Apollo Tyres Launches New Alloy Wheel Range

Apollo Tyres has launched its new alloy wheel brand, Acelere Wheelz. The first products in the range, the ‘Fall-Winter’ collection, are already available through tyre dealerships across India. Apollo Tyres says that a new collection will be introduced onto the Indian market every six months, in line with its concept of the wheels as fashion accessories. The company comments that the Acelere Wheelz range is a ‘natural extension’ to its tyre range.

The range is the fruit of a manufacturing contract Apollo Tyres has with a major global alloy wheel manufacturer, YHI. The contract with Apollo Tyres ensures an exclusivity on the designs that YHI produces with the Apollo branding. Available in 30 distinct styles, sized between 13 to 17 inches, the Acelere Wheelz range is intended, comments Apollo, to suit nearly every customer’s taste and pocket. Initially the brands is available in six major Indian cities: Delhi, Ludhiana, Chandigarh, Bangalore, Chennai and Cochin. A gradual expansion of the sales network will take place during the course of 2009.

“These high quality wheels fulfil a need amongst the growing tribe of driving enthusiasts in India,” said Satish Sharma, chief, India Operation, Apollo Tyres Ltd. “For many of us, our cars have become an extension of our selves. In recent times, many of our customers have been asking for well-crafted alloys, at an affordable price, capable of making a quiet style statement. For our Network Partners, this enables them to further strengthen their business with existing customers.”

In recent years, alloy wheels have witnessed a 20 per cent year-on-year growth in India, a growth in-line with high car sales and disposable incomes. Apollo estimates the total size of India’s alloy wheel market to be 90,000 wheels per month. Around 40 per cent of this is in the aftermarket. Estimates show that only 15 per cent of alloy wheels sold in India are sourced from Indian companies, the rest being imported into the country. By the end of the year, Apollo Tyres is confident of capturing between seven and ten per cent of the national alloy wheel market.