Tyres made in India are proving their quality in international markets and gaining acceptance from global customers, according to Apollo Tyres Managing Director, Neeraj Kanwar. “Indian-produced tyres are now being used worldwide. They are used on Germany’s high-speed autobahns and in the US, sold under the Apollo and Vredestein brands,” Kanwar said during an event at the Manchester United Football Club, where Apollo Tyres has been a global sponsor for 11 years.
The autobahn is Germany’s federal highway system, mostly known for not having a speed limit. “In many test results, our tyres are consistently ranking in the top positions. For example, in Germany, random tyre tests often place Vredestein in the top three,” Kanwar noted.
Apollo Tyres acquired the Dutch tyre maker Vredestein in 2009. Following the acquisition, Kanwar moved to London to help integrate the two companies globally. The company now sees significant opportunities for the Vredestein brand in India. Apollo Tyres produces tyres under both the Apollo and Vredestein brands at seven locations, with five in India and two overseas plants in the Netherlands and Hungary.
“Vredestein will gain more presence in India as premium car assembly increases here. Currently, many premium cars are assembled as completely knocked down (CKD) units, but some models, like the Mercedes E-class and C-class, are being assembled in India. Gradually, Vredestein will enter the original equipment market for premium car manufacturers,” Kanwar explained.
Vredestein is already a major supplier of tyres for Volkswagen’s new vehicles.
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