XBRI Pneus, a Brazilian brand of the Chinese group Sunset Tires, will build Brazil's largest tire factory in Ponta Grossa. The plant will be the company's first factory in Brazil, with the capacity to produce up to 14.5 million tires annually. This volume will include 12 million units for passenger cars and 2.5 million for trucks, buses, agricultural machinery and mining vehicles.

On December 12, XBRI Pneus announced the construction of the factory during an audience with the Vice President of Brazil and Minister of Development, Industry, Trade and Services, Geraldo Alckmin. The project will represent an initial investment of R$1.5 billion and will have more than 500,000 square meters of factory space on a 330 hectare site.

According to Sunset Tires, the factory will mainly serve the Brazilian tire-replaced market and the automotive industry. The plant will also export products to the United States and Europe. In addition, the plant in Ponta Grossa will have a research and development center.

(Source: Estadão, on December 19)