Continental to Exit India Truck Tyre Business, Focus on Passenger Cars
- By TT News
- June 02, 2025
German manufacturer to cease production at Modipuram plant by June 2025
German tyre manufacturer Continental Tires said on Monday it would discontinue truck and bus tyre production in India and focus entirely on the passenger car segment, as intense competition and price sensitivity weigh on profitability in the commercial vehicle market.
The company will cease manufacturing truck and bus radial (TBR) tyres at its Modipuram plant in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, by June 2025, Continental said in a statement. The facility will be repurposed to support the company’s passenger car and light truck (PLT) tyre operations.
Continental cited “intense competition and high price sensitivity in the TBR segment” as key factors behind the decision, saying sustaining long-term value from its premium offerings had proved challenging in the commercial vehicle tyre market.
The strategic realignment follows a comprehensive business review, as described by the company, aimed at strengthening its competitiveness across the Asia-Pacific region. Continental said it would focus resources on developing its local product portfolio in the more profitable PLT premium segment.
“The realignment is aimed at ensuring the long-term viability of Continental Tires’ operations in India,” the company said, adding that the decision was made “in response to changing local customer demand.”
Continental said it would provide support to affected employees, including career counselling and assistance in finding opportunities within and outside the company. A voluntary retirement and separation scheme will also be offered.
Despite exiting the truck tyre business, Continental emphasised that India remained strategically important for its operations. The company maintains its sales and distribution activities, as well as its manufacturing operations, headquartered in Faridabad, Haryana.
Continental ranks among the world’s leading premium tyre manufacturers and serves both replacement and original equipment customers across the Asia-Pacific region through what it describes as a strong manufacturing network.
Apollo Tyres Marks 25 Years Of Healthcare Programme For Trucking Community
- By TT News
- October 09, 2025
Celebrating a significant 25-year legacy, Apollo Tyres has launched the Swasth Saarthi app and unveiled a pivotal white paper titled ‘Truckers – the Backbone of Our Supply Chain’. These initiatives mark the latest evolution in the company's enduring healthcare programme, which was established in 2000 to serve the trucking community. The milestone event was attended by senior Apollo Tyres leadership, including Rajeev Kumar Sinha, Chief Manufacturing Officer, and Rajesh Dahiya, Vice President, Commercial (India, SAARC, Southeast Asia) of Apollo Tyres Ltd, alongside Kultaran Singh Atwal, Former President, All India Motor Transport Congress.
The newly released white paper provides a profound look into the lives of truck drivers, detailing their unique challenges and the risks inherent in their profession. It identifies a critical demand for mobile healthcare, with 74 percent of drivers surveyed expecting access to medical support while on the road. This need is matched by an opportunity, as the same percentage of drivers use smartphones, creating a perfect avenue for digital health interventions.
The Swasth Saarthi app is Apollo Tyres' direct response to this demand. Designed for a life in transit, the application provides truck drivers with immediate medical support through features like video consultations with doctors and a tool to locate the nearest Apollo Tyres Healthcare Centre. The company projects that the app will serve around 10,000 drivers in its initial phase, extending healthcare beyond its physical network.
Rajeev Kumar Sinha emphasised the company's ‘One Family’ values, highlighting a commitment to tailored care that has grown from the pioneering Healthy Highway Project into a comprehensive health ecosystem. What began with a focus on HIV awareness has expanded over a quarter-century to include mobile medical units, vision care and management of tuberculosis and other diseases. To date, the Apollo Tyres Foundation has reached over 11 million beneficiaries through more than 1,000 health camps and 34 healthcare centres across 21 states, solidifying its role as a vital partner to the nation's supply chain workforce.
Pirelli To Develop Bespoke Tyres For 2026 DTM At German Tech Hub
- By TT News
- October 09, 2025
Pirelli has secured its position as the exclusive tyre supplier for the DTM following a transparent and competitive tender process. This renewed partnership, effective from the 2026 season, signifies a substantial deepening of the Italian firm's involvement. Beyond simply providing tyres, Pirelli will leverage its extensive motorsport expertise to design and develop a bespoke tyre line specifically for the DTM. These new tyres will be engineered with innovative processes and materials to match the series' demanding race format and increasing competitiveness, and they will incorporate the latest RFID tracking technology.
A notable shift is that, from the next season, DTM tyres will be developed and manufactured at Pirelli's state-of-the-art technology centre in Breuberg, Hesse, marking a ‘Made in Germany’ production. This facility is recognised as one of the most advanced within Pirelli's global network of 18 plants and features a cutting-edge research and development department. The enhanced collaboration also extends to marketing, with Pirelli planning to integrate the DTM more prominently into its international sales initiatives and digital channels, promising to significantly boost the series' global visibility.
In a related development, Pirelli has also extended its partnership with the ADAC GT Masters. However, the product lines for this series will follow a separate development path, maintaining continuity with the global GT platform. The ADAC GT Masters will continue using the P Zero DHG tyre generation introduced for the 2025 season, a partnership that has been in place since 2015.
Thomas Voss, ADAC Motorsport Director, said, "The DTM is the GT and touring car series with the highest performance density worldwide and places special demands on tyres. We are responding to this with Pirelli's tailor-made tyres. The new tyre for the DTM also ensures fair competition and is an effective means of enforcing testing restrictions in the series. The introduction of the exclusive tyre is an important step for the development of the DTM. We are delighted to be taking this step together with Pirelli.”
Mario Isola, Director of Pirelli Motorsport, said, “The ADAC’s decision underscores the high quality of our tyres and the excellent work of our team. The DTM can continue to rely on top tyre performance and dependable support at the track. The tyre production in Germany is certainly a big asset for the series. Pirelli and the DTM will continue on their shared path, confirming the success of the partnership that began in 2023. This is a source of great pride for us and, at the same time, a responsibility. We will continue to provide our utmost support to one of the world's most prestigious and professional championships with bespoke technological solutions. This partnership represents a significant commitment, but also a valuable opportunity for further growth for our team."
Toyo Tires Launches Winter Edition Of ‘Blaze BLUE’ Corporate Film
- By TT News
- October 09, 2025
Toyo Tires has launched a new winter edition of its corporate film series, reinforcing the brand’s global perspective and core messaging. This cinematic piece visually embodies the company’s ‘Blaze BLUE’ campaign, a key brand message introduced earlier this year that symbolises the passion and determined spirit of drivers who push into new frontiers.
Set in the expansive winter landscapes of the United States, a key market for the company, the film features a Lexus GX 550 outfitted with the company’s Observe GSi-6 non-stud winter tyres for SUVs. The vehicle’s powerful journey across vast, snowy terrain is captured with a striking visual contrast, utilising the company’s signature blue colour against the white environment. This dynamic imagery is designed to reflect the pioneering essence of the brand and to resonate with its ‘Open Roads Await’ brand statement.
The new film’s soundtrack incorporates a newly arranged version of a 1973 song by The Doobie Brothers, reimagined to sonically complement the sight of a vehicle traversing the American wilderness and to echo the ‘Blaze BLUE’ theme. This winter edition is being distributed through the dedicated Blaze BLUE page on the Toyo Tires corporate website and its official social media channels. In tandem with the film's release, the related key visual and web page have been updated with a winter aesthetic. Through these initiatives, Toyo Tires continues its commitment to supporting driven individuals and creating innovative tyre technology for every challenge.
Michelin India Launches Two New Touchpoints In Mumbai And Gurugram
- By TT News
- October 09, 2025
Michelin has expanded its retail footprint in India with the inauguration of two new Michelin Tyre and Service (MTS) stores in Mumbai and Gurugram. This move underscores the company's strategic initiative to enhance the availability of its premium tyre technology and customer support in key markets.
The Mumbai location, established in Oshiwara through a partnership with Diwan Auto Care, represents the city's largest Michelin outlet. The extensive facility combines a showroom with a substantial service area, which is equipped with multiple service bays, advanced Hunter Alignment systems and a team of over 70 trained professionals. This setup is designed to meet the increasing demand for high-end automotive services in the region, offering a comprehensive and technologically advanced experience for customers.
In Gurugram, the new store is strategically situated near the Sohna Bus Stand along the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway. Launched in collaboration with Vishnu Tyres, a respected local service provider, this outlet features a modern layout and provides a full suite of services, including wheel alignment, balancing and fitting for a wide range of premium vehicles.
These launches are a core component of Michelin's broader plan to grow its presence across India. By aligning with established local partners, the company aims to solidify its reputation as a leading mobility provider, consistently delivering superior quality and setting new standards for customer satisfaction in the automotive aftermarket sector.
Shantanu Deshpande, Managing Director, Michelin India, said, "The inauguration of our new touchpoints in Mumbai and Gurugram is a direct reflection of our commitment to the Indian market and in line with our strategy of expanding the retail network to ensure customers have access to premium tyres and best-in-class service experience. This milestone coincides with our strengthened manufacturing capabilities in India, with the passenger car tyre facility in Chennai. It reflects our commitment to producing closer to the market while maintaining global quality standards.”
Comments (1)
ADD COMMENT