RICHBURG, S.C.—Volkswagen Group has approved Giti Tire USA Ltd.'s plant in Richburg as a manufacturing site of tires for the 2019 Passat VW is assembling at its Chattanooga, Tenn., factory.
VW approved the All-Season Giti ComfortA1 tire for OE fitment on the Passat 20 months ago. Giti will supply the tire in two sizes, 235/45R18 95H and 235/40R19 92H for the four-door, five-passenger VW sedan.
"The successful audit by Volkswagen was the result of solid teamwork over a period of six months…," David Dobradenka, director of OE sales, North America for Giti Tire USA, said.
Production of tires for Volkswagen will commence in the first quarter.
"One of our stated goals when we announced the Chester County plant was to become a valued original equipment supplier in North America, and this is a tremendous step forward in that direction," Dobradenka said.
Giti inaugurated production at the plant in the third quarter of 2017 but said at that time that production for the first year or so was committed to producing Dextero-brand tires for Walmart Inc.
This fitment for the Passat is one of two OE fitments Giti has with VW. The other is for the Tiguan SUV sold in North America—Giti Comfort XA1, size 215/65R17;
Giti also supplies temporary spares for the seven-seat Atlas SUV.