Pirelli’s Carlisle factory has been selected as one of Cumbria Chamber of Commerce’s 25 Business Heroes, marking the Chamber’s 25th anniversary and celebrating the contribution of businesses across the county.
The campaign shines a spotlight on Chamber members from across the county. This isn’t a definitive list – there are many other great businesses we could have included – but a celebration of just some our many fantastic members making a difference to Cumbria.
Pirelli are an Italian company based in Milan. The only car tyre manufacturer in the UK, they have produced in the UK since 1929, with the Carlisle factory opening in 1969. Today, the site produces around three million tyres every year, supplying premium SUVs for customers including Jaguar Land Rover, Bentley, Aston Martin and Porsche.
The business also has a major connection to Formula 1, with Pirelli’s UK-based F1 operation in Didcot supplying around 40,000 tyres each season.
Pirelli are rightly proud of their achievements in sustainable tyre production. They are the only tyre manufacturer in the world to achieve FSC certification. This guarantees that the forests from which rubber is sourced are sustainably managed and that workers are not exploited. Last year, the first UK-made tyre carrying the FSC logo was supplied to Jaguar Land Rover from the Carlisle factory.
Pirelli’s presence in Carlisle also has a substantial impact on the local economy. The site provides around 900 high-value jobs, with many more employed in local companies in their supply chain.
Their customers nationally and internationally benefit from a hugely experienced workforce who can develop and manufacture products in the UK to meet their specific needs.
The Carlisle team also demonstrates commitment to the local community. For example in August 2026, Pirelli completed an extension to the car park serving the neighbouring village of Cummersdale.
The focus for the coming year is firmly on continuing to invest in people, products and process equipment to stay at the leading edge of tyre technology.
Asked whether they have any exciting projects, developments or launches coming up the answer was “Yes but I’m not allowed to say!”
