The German tire manufacturer Continental has started testing production equipment at its new plant in Kaluga. The production of tires for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles is scheduled to be launched in October of this year. The construction of the plant began in Kaluga in the fall of 2011, and the company invested about 240 million euros in the project. The production capacity will initially be four million tires a year. Gradually, the production capacity will rise to 16 million tires a year. The Kaluga plant will produce summer and winter tires of three different brands, namely Continental, Gislaved, and Matador.