Apollo Tyres Aims At Europe

Large-scale Indian tyre manufacturer, Apollo Tyres, is investing 2.5 billion rupees (more than £30 million) in production expansion and is aiming to export more to the European market, Indian news sources are reporting. Company chairman and managing director Onkar S Kanwar told Financial Express: “We are looking at investing [2.5 billion rupees] in the existing facilities in the next fiscal ending March 2006.” Mr Kanwar explained that nearly half of the spending would be pumped into the Gujarat unit alone. “This calendar, we are more aggressively looking at tapping the European market. This can be through direct marketing or even through distribution alliances,” he added. At the moment the company makes between 15 and 20 per cent of its revenues from exports to other countries besides Japan and Europe.

Apollo Tyres also recently entered into a joint venture with Michelin. The joint venture, Michelin Apollo Tyre Pvt Ltd, is focusing on manufacturing, marketing and sales of truck and bus radial tyres. “In the first phase, we will manufacture truck and bus radials and sell under the Michelin and Apollo brand. These products will be sold across the country,” he said.