Apollo Tyres opens global R&D centre in Chennai
Apollo Tyres, the leading Indiabased tyre manufacturing company, has opened its global R&D centre in Chennai to serve the markets in India, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa.
Addressing the media, Sathish Sharma, President, Apollo tyres said, “We have invested Rs 90 crore to set up this global R&D centre. This is the 2nd global R&D centre trailing the one from the Netherlands at Enschede in Europe setup primarily to cater to the European and American regions. Technology and Marketing are the 2 pillars in which every company drives and Apollo too chauffeurs with the same concept. For future we made investments in run flat tyre technology and ongoing electronics in tyres in these R&D centres.” The 2 global R&D centres in addition to the core research, service the product development needs of the respective regions.
Besides the 2 R&D centres, the company also has setup 2 satellite R&D centres in Bengaluru and Germany. The Advanced Engineering Centre in Bengaluru is working towards integrating electronics into tyre technology and another one in Raunheim (Germany) is working towards establishing tyres with leading German OE customers for Apollo brands. Speaking at the inauguration function, Neeraj Kanwar, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Apollo Tyres, said, “We are furthering the dimension of R&D to usher in contemporary technology to service our customers in the chosen markets. The 2 R&D centres will materialise our vision.”
There are certain responsibilities entrusted with us as a premiere tyre company, Sharma said. The company invests 0.7-1.9% of its sales in R&D. Regulatory body thrust a lot of deadlines to the environment and in line with that all companies across industries have formulated their moves. BS VI emission norms by 2020 is a pole vault and this will be indeed an achievement for the country on successful implementation. India sails to BS VI with a deadline of 4 years where the same path is being sailed for 15 years by the other countries that have implemented the move. “Hence from our end rolling resistance, cut resistance, run flat, TPMS needs are some of the parameters to be taken care of with immediate effect. This will increase fuel efficiency also.”
The company is planning to set up a new factory in Andhra Pradesh at an investment of Rs 500 crore which has rooted its position in the industrial corridor in Chittoor district. “We are looking at expanding two-wheeler capacity from this new setup and also we have proposed to make tyres for