Apollo Tyres reports revenue of Rs 209.48 billion (£2.22 billion) for the financial year ending 31 March 2021, 20 per cent higher than during the prior fiscal year. EBITDA declined 8.0 per cent year-on-year to Rs 25.74 billion (£272.59 million), with the EBITDA margin contracting 379 Bps to 12.3 per cent. Net profit stands at Rs 6.39 billion (£67.67 million).
The tragedy of war always has repercussions. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine at the end of February is no exception. With reports of thousands of deaths and hundreds of thousands of people already displaced, the human cost is incalculable. While blood is being spilt in Ukraine at a horrifying rate, this war is being fought on at least three fronts: military, electronic and financial. The human cost of the military dimension is beyond the scope of this publication. Likewise, cyber-warfare is probably a bridge too far (unless we are talking about vehicle cyber security, which is of increasing importance right down to the aftermarket garage level – see pages 16 to 17 of our forthcoming March edition for more on this). The economic cost of the war in Ukraine, however, will have an inevitable impact on European tyre production directly due to conflict and indirectly due to logistics and the impact of sanctions.
The South African Competition Commission tyre price fixing hearing got underway in South Africa on 28 January 2022. The Competition Commission names Apollo Tyres South Africa (Pty) Ltd; Goodyear South Africa (Pty) Ltd; Continental Tyres South Africa (Pty) Ltd; Bridgestone South Africa (Pty) Ltd; and South African Tyre Manufacturers Conference (Pty) Ltd its case and alleges that from around 1999-2007, the respondents “discussed and agreed to fix the prices of passenger, light truck, bus, off-the-road, agricultural and earthmover tyres”. This was allegedly done through the SATMC, an association for tyre manufacturers in South Africa. The respondents were members of the SATMC.
As reported on 18 January, Apollo Tyres Ltd. has acquired a 27.2 per cent shareholding in a renewable energy firm, Cleantech Solar subsidiary CSE Deccan Solar. The tyre maker says the reason it did so is to gain a guaranteed annual supply of 40 million units of electricity for its manufacturing facility in Chennai. CSE Deccan Solar expects to begin delivering in July 2022, and this electricity will account for around 20 per cent of the plant’s total requirements and boost the total proportion of renewable energy to more than 30 per cent.
For the three months to 30 September 2021, the second quarter of its 2021-22 financial year, Apollo Tyres reports consolidated revenue of Rs 50.77 billion (£493.84 million). This represents an 18 per cent increase over the same period of the previous fiscal year. EBITDA decreased 9.8 per cent year-on-year, to Rs 6.38 billion (£62.06 million) with a margin of 12.6 per cent (16.5 per cent in Q2 2020-21). Net profit amounted to Rs 1.74 billion (£16.93 million).
Although radial tyres are increasing their share of India’s light commercial vehicle sector, Apollo Tyres points out that around 165,000 cross-ply/bias light commercial tyres are sold throughout India every month. The tyre maker states it is “looking to get a share of this market” and has thus introduced a new cross-ply range, Apollo Bhim. It is offering two SKUs and says these will cater to nearly 80 per cent of the market in this segment.
Hankook Tire and Apollo Tyres are the latest tyre manufacturers to align their natural rubber procurement policies with the framework adopted by the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR) in September 2020. Indian firm Apollo has released its first natural rubber policy document, while South Korea’s Hankook has updated the policy it introduced in 2018. Earlier this week, Yokohama Rubber announced it had altered its natural rubber procurement policy to accommodate the GPSNR policy framework.
Goodyear has announced the appointment of Jaap van Wessum as Goodyear sales general manager Consumer UK & Ireland and Cooper Europe. Van Wessum will lead Consumer Sales within the UK & Ireland alongside leading the Cooper Europe business. He will also have responsibility for Goodyear’s legal entity within the UK and Ireland.
Apollo Tyres (UK) has appointed a new specialist to oversee sales of its growing off-highway tyres (OHT) range and support existing and new customers. Darren Longstaff becomes Apollo Tyres’ OHT Specialist and brings over 35 years of experience in the tyre industry.
Apollo Tyres reported substantially improved key results at the start of its new financial year, which runs from 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022. The Indian tyre maker, owner of the Vredestein brand since 2009, reported a 59.5 per cent increase in sales during the three months to 30 June.
Apollo Tyres is launching its first coach tyre, the all-new EnduComfort CA. It says the tyre “delivers premium levels of mileage, durability and all-weather grip” as well as “superior standards of comfort for passengers and drivers.” The Apollo EnduComfort CA is available in size 295/80 R22.5.
Apollo Tyres Europe has launched an all-new truck trailer tyre, the new EnduRace RT2. This second-generation range builds on the success of the EnduRace RT predecessor, and Apollo says it “provides excellent all-weather performance, reduced rolling resistance, and enhanced mileage and durability,” representing a “premium yet affordable solution for truck operators.” The tyre maker has also introduced a new generation regional drive axle fitment.
Several days ago, Apollo Tyres informed the BSE stock exchange regarding the temporary closure of its Perambra factory in India’s Kerala state. The company said it had paused production in Perambra and closed the facility in order to comply with the current pandemic situation and directives issued by local authorities. The tyre maker reports that the plant will remain closed until 23 May.
Apollo Tyres aims to gain a foothold in the North American commercial vehicle market with tyres produced at its plants in Europe and India. The roll-out of commercial vehicle tyres in the USA and Canada follows the introduction of a comprehensive passenger vehicle range, but this time the tyre maker will market its products under the Apollo brand rather than as Vredestein tyres. Apollo Tyres says the launches of both ranges have been preceded by years of in-market research and planning.
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Sora Shimazaki
Goodyear