According to Dr Sawar Dhanania, chairman of the Government of India’s Rubber Board, natural rubber production within the country “will not be sufficient to meet the consumer industry’s demands” in coming years. He thus sees an “urgent need” to increase the area under rubber cultivation, something that tyre makers are helping to achieve via the NE-MITRA project.
Apollo Tyres has appointed Rajasekhara Reddy as Group Head, Supply Chain for its Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa (APMEA) region. In his new role, Reddy leads the regional SCM team and takes responsibility for providing leadership and direction to the regional SCM function.
With Apollo Tyres launching a new Vredestein tyre specifically developed for electric vehicles (EVs) later this year, the debut of the tyre maker’s first EV-specific products in India is particularly interesting. Yesterday, Apollo introduced new ranges for cars and two-wheelers.
Vikram Garga is the new group head of marketing for Apollo Tyres in the Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa (APMEA) region. Announcing Garga’s appointment, Apollo says the industry veteran will spearhead the regional marketing team and take responsibility for marketing and product strategy for all product categories, dealer programmes, brand positioning and monitoring performance in conjunction with sales. Based out of Apollo Tyres’ corporate headquarters in Gurugram, India, Garga will report to Satish Sharma president of Apollo Tyres’ APMEA business.
Indian consumers will soon benefit from tyre performance requirements very similar to those covering tyres sold in the UK and Europe. The country’s Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) announced the upcoming regulatory change on 28 June 2022.
Apollo Tyres has gained a further original equipment approval in its domestic market. Upmarket versions of the new Tata Punch compact SUV will wear the Apollo Alnac 4G in size 195/60 R16, while mid- and lower-range models will roll of the production line on 185/70 R15 tyres.
In a move intended to further strengthen its product offering at home, Apollo Tyres Ltd. has launched its 2009-aquired Vredestein marque in India. Products sold in India bearing this long-established European brand name will be manufactured locally, and Apollo Tyres is initially offering a line-up of car and SUV tyres that will “cater to the premium and luxury segment” as well as motorcycle tyres for the “growing superbiking segment in India.”
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.
Apollo Tyres has launched a new tyre range to satisfy demand in India’s fast-growing compact SUV market. The tyre maker says it has introduced the Apollo Apterra Cross following two years of development and testing, and will initially offer the range in five sizes for 16- and 17-inch rim diameters. While Apollo Tyres currently has no plans to bring the Apterra Cross to Europe, it intends to distribute the range in ASEAN and SAARC markets at a later date.
Apollo Tyres has unveiled a new eco-oriented tyre developed by its R&D facilities in Europe and India and offering a “best in class rolling resistance coefficient.” The tyre maker says the Apollo Amazer XP complies with BS VI, India’s equivalent of Euro 6 standards, and is electric vehicle ready. Apollo will initially only sell the Amazer XP range in India, including as an original equipment tyre for several vehicles.
Apollo Tyres is selling car and two-wheeler tyres direct to customers in its domestic market. The company launched its e-commerce portal in India on 22 December, 2020. The site allows consumers to purchase tyres online and book an appointment with Apollo Tyres’ dealer nearest to their location to get the tyres fitted and serviced. The service is initially available in Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, Mumbai and Kochi. Apollo plans to expand the service to other cities across the country.
Under a new partnership with commercial vehicle manufacturer Ashok Leyland, Apollo Tyres will provide healthcare facilities to truckers at a major transport hub in southern India. The tyre maker describes this collaboration as “a unique, first of its kind partnership.”
Apollo Tyres has extended its Apollo Truck Tyre Zone (ATTZ) fleet service concept to Thailand. The first ATTZ outlet, a collaboration between Apollo and local partner Ten Ten Auto Tyres has opened in Hat Yai District, Songkhla Province and is equipped to provide a range of services such as wheel alignment for trucks and cars, tyre changing and wheel balancing.
Apollo Tyres has voiced its pleasure at being ranked highest in the small car segment of the recently-released JD Power 2018 India Original Equipment Tyre Customer Satisfaction Index (TCSI) Study.
Apollo Tyres has caught football fever in India – within the last month it has announced sponsorship deals with two clubs, Chennaiyin FC and Minerva Punjab FC, and now the tyre maker has become an official partner of the Indian Super League (ISL) for the current season. Its support of the ten-club championship will be manifest in campaigns planned for cities where matches are scheduled to take place during the remaining three months of the current season.
Apollo