India
Rubber growers in India’s Kerala state are guarding themselves against potential slumps in natural rubber prices by forming a producer company that will manufacture tyres for two- and three-wheel vehicles. The Integrated Rubber Farmer Producer Company Ltd (IRFPC) was registered last November. The Pala-based company is being financed in part by a share float open to rubber farmers, and is also being assisted by German NGO the Andreas Hermes Akademie.
Apollo Tyres has introduced the Endumaxx brand of tyres for light trucks in India. The company described light truck radial demand as having “a potential of 112,000 tyres per month in India, and it is growing at a much faster pace than any other segment”.
Numerous Indian news sources are reporting that Maxxis India has entered into an OE supply arrangement with scooter manufacturer Hero MotoCorp. As a result, Maxxis is set to supply its 90/100-10 M6000 53J front and rear tyres.
Kobe Steel has bought all the shares of its Indian tyre and rubber machinery joint venture, L&T Kobelco Machinery (LTKM), making it a wholly owned subsidiary. LTKM manufactures, designs and sells rubber machinery used in tyre manufacturing.
Marangoni’s Ringtread retreading process doesn’t yet have a sizeable footprint within India’s large commercial vehicle sector, but it is growing. The Marangoni GRP Private Limited (MGPL) joint venture that was established in late 2015 recently took on its fourth franchise partner in India. Marangoni says it is also progressing with plans to add a further four franchise partners.
Authorities in India are conducting an investigation into alleged subsidies on truck and bus tyres imported from the People’s Republic of China. According to a document released on Wednesday by the Directorate General of Trade Remedies, a department of India’s Department of Commerce, the investigation is taking place in response to a submission filed by local industry representative the Automotive Tyre Manufacturer’s Association (ATMA) on behalf of tyre makers Apollo Tyres, J. K. Tyre & Industries, MRF and Ceat. Should the allegations be verified, the department will recommend implementing countervailing duties.
Hella, the global automotive supplier, has opened a second electronics plant in India. The new production facility in Mehsana, India, north of the city of Ahmedabad in the state of Gujarat, will meet the growing demand for electronic components and strengthen proximity to its local customers.
CEAT managing director Anant Goenka will deliver the keynote address at the 5th Asian Tyre & Rubber Conference 2019 (ATRC) on 20 June 2019. The two-day event organised by Asian Business Media, will be held at Hyatt Regency, Chennai on from 20-21 June.
Trelleborg Wheel Systems is investing in a two-wheel tyre factory in India. According to the company, the investment forms part of Trelleborg’s strategy to “strengthen its positions in attractive market segments”. Currently Trelleborg’s mostly makes two-wheel tyres in Europe. Products include tyres for selected niches, such as enduro and motocross, as well as scooters,
mopeds and motorcycles.
On 4 December Kesoram Industries Ltd (part of the BK Birla Group of Companies) announced its intention to demerge its Birla Tyres Ltd business. As a result, Birla Tyres will become a listed company with its own shareholders. The demerger is scheduled for 1 January 2019.
Extending its sports sponsorship engagement beyond football, Apollo Tyres has entered into a five-year agreement with former Indian international cricketer and team captain Sachin Tendulkar. This is the first time an individual celebrity has served as Apollo brand ambassador.
IndiGo, the largest airline in India in terms of fleet size and passengers carried, has appointed Michelin tyre partner for its entire fleet. Michelin Aircraft Tyre will supply tyres from its Michelin Air range, primarily the Michelin Air X radial, for IndiGo’s Airbus A320 and ATR 72-600 aircraft – a current total of 189 planes.
Apollo Tyres’ manufacturing facilities in Kerala (located in Perambra and Kalamassery) are now returning to normal production levels, according to the company. Production operations in the two plants were affected by heavy floods in the state which prevented employees getting in to work.
Writing in an official statement on the matter, company representatives said: “There is no damage to equipment or property, and all the employees of the company are safe and secure. The production loss due to this natural calamity is 3000 metric tonnes approximately. However, consequential loss of profit is not significant.”
With the ramp-up of its plant in Hungary, Apollo Tyres Ltd. is growing in Europe. The company also has ambitious plans in its home market of India – it aims to become the country’s leading tyre maker, and is investing to do so. Total investments over the period between 2015 and 2021 approach £900 million.
The Maxxis Group’s first tyre factory in India opened in March. The facility in Gujarat state was set up with an investment of US$400 million and began operating with an initial daily capacity of 20,000 tyres and 40,000 tubes. Maxxis Rubber India shares that original equipment tyres have now begun to be shipped from the 43-hectare Sanand plant to Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI), and it plans to supply one million tyres to its OEM partners by the end of the year. Furthermore, the tyre maker intends to complement its recently-opened plant with five additional factories in India that will produce tyres for other segments.
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