Tigar Tyres

Tigar Tyres is a Serbian tyre-manufacturing company headquartered in Pirot. Its industrial history began in 1935, when the business was established as a workshop producing rubber goods and various types of footwear in what was then the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. After the Second World War, the enterprise was nationalized under the socialist authorities and later operated for many years as part of the broader Tigar organization based in Pirot. The company moved into automotive tyre production in 1959, when an automotive tyre factory was established. That activity became the central basis of the modern Tigar Tyres business. The company developed within the Serbian and former Yugoslav industrial system, eventually becoming associated with Tigar a.d., a diversified Pirot-based manufacturer with activities connected to rubber products, footwear and other industrial goods. Michelin became a major shareholder in 2007. In February 2008, Michelin acquired the remaining shares for a reported $47 million, beginning the transition toward full ownership. The company was subsequently incorporated into Michelin’s manufacturing and commercial structure, while continuing to operate from Pirot under the Tigar Tyres name. Reference material states that Michelin became the company’s 100 percent owner by 2010. During the 2010s, Tigar Tyres underwent substantial modernization and capacity expansion. Michelin announced plans in 2012 to invest €170 million in production capacity and add approximately 700 jobs over five years. A new plant opened in October 2014 following an investment reported at €215 million. The expansion added approximately 500 employees and received the Aurea award from the Serbian business portal eKapija for the best investment in Serbia during 2014. Between 2013 and 2016, the company reportedly invested €215 million in modernization and new facilities. Tigar Tyres has been an important Serbian exporter. The company ranked among Serbia’s largest gross exporters during the mid-2010s, with reported export values of €231.4 million in 2013, €233 million in 2014, €291 million in 2015 and €315.7 million in 2016. A 2018 financial report cited by the reference material recorded 3,388 employees, annual profit of €40.86 million and exports valued at €388.9 million. These figures are historical and describe the company’s reported performance for the relevant periods rather than current results. The company’s role in Pirot has also brought scrutiny. In April 2015, an electrical accident at the factory injured six employees. Three workers suffered severe burns and later died from their injuries. In early 2022, residents of Pirot and nearby communities complained about persistent noise and vibration allegedly associated with the plant. Public-health and inspection authorities examined the site, but residents continued to report disturbance afterward and called for stronger remediation, including improved sound barriers. Tigar Tyres is therefore best understood as a Serbian manufacturing operation and established tyre brand within the Michelin Group. Its identity combines a long local industrial history, a specialized automotive-tyre manufacturing base, substantial Michelin-backed investment and an export-oriented role in Serbia’s economy.

Tigar Tyres traces its origins to 1935, when a workshop was established in Pirot to make rubber goods and different types of footwear. The enterprise was created in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and later underwent nationalization after the Second World War as the political and economic system of the new socialist Yugoslav state was established. For much of its subsequent development, the business formed part of the wider Tigar organization in Pirot. A decisive industrial shift occurred in 1959 with the establishment of an automotive tyre factory. This gave the company a specialized manufacturing base and made tyre production central to its long-term identity. The operation developed within the former Yugoslav industrial economy and later within Serbia, serving both domestic industrial needs and export markets. Michelin entered the ownership structure in 2007 by becoming a major shareholder. In February 2008, Michelin acquired the remaining shares for a reported $47 million. The acquisition placed Tigar Tyres within the Michelin Group and set the direction for extensive investment in the Pirot operation. Reference material indicates that Michelin reached complete ownership by 2010. The investment program accelerated during the 2010s. Michelin announced a planned €170 million expansion in 2012, intended to increase production capacity and create roughly 700 additional jobs over five years. In October 2014, a new plant was opened after an investment reported at €215 million. The project added approximately 500 employees and was recognized with the Aurea award for Serbia’s best investment in the 2014 calendar year. From 2013 through 2016, the company reportedly invested €215 million in modernization and new facilities. Tigar Tyres became a major contributor to Serbia’s export economy. It was identified as the country’s fourth-largest gross exporter in 2013, with exports of €231.4 million, and as the third-largest gross exporter in 2014, 2015 and 2016. The reported export values for those latter years were €233 million, €291 million and €315.7 million respectively. A financial report for 2018 cited 3,388 employees, profit of €40.86 million and exports of €388.9 million. These reported values are historical and should not be treated as current operating data. The company has also faced safety and community concerns. On 23 April 2015, an electrical incident injured six employees. Three of those workers were seriously injured, suffering burns over large portions of their bodies, and all three later died from their injuries. In early 2022, residents of Pirot and nearby areas submitted complaints about strong noise and vibration that they associated with the factory. An extraordinary inspection took place, but residents subsequently said that the disturbance had not been fully resolved and called for more effective noise-control measures. Today, Tigar Tyres represents the continuity of a long-established Pirot industrial business under Michelin ownership. Its historical significance rests on the transition from a general rubber and footwear workshop to an automotive tyre producer, followed by international corporate integration, factory modernization and a major export role in Serbia.

1. 2018Strong reported export and employment figures

   A reported 2018 filing listed 3,388 employees, €40.86 million in profit and €388.9 million in exports.

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2. 2014New Pirot plant opened

   A new production plant opened after an investment reported at €215 million and added approximately 500 employees.

   Source
3. 2012Capacity expansion planned

   Michelin announced a planned €170 million investment and projected approximately 700 additional jobs over five years.

   Source
4. 2008Michelin acquires remaining shares

   Michelin purchased the remaining shares for a reported $47 million.

   Source
5. 2007Michelin becomes a major shareholder

   Michelin acquired a major shareholding in Tigar Tyres.

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6. 1959Automotive tyre factory established

   A dedicated automotive tyre factory was created, establishing the company’s long-term manufacturing focus.

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7. 1935Rubber and footwear workshop established

   The business was founded in Pirot as a workshop producing rubber goods and various types of footwear.

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A Serbian tyre-manufacturing brand operating within Michelin’s global industrial group, with a focus on automotive tyre production and export manufacturing.

• Tigar automotive tyresAutomotive tyres1959

  Automotive tyres manufactured under the Tigar Tyres name form the company’s principal known product category. The brand’s industrial foundation dates to the creation of an automotive tyre factory in 1959. The available reference material does not provide a verified model-by-model catalogue, detailed vehicle segmentation or current product specifications, so the offering is described at the brand level rather than through unverified individual tyre ranges.

• Rubber productsRubber goods1935

  Before automotive tyre production became the company’s central activity, the original Pirot workshop produced rubber goods and footwear. These products are important to the company’s historical development, although the available material does not establish which non-tyre rubber products remain part of the current Tigar Tyres portfolio.

• 2014New manufacturing plant openedStrategy

  The company was implementing a Michelin-backed modernization and capacity-expansion program.

  What changed. Tigar Tyres opened a new plant in Pirot after an investment reported at €215 million.

  Aftermath. The facility provided employment for approximately 500 additional workers and received Serbia’s Aurea award for the best investment of 2014.

  Plant investment. €215 million (Plant opened October 2014)

  Source
• 2012Capacity and employment expansionStrategy

  Michelin sought to expand and modernize the Pirot manufacturing operation.

  What changed. Michelin planned a €170 million investment in production capacity and approximately 700 additional jobs over five years.

  Aftermath. A new plant opened in 2014 as part of the broader modernization and expansion program.

  Planned production-capacity investment. €170 million (Five-year plan announced in 2012)

  Source
• 2008Michelin acquires the remaining sharesM&A

  After becoming a major shareholder in 2007, Michelin moved to consolidate ownership of the Serbian tyre manufacturer.

  What changed. Michelin purchased the remaining shares in February 2008 for a reported $47 million.

  Aftermath. The company proceeded toward full Michelin ownership, which reference material places by 2010.

  Share acquisition price. $47 million (February 2008)

  Source
• 2007Michelin takes a major stake in Tigar TyresM&A

  Tigar Tyres had developed as part of the broader Tigar organization in Pirot and was being positioned within a larger industrial ownership structure.

  What changed. Michelin acquired a major shareholding in the company.

  Aftermath. The transaction began Tigar Tyres’ integration into Michelin’s global manufacturing group and was followed by Michelin’s acquisition of the remaining shares.

  Source

• 2022Residents raise noise and vibration complaints

  Residents of Pirot and surrounding areas complained about recurring industrial noise and vibration attributed to the plant. Authorities conducted an extraordinary inspection, but residents said the disturbance continued.

  Regulation
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• 2016Tigar Tyres remains one of Serbia’s leading exporters

  The company was reported as Serbia’s third-largest gross exporter in 2014, 2015 and 2016, with 2016 exports valued at €315.7 million.

  Other
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• 2015Fatal electrical accident at the Pirot factory

  Six employees were injured by electric shock on 23 April. Three workers sustained severe burns and died during the following ten days.

  Other
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• 2014New Tigar Tyres plant opens in Pirot

  A new plant opened in October after an investment reported at €215 million. The project added approximately 500 employees and received Serbia’s Aurea investment award for 2014.

  Other
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• 2012Michelin announces major Tigar Tyres capacity investment

  Michelin planned a reported €170 million investment in production capacity and the addition of approximately 700 jobs over five years.

  Other
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• 2008Michelin acquires the remaining Tigar Tyres shares

  Michelin bought the remaining shares in February 2008 for a reported $47 million, moving the company toward complete ownership.

  M&A
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• 2007Michelin becomes a major shareholder in Tigar Tyres

  Michelin acquired a major shareholding in the Serbian tyre manufacturer, beginning its integration into Michelin’s ownership structure.

  M&A
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1. Tigar Tyres