Apollo to Open Signature Stores

Apollo is to follow car manufacturers BMW and Fiat by opening its own signature stores to display and sell its products within India. The decision can be seen equally as a commercial and a prestige move. While the stores – which will be split between Apollo Radial World (ARW) stores for passenger cars and Apollo Trust (AT) for commercial customers – will open across the country, the ability to promote solely Apollo products through eleven flagship ARWs – the first of which has opened in Patiala – is undoubtedly appealing. This fiscal year will see also see 100 AT stores open nationwide, should the company’s plans be fulfilled.

Neeraj RS Kanwar told news sources in India, “The new chain of branded stores is part of our endeavour to offer personalised premium service to our customers. Under the new marketing strategy we are taking our products closer to customers. We have launched new age V&H-rated and tubeless tyres, which are being offered exclusively through these stores.”

Within two years the company plans to begin operations in Europe, following a 200 million euro investment in either Hungary or Slovakia (the site is yet to be confirmed, as the selection process is expected to take place over the coming months). Apollo also has designs on a European retail chain, having taken over Dunlop’s operations in South Africa, where there are more than 200 Dunlop Zone signature stores.