokia is the owner of the Nokian tires. The full name of the company is Nokian Tyres Plc.
But there’s a catch in the ownership of Nokian. Although Nokia primarily owns Nokian, the Bridgestone Europe NV/SA is the company’s biggest shareholder. So, it is safe to say that Nokian is now a joint venture company. However, it works independently.
The company is famous for manufacturing tires for cars, SUVs, trucks, etc. The headquarter is in Nokia. Yes, its headquarter is the same as the actual Nokia in Finland.
In fact, in Finland, Nokian’s Hakkapeliitta tire brand has established itself as a reputable trademark.
Nokia established the tire company in 1988. So, the company has been in the automobile tire market for over 30 years now. Although it is relatively new in the industry, it has already made its mark with high-quality tire lines.
Types of Tire Nokian Makes
Nokian is among the fastest-growing tire manufacturers worldwide. However, unlike most tire companies, Nokian doesn’t produce all types of tires. The company focuses on three different types of tire production. The list includes:
- Passenger car tires
- Retail tires
- Heavy commercial tires
Thus, you see that the company is more focused on manufacturing passenger and retail tires. However, there’s a big surprise for you.
Nokian doesn’t supply or produce tires for the car and automobile manufacturers to integrate into their new vehicles. The company only supplies their tires aftermarket. So, you can use these tires to replace the OEM tires of your vehicle.
Also, Nokian specializes in making high-end snow tires or winter tires. Thus, people in winter regions will prefer using these dedicated winter tires. Also, Nokian winter tires are made for extreme conditions.
What’s more, the company also makes products for tire-related items. Yes, you will get products from the company for refurbishing or recycling older tires. Nokian is a great benefit and speaks of their commitment to eco-friendliness.
See More: Who Makes Continental Tires
A Brief History of Nokian Tires
Although we have mentioned that Nokian tires were established in 1988, it’s a half-truth. Yes, Nokian tires were actually founded way back. And its actual year of production might surprise you.
The predecessor of Nokian tires was the Suomen Kumitehdas Oy (Finnish Rubber Works Ltd.) and Nokia Aktiebolag (Nokia Company).
Nokia has a proud history of over 150 years among these two companies. Yes, Nokia started working in 1865 as Fredrik Idestam made pump mills. However, the company wasn’t in the tire manufacturing industry until the 19th century.
On the contrary, Finnish Rubber Works Ltd was founded in 1898. But, they produced their first tires only in 1932. So, it can be the first real source linked with Nokian.
They introduced their most famous tire brand, the Hakkapeliitta, in 1936. Soon, it became the most reliable tire brand in the Nordic region. In fact, Nokian still makes their tires under the Hakkapeliitta trademark.
Nonetheless, Nokia separated their tire production line in 1988 from when Nokian has been working like a pretty independent company.
The good thing is that Nokian has held their quality without any drop in their performance and longevity. Thus, for the past 30 years, it has seen massive growth in the tire industry.
Net Worth and Employees of Nokian
Nokian is among the largest and most trustworthy tire manufacturers across the globe. Consequently, it has an overwhelming profit. So, what’s the annual revenue and net worth of Nokian?
As 2018 data shows, Nokian has revenue of 1.596 billion Euros, equivalent to 1.8 billion dollars. Thus, it comfortably sits among the top 20 tire manufacturers in terms of revenue. Their operating income was €372.4 million in 2018.
Currently, it has 4,790 employees. Although they have limited employees compared to the giants in this sector, their efficiency and relentless research have helped them stand among the top companies.
The company also has a Research and Development (R&D) team.
A Few Fun Facts about Nokian
- Nokian, although it works separately from Nokia, its headquarter is in Nokia. Yes, both Nokia telecommunication company and Nokian tire makers share the same city as their headquarter.
- Nokian is the only company worldwide that owns the winter tire testing center. No other company has a permanent center to test their winter and snow tires. So, they turn to Nokian for testing purposes.
- Nokian also produces bicycle tires under their subsidiary company Vianor. It is actually a retail tire store.
Final Words
We hope that you have got the answer to your question, “Who makes Nokian tires?” Nokia is the actual owner of the Nokian tires, with Bridgestone having the largest share in the company. The history of Nokian is also 100 years old.
But they started working as a separate tire producer in 1988. The company has earned a serious reputation for its quality and performance for everyone’s smooth, safe and fun riding experience.