50 Manufacturing Companies – Apollo Tyres

Home-grown tyre manufacturer, Apollo Tyres is preparing itself for the technological advancements, both in terms of products and manufacturing processes in order to get closer to its “Vision 2020”. With this, the company aims to achieve market leadership across segments. Sharma says that 2018 has been a positive year for the company. “The planning and investments in the past, started yielding results for us from early 2018 and continues till date. We were able to withstand the vagaries of nature —floods in Kerala —and the transporters’ strike, along with the volatile raw material prices,” he adds.
Sharma believes in chalking out a clear charted plan for each of the categories where it is targeting for leadership position in the country. Expanding its product ranges, penetrating the rural markets with full range play and developing new products as per the market demands, are some of the tools being used to achieve leadership.

Along with products and network expansion, Apollo Tyres has also scaled up its brand building initiatives across geographies. With six plants in India and abroad, the company is now set to commission its 7th facility by the year end. The new plant, being set up in Andhra Pradesh, will be an important contributor as the tyre major works towards leadership position by 2021.

“We expect to begin production before the year end from the new plant in Andhra Pradesh where we are investing Rs₹1,800 crore in the first phase of the project. This will not only add big capacity and consolidate our position in the country, but also step up exports,” he adds.
While the four plants in India have 1,700 tonnes per day combined production capacity, the Netherlands plant has a capacity of 195 tonnes per day and the Hungary plant 100 tonnes per day capability taking the overall capacity to about 2,000 tonnes per day.

In terms of demand outlook, he says the Indian tyre industry is in sync with the auto industry. In anticipation of increasing demand from the OEs and aftermarket, almost all tyre majors are putting up capacities. The industry is also readying itself to the technological advancements, both in terms of products and manufacturing.