Frankfurt — German auto parts supplier Continental AG has temporarily resumed production of passenger car tires at its Russian plant in Kaluga to protect local workers who may be criminally liable, Tuesday. Said to.
Continental Airlines said the move was aimed at meeting local demand and was in line with the sanctions imposed on Moscow for the invasion of Ukraine, which Russia calls a “special military operation.” rice field.
“Russian employees and managers face serious criminal consequences if they refrain from meeting local demand,” Continental said, adding that the product was, in principle, made for civilian use. rice field.
Continental Airlines said on March 8 that production at the plant had been shut down, but did not elaborate on the potential charges staff might face.
“To protect Russian employees from prosecution, we are temporarily resuming production of passenger car tires for the local market at our Kaluga tire plant, if necessary.”
Continental Airlines said resuming production is not a profit-driven decision.
Nokian Tires of Finland warned this month that EU sanctions would make it difficult to sell tires in Russia, but said in March that a decision to maintain the plant would allow it to control where tires are sold.
It said that about half of the raw materials used to produce tires in Russia came from abroad.
Italy’s Pirelli has stopped investing in Russia and reduced its factory in Russia. Pirelli’s two plants in Russia account for about 10% of the world’s tire production.
President Vladimir Putin said in March that Russia could seize the assets of companies that abandoned their businesses there.
Russian prosecutors have also warned some Western companies that if they stop producing essentials, their employees could be arrested, a person familiar with the matter said.
By Jan Schwartz and Christoph Steitz
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