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 BMW Group has selected Apollo Tyres’ Vredestein Ultrac tyres as original equipment for the all-new BMW 2 Series Active Tourer, which went on sale across Europe from March 2022. Produced at Apollo Tyres’ Gyöngyöshalász plant in Hungary, the Vredestein tyres chosen by the BMW Group will be supplied in three sizes: 205/65R16 95W, 205/60R17 97W XL and 225/50R18 99W XL, each marked with a star symbol on the sidewall to indicate that they are a bespoke product for the BMW Group. This is the first time that Apollo Tyres has secured an original equipment deal with a BMW Group business.
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has selected Apollo Tyres’ latest Vredestein Quatrac all-season tyre as original equipment for the new Caddy. It will fit the Quatrac in 205/65R15 99H XL to selected Caddy models manufactured at the Volkswagen production facility in Poznan, Poland.
With summer approaching, Auto Bild Sportscars has delivered a timely test of 15 tyre combinations. The publication examined 11 brands in the all-round size 225/45 R18 and four as a mixed 225/45 (front) and 255/40 R18 (rear) fitment, taking each set “to the limit and a bit beyond” with a series of tests in wet and dry conditions. The goal was to identify the “tops and flops” on the market this season.
Tyre comparison website Tyre Reviews has put ten popular tyres for performance cars to the test, making the brand-new Continental SportContact 7 a winner in its first outing on the independent assessment circuit. Reviewer Jonathan Benson fitted the ten tyre combinations to a BMW-powered Toyota Supra in sizes 255/35 R19 (front) and 275/35 R19 (rear) for the test, which he conducted over nine disciplines at Conti’s Contidrom facility. Given that the tyre was proven at the circuit, and is at least 12 months newer than any other product in this test, it is perhaps a little unsurprising that the SportContact 7 prevailed, but with reasonably comfortable first-place finishes in the dry and wet handling and braking tests, Tyre Reviews concludes that the tyre sets “a new standard for the UUHP segment.”
Swedish tyre wholesaler is now the exclusive distributor of the Vredestein range of car, light commercial and classic tyres in Sweden and Finland. Apollo Tyres will end direct sales to retailers of these Vredestein tyre categories as of 1 March 2022 and instead actively support Amring in further building the brand’s market share in these two markets. Apollo Tyres Nordic AB will continue selling Apollo TBR and OHT products directly in all Nordic markets.
Apollo Tyres aims to be the “easiest tyre company to do business with” and is implementing organisational changes in Europe that will help realise this goal. Parallel to a tweaking of the Vredestein brand’s positioning and pricing, Apollo is adapting its sales and marketing organisation and appointing new regional customer care managers. These changes come into play on 1 April 2022, and to find out more we spoke with Yves Pouliquen, Apollo Tyres’ head of sales and marketing for Europe.
Construction equipment firm Liebherr has approved Vredestein tyres as original equipment for several of its wheel loader models. The agreement with Apollo Tyres Ltd. sees Vredestein Endurion and Flotation Trac tyres homologated for the Liebherr compact wheel loaders L 504, L 506 and L 508.
Farming Simulator 22 has arrived, and with it a cornucopia of tyre brands that players can select for their equipment. In addition to the previously reported presence of BKT, Continental and Michelin, Vredestein is also making its debut in the simulation game. Brand owner Apollo Tyres says this initiative is part of its strategy to raise awareness of the full range of premium Vredestein agricultural products among millions of current and aspiring farmers and supplier businesses.
Early in 2019, Apollo Tyres announced it would introduce motorcycle tyres into Europe under the Vredestein brand name, promising performance that competed with its rival’s first line products at prices competing with their second or even third line ranges. The first three models – the Vredestein Centauro ST radial for sport touring bikes, Centauro Road sports radial, and Staccata scooter range – debuted at the EICMA show in Italy later that year.
Apollo Tyres expresses pride in its Vredestein brand’s podium finishes in Auto Bild’s annual Tyre Manufacturer of the Year awards. The leading German car magazine awarded Vredestein joint second in the winter tyre category and joint third place in the all-season category.
After launching the Vredestein brand across North America in September 2020, Apollo Tyres Ltd presented its new tyre on a Times Square billboard in New York, USA. According to the company, the new Vredestein Pinza AT features ‘Silent Groove’ multi-pitch technology for quieter operation “than competing all-terrain tyres”; a three-ply triplex casing for enhanced durability and protection against external damage; and a “severe snowflake marking”.
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.”
Audi has selected Apollo Tyres’ latest Vredestein Ultrac and Sportrac summer tyres as original equipment for the Audi A1 Sportback, with factory fitment on selected models. Produced at Apollo Tyres’ facilities in Hungary, the tyres chosen by Audi will be supplied in two sizes, 15-inch for the Sportrac (185/65 R15 V) and 17-inch for the Ultrac (215/45 R17 W). Both tyres are also available in the replacement market.
Vredestein