Giovanni Battista Pirelli, a visionary young engineer, founded Pirelli in Milan in 1872, initially specializing in rubber and derivative processes, including the production of scuba diving rebreathers. As the 20th century progressed, the company astutely shifted its focus towards the burgeoning fields of tire production and cables for energy and telecommunications, aligning itself with the rapid advancements in motor vehicles and telecommunication networks. By the 1950s, Pirelli was a powerful and internationally known name of our Made in Italy, a success the company underscored by commissioning the Pirelli Tower in Milan, an architectural symbol near the original factory site, epitomizing the company’s commitment to modernity.
A hallmark of Pirelli’s innovation came in 1974 with the invention of the wide radial tire, a groundbreaking response to the Lancia rally team’s need for robust tires for the powerful Lancia Stratos. This innovation caught the attention of automotive giants like Porsche, which adopted it for the 911 Turbo.
Pirelli’s trajectory of expansion and diversification in the late 20th and early 21st centuries was marked by a series of significant strategic moves and acquisitions. In 1988, one such notable acquisition was that of the Armstrong Rubber Company, which strengthened Pirelli’s position in the tire sector. At the dawn of the 21st century, Pirelli took decisive steps to reorient its business model, selling its terrestrial fiber optic cable business to Cisco and its optical parts business to Corning. This major transaction, valued at €5 billion, was a pivotal strategy that facilitated Pirelli’s foray into the telecommunications sector. He enabled the company to become a major shareholder of Telecom Italia in 2001, a position he held until 2007, marking an important era in the company’s history.
In the early 2000s, Pirelli further expanded its logo beyond the tire and automotive sectors. This era saw the arrival of a diversity of products bearing the Pirelli logo, adding apparel, watches and eyewear, demonstrating the company’s ability to diversify its product offering while keeping up with the times. your primary logo identity. At the same time, however, Pirelli has continued to expand its global production capacity, adding the expansion of its tyre production capacity with the opening of its first tyre production plant in China in 2005, followed by a new plant in Romania in 2006. These expansions have been key to strengthening Pirelli’s global presence and enhancing its ability to meet the growing demand for its products in overseas markets.
Over the past few years, Pirelli has maintained a consistent focus on innovation and diversification of its product lines, marking its presence in various sectors with new and advanced offerings. In 2017, the company made a significant re-entry into the cycling world with the launch of P ZERO Velo, a new range of road cycling tires. This move not only expanded Pirelli’s product portfolio but also signified a return to a market where the brand had historical roots. Continuing this momentum in product innovation, 2019 saw Pirelli announce the introduction of a new range of mountain biking tires named Scorpion, an addition that catered to a growing segment of outdoor sports enthusiasts, further broadening the company’s reach in the cycling tire market.
In 2021, Pirelli once again demonstrated its commitment to innovation in the high-performance sectors by introducing 18-inch tyres. This was in line with the new aerodynamic and technical regulations set for the 2022 Formula 1 season. This arrival should be read as a continuation of Pirelli’s long-standing agreement with motorsport, specifically Formula 1, where the company has played a central role as a tyre supplier. In addition, the move underlines Pirelli’s commitment to advancing its products in line with the latest trends and standards of the motorsport generation, reinforcing its reputation as a leader in the manufacture of high-performance tyres.
Today, Pirelli is a symbol of Italian excellence and the embodiment of the spirit of innovation and quality synonymous with Italy’s commercial and cultural identity. The company’s history is a testament to its strategic growth, its ability to adapt and its unwavering commitment to “Made in Italy”, a philosophy composed of know-how, creativity and the pursuit of excellence, qualities that Pirelli has embodied throughout its history. As the company looks to the future, it continues to innovate and evolve, staying true to its roots while meeting the demanding situations and opportunities of a rapidly changing world.
Giovanni Battista Pirelli, a visionary young engineer, founded Pirelli in Milan in 1872, specializing first in the processing of rubber and its derivatives, wearing out the production of rebreathers by immersion underwater. With the advance of 20° sec, the company without delay assured its attention to the parameters of production of tires and apparatus for energy and telecommunications, towards the immediate progress of automobiles and telecommunications networks. In the 1950s, Pirelli was a tough and well-known brand in the outside world of our Made. in Italy, a fortune of the submarine company commissioned through the Grattacielo Pirelli of Milan, an architectural symbol next to the original site of the factory, which embodies the impegno dell’azienda verse of modernity.
A hallmark of Pirelli innovation came in 1974 with the invention of the radial pneumatic booster, a cutting-edge reaction to the Lancia rally team’s desire for a tough Lancia pneumatic for the tough Lancia Stratos. This innovation caught the attention of automotive giants Porsche, which founded the 911 Turbo.
Pirelli’s expansion and diversification in the late 20th and early 21st centuries is linked to a number of significant strategies and acquisitions. In 1988, one of those major acquisitions through Armstrong Rubber Company strengthened Pirelli’s position in the tire industry. During the 19th century, Pirelli made the decision to reform its own business model, handing over the terrestrial fiber business to Cisco and the external parts business to Corning. This main transaction, valued at €5 billion, played a strategic role in facilitating Pirelli’s access to the telecommunications network. The latter accepted the sale of the company in 2001. The top Zionist of Telecom Italia held his position until 2007, going through an important stage in the company’s history.
All’inizio degli anni 2000, Pirelli ha ulteriormente ampliato il proprio marchio oltre i settori degli pneumatici e dell’automotive. Questo periodo ha visto l’introduzione di una gamma di prodotti a marchio Pirelli, tra cui abbigliamento, orologi e occhiali, che ha dimostrato la capacità dell’azienda di diversificare la propria offerta di prodotti pur mantenendo l’identità principale del marchio. Ma allo stesso tempo Pirelli ha continuato a rafforzare le proprie capacità produttive globali: in particolare, l’azienda ha ampliato la propria capacità produttiva di pneumatici con l’apertura del suo primo impianto di produzione di pneumatici in Cina nel 2005, seguito da un nuovo stabilimento in Romania nel 2006. Queste espansioni sono state fondamentali per rafforzare la presenza globale di Pirelli e migliorare la capacità di soddisfare la crescente domanda dei suoi prodotti in vari mercati internazionali.
In recent years, Pirelli has maintained a constant focus on innovation and diversification of its own product line, marking its presence in tandem with new offerings and advancements. In 2017, the company made a significant impact on the world of cycling with the launch of P ZeroVelo, a new diversity of tires for road cycling. Not only did this expand Pirelli’s product portfolio, but it also meant a return to a market where the market has ancient roots. Continuing this momentum in product innovation, in 2019 Pirelli announced the arrival of a new range of MTB tires called Scorpion, an extension that stands out from a developing segment of outdoor sports enthusiasts, who are further widening the company’s doors to the cycling tire market.
In 2021, Pirelli once again demonstrated its drive for innovation in new functionality packages with 18-inch tyres. This feat is in line with the new aerodynamic and technical stability regulations for the 2022 Formula One season. This finish is expected to be the continuation of Pirelli’s motorsport. knowledge report, specifically with Formula One, as the company has had a basic rule as a tyre supplier. In addition, this has underpinned Pirelli’s drive to develop products in line with the latest technological trends and motorsport standards, cementing its reputation as a leader in tyre production with other brands.
Oggi Pirelli is the symbol of Italian excellence and the embodiment of the country’s spirit of innovation and quality, if not its commercial and cultural identity. The history of the company bears witness to strategic growth, adaptability and the constant drive towards the spirit of “Made in Italy”. , an ethic of art, creativity and the pursuit of excellence, the quality that Pirelli has embodied throughout its history. Meanwhile, the company continues to innovate and evolve, returning to its roots and seizing the hope and opportunity of an immediately changing global.