Italian tiremaker Pirelli will invest $1.2 billion to expand its Rome manufacturing plant, a multiyear project expected to create about 1,000 jobs and sharply increase production in northwest Georgia.
The Georgia Department of Economic Development announced the project Sept. 22, saying Pirelli currently employs 234 Georgians through manufacturing, innovation and its U.S. headquarters. The company established its Rome facility in 2002.
Pirelli’s corporate release says the expansion will begin in 2027 and proceed in two phases. The first will increase robotized production through the company’s Modular Integrated Robotized System, eventually reaching 3 million tires annually. A fully automated conventional facility will add capacity for another 3 million premium tires.
The City of Rome says annual output is expected to rise from approximately 450,000 tires to 6 million by 2033. Local officials project an average annual wage of $56,987 for the new positions.
The expanded plant will manufacture Cyber Tyre products, which combine sensors embedded in tires with software capable of communicating real-time information to vehicle systems. Pirelli says the technology is designed for connected and increasingly autonomous vehicles.
The company describes the United States as the world’s largest market for high-value tires, representing about 40% of global volume in that segment. Pirelli says producing more tires closer to American customers will strengthen its supply chain and support demand for advanced U.S.-made products.
State officials listed the Rome-Floyd Development Authority, Georgia Quick Start and Georgia Power as project partners. The public announcements did not disclose the value or terms of any incentives.
Most hiring is not expected to begin until 2029, and full operations are projected for 2033. The promised economic impact will therefore depend on construction, production growth and hiring milestones being met over the next seven years.
