Michelin doubling truck tyre production capacity in India

Capacity at Michelin’s factory in Chennai, India will more than double to 30,000 tonnes a year by the end of 2018. Work has already begun on increasing truck tyre capacity at the Thervoy Kandigai plant, which currently makes 70 per cent of the commercial tyres Michelin sells in India, and the intention is for the plant to meet all Indian market demand for these products with tyres within two years. This expansion will be accompanied by an increase in the plant’s workforce from around 850 to approximately 1,000.

This project was a key topic of conversation during yesterday’s visit of France’s Ambassador to India, Alexandre Ziegler, to the Thervoy Kandigai plant. Accompanied by Michelin chief executive officer Jean Dominique Senard, Ziegler inaugurated a new production line for Michelin X Guard tyres.

Michelin also announced its entry into an agreement to supply X Guard tyres as original equipment to Ashok Leyland, India’s second largest truck manufacturer. Under the agreement, X Guard tyres will be factory fitted on the Leyland 37 tonne truck range.