Eyes dominance in TBR segment
Leading home-grown tyre maker Apollo Tyres unveiled its strategy to move from leadership to dominance in the fast growing truck-bus radial (TBR) segment with the launch of three new technologically superior tyres. Designed and developed based on extensive research and market feedback, the new tyres – Apollo EnduRace RD HD, Apollo EnduMile LHD and Apollo EnduComfort CA – cater to three different applications and are all set to raise the benchmark further higher in terms of performance and cost per km.
The new products were unveiled in the presence of the company’s countrywide large fleet customers and its business partners at an event in Chennai. The Great Khali, power lifter and wrestler, and Milind Soman, winner of Ironman title and fitness enthusiast, graced the occasion as Chief Guests to unveil the tyres.
Speaking at the launch event, Mr. Satish Sharma, President, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa (APMEA), Apollo Tyres, said: “This product introduction is part of our overall strategy to dominate the truck-bus radial category in India. Despite being a late entrant into the TBR category, our technologically superior products with a 360 degree service back-up, has helped us in achieving the leadership position very quickly in this segment. Our TBR journey is getting a booster dose with the improving road infrastructure across the country, which would take the radialisation levels to 65% and above in the commercial vehicle segment in the next 4-5 years.”
Mr. Rajesh Dahiya, Group Head – Sales, ISO (India, SAARC & OCEANIA), Apollo Tyres, said: “This is a very special day for us as we take the next leap in Truck Bus Radials (TBR). We entered the TBR segment in 2010 and have grown stronger ever since. One main difference between Apollo and other brands is that we do not bring products from world-over and test them with the customer. We develop tyres along with the customer for the Indian market suitable for Indian roads and usage conditions and this has been a main reason for our market success. We are confident that each of the three products launched today will be a benchmark in its category.”
Sharing details of the effort that went into developing the new products, Mr. Dominic Martin, Head – Marketing, Apollo Tyres, said: “We studied the market and identified three areas where we could bring in new products. We formed a cross functional team that reached out to 96 key customers across 26 towns, took inputs from our business partners as well and then fed them to our R&D team to design the new products. We have pushed the boundaries in developing these three masterpieces for our customers and are confident of setting new standards with them in the market.”
Designed and developed at the company’s global R&D Centre in Chennai, the new range of TBRs have been extensively tested in the target markets across the country with some excellent results. With the increased capacity of truck-bus radials from the Chennai unit kicking-in sometime in the 3rd quarter of this fiscal, Apollo is fully geared-up to meet the increased demand from the replacement market, OEs and exports. The company’s Chennai plant has a capacity of rolling out 6,700 radial tyres every day which is in the process of being doubled to 12,000 tyres a day, a move that would make Apollo the largest TBR manufacturer in the country. The company is also India’s largest exporter of TBR across over the world, with its products being one of the best accepted India-made tyres globally.
In his concluding address, Mr. Rajat Kataria, Divisional Head – Corporate Marketing, Truck Bus Radials & OTR Tyres, Apollo Tyres, stated: “These three masterpieces are here to support our customers by lowering the cost per km. It’s time to go to the market and reach out to our customers with the new tyres.”
The three masterpieces
Apollo EnduMile LHD is a long haul drive tyre suitable for high speed operations and provides over 20% superior mileage than its predecessor. The ventilated block design supports heat dissipation for cooler running and the ACTO casing design (Apollo Cord Tension Optimised) makes the tyre more durable supporting multiple retreads. The superior mileage compound and the optimized contact pressure ensues longer life of the tyre.
Apollo EnduRace RD HD is a regional drive tyre with ACTO (Apollo Cord Tension Optimised) Casing reinforced with 25% higher strength in the Belt & Body Ply. With stronger sidewalls too, this tyre is most suited for heavy-duty applications. The open and wide tread design helps heat dissipation resulting in faster turnaround. The hexagonal tread block design with tie-bars provides higher resistance to irregular wear.
Apollo EnduComfort CA, an all-wheel pattern tyre, is specially designed for luxury coaches. The optimized contact pressure and balanced rubber mass distribution with new age compound provides excellent handling (comfort) and mileage. The special tread design reduces in-cabin noise too.