Kia Sonet will be equipped with Uzbek tires

On October 29, the Uzbekistan-based automobile plant ADM Jizzakh, which is part of the ADM Global group, signed a cooperation agreement with Birinchi Rezinotexnika Zavodi (BRZ), a company that is part of the Tatneft tire block.

According to the agreement, BRZ-produced tires will be included in the configuration of the budget crossover Kia Sonet, which is produced at the ADM plant. It is noted that tires of sizes 215/60 R16 and 195/65 R15 will be supplied, which "are widely used in modern cars, which emphasizes the strategic importance of the project".

"The cooperation between these companies is aimed at implementing a localization program, which will reduce dependence on imported components," the automobile plant's press service noted. "Support for domestic manufacturers not only contributes to sustainable economic development but also increases the competitiveness of cars produced in Uzbekistan".

ADM does not specify which tires were chosen for the Sonet, and the publication "Autopilot" notes that it is a Bars UZ200 model. Earlier, Bars tires were also approved for the Chevrolet Damas minibus (equipped with light truck tires Bars UZ600), Chevrolet Tracker crossover, and Chevrolet Onix sedan.

BRZ started mass production in July 2018, and the plant's capacity is 3 million passenger tires (in 21 sizes) and 200,000 agricultural tires, as well as 100,000 running meters of conveyor belts.

Bars tires belong to the economy class, and the company's director, Gulyamzhan Ibragimov, noted that he does not exclude the possibility of entering the premium segment.