Overview
Apollo Tyres Limited is an Indian multinational tyre manufacturer headquartered in Gurugram, Haryana. Incorporated in 1972, the company produces tyres for passenger cars, trucks and buses, light commercial vehicles, two-wheelers, agricultural vehicles, and off-the-road segments. Its products are sold under the Apollo and Vredestein brands across markets in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas.
Key facts
| Type | Public company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Tyre manufacturing |
| Founded | 1972 |
| Headquarters | Gurugram, Haryana, India |
| Brands | Apollo, Vredestein |
| Listings | BSE, NSE |
| Country of origin | India |
Background
Apollo Tyres was promoted by the Raunaq Singh family and began commercial production at its first plant in Perambra, Kerala. Over subsequent decades the company expanded through capacity additions in India and acquisitions abroad, growing from a single-plant tyre maker into a manufacturer with operations on multiple continents. The company is led by Onkar S. Kanwar, who serves as Chairman, with Neeraj Kanwar as Vice Chairman and Managing Director.
History and timeline
- 1972: Apollo Tyres Limited is incorporated.
- 1977: Commercial production begins at the Perambra facility in Kerala.
- 1995: The company commissions a second plant at Limda in Gujarat.
- 2006: Apollo acquires Dunlop Tyres International of South Africa, gaining operations in South Africa and Zimbabwe and rights to the Dunlop brand in select African markets.
- 2009: Apollo acquires the Netherlands-based premium tyre manufacturer Vredestein Banden, adding a European manufacturing base at Enschede.
- 2013: A proposed acquisition of the United States-based Cooper Tire & Rubber Company is announced but is later terminated.
- 2016: The company opens a greenfield manufacturing plant in Hungary, its first in Europe.
- 2018: A new commercial vehicle tyre plant is commissioned at Andhra Pradesh.
Operations
Apollo Tyres operates manufacturing units in India at Perambra (Kerala), Limda (Gujarat), Chennai (Tamil Nadu), and Chinnapanduru (Andhra Pradesh). Outside India, it has production facilities at Enschede in the Netherlands and at Gyöngyöshalász in Hungary. The company maintains a global research and development centre in Enschede, focused on the Vredestein range, while a separate Indian R&D operation supports the Apollo brand.
Brands and products
- Apollo — the principal mass-market brand, covering passenger, commercial, two-wheeler, and agricultural tyres.
- Vredestein — a premium European brand offering passenger, agricultural, and bicycle tyres.
Sponsorships and partnerships
Apollo Tyres has been associated with sport sponsorship in cricket and football. The company has held shirt sponsorship arrangements with English football club Manchester United as a global tyre partner, and has supported Indian Premier League franchises and other motorsport activities at various points.
Significance
Apollo Tyres is among the largest tyre manufacturers in India and is one of the country's most internationalised auto-component companies, with a substantial share of revenue from European operations through Vredestein. It is a major supplier to Indian original equipment manufacturers in the passenger car and commercial vehicle segments and is regarded as a notable example of an Indian manufacturer expanding into developed-market premium segments via cross-border acquisition.
Related topics
- Vredestein Banden
- Tyre industry in India
- MRF Limited
- CEAT Limited
- JK Tyre
- Automotive industry in India
References
- Wikidata entry: Q4780362
- Apollo Tyres — corporate disclosures filed with BSE and NSE.