Apollo Tyres recently opened its first two-wheeler tyre manufacturing unit in India to cater to growing demand for the premium two-wheeler bikes. In an interview, Neeraj Kanwar, Vice Chairman & MD, Apollo Tyres, spoke on the new plant and growth in the premium bike segment and the company’s readiness for the premium two-wheeler tyre market..

With the opening of its two-wheeler manufacturing facility, Apollo Tyres aims at having a “strong foothold” in the premium segment of two-wheeler tyres, which is the comparatively high-value and highly profitable segment, India.

With having a vision of to be a premier tyre company with a diversified and multinational presence, Apollo Tyres manufactures and supplies a wide range of tyres for trucks and buses, light trucks, passenger vehicles, off-highway vehicles and two-wheelers.

“We are known for offering technologically advanced products to our consumers in all the categories. Getting into the premium biking segment was a natural progression for us,” said Neeraj Kanwar, Vice Chairman & MD, Apollo Tyres. 

With the new facility, Apollo Tyres now plans to have a strong foothold in premium motorcycle tyre market in India. Despite being a late entrant, Apollo Tyre has already grabbed a 7% market share in the replacement market in the two-wheeler tyre space due to a best-in-class and high-technology product portfolio.

The new two-wheeler tyre manufacturing unit is located within Apollo Tyres’ Limda plant in Vadodara, Gujarat, which has an initial capacity to produce 30,000 motorcycle radials and 60,000 cross-ply motorcycle tyres per month.  With a modular layout of the facility, the capacity can be replicated easily, as the demand increases.

“We now have a global portfolio of high-end bias and steel radial tyres for two-wheelers, which will be produced at our highly advanced and futuristic facility in Vadodara, Gujarat,” added Kanwar.

Apollo Tyres, in 2016, entered the two-wheeler tyre business by launching India’s first zero-degree steel radial tyres, a global gold standard for motorcycle tyres, and now commands a double-digit market share in this segment. “Being a late entrant into the two-wheeler tyre space, we wanted to create an impact in the market. In under four years, we have built an entire range for Indian and European market, grown at a CAGR of 35%, catered to market with a new last-mile distributor model and built a grounds-up connect with the biking community through our multiple brand initiatives,” said Kanwar.

Apollo Tyres is looking at selling our two-wheeler tyres from the Vadodara facility to all market segments, including exports. “In fact, we already have shipped the first consignment from this facility for the European market,” added Kanwar.

Premium bike segment

The premium bike segment, which constitutes nearly 20% of the motorcycle market in India, is the fastest growing one. According to a TechSci research report, the Indian premium motorcycles market is projected to reach $ 161 million by 2023, on account of rising Y Generation population and per capita income, and availability of a wide array of premium motorcycle models and easy financing options. The report also added that increasing number of CKD and SKD units, the launch of newer and advanced premium motorcycle brands and models, rising popularity of superbike clubs and communities, and increasing biking culture are among the key factors expected to drive the country’s premium motorcycles market in the coming years.

“India also is the largest market for two-wheelers, and it still has headroom for further growth. In the current pandemic era as well, there is the demand coming in as people are moving away from shared and public transport and gradually moving to own a personal vehicle, including a two-wheeler, further driving the demand for tyres in this category,” said Kanwar.

Though many tyre companies are betting high on the premium tyre segment, commuting bikes will continue to dominate the market. According to Kanwar, the economy segment bikes still drive volumes for Apollo Tyres’ two-wheeler tyre business. Instead of looking at this segment as a commodity business, the company caters to the segment with multiple product offerings according to various markets in India. “We have seen emerging trends in this segment like the rapid rise of delivery and courier services and have built specialised offerings for this space as well,” said Kanwar.

Along with having a leading position in India, Apollo Tyres is also expanding its business in the challenging and advanced automotive markets in Europe and the Americas. Apart from having five manufacturing plants- Chennai, Perambra, Limda, Kalamassery and most recently, Chittoor- in India, the company has established two manufacturing plants outside of India – The Netherlands and Hungary.

Having global R&D centres in India and Europe give distinctive advantages to Apollo Tyres to caters to all segments. Both R&D teams use their collaborative experience to come up with technologically advanced products for the premium bikes. “Entering the two-wheeler segment in 2016, we used the global knowhow, to come out with zero-degree steel-belted radials in 2018, a global gold standard for motorcycle tyres,” said Kanwar.

 Apollo Tyres has used the concept of ‘design to delivery’ while setting up this two-wheeler tyre facility in Vadodara, Gujarat. Most of the equipment used are special purpose machines, which have been conceptualised in-house and converted to reality.

However, the competition in the two-wheeler tyre segment in India is very high, and few companies have dominated the segment. The segment is expected to be more crowded with new entrants. Apollo Tyres has set its focus on the premium segment of two-wheelers, which is 20% of the entire two-wheelers while supplying to the mass market segment. “We are looking at servicing this segment with our zero-degree steel belted radials and high-end bias tyres. Our strategy is to build the brand and create a pull for our products across categories. We have been actively engaging with several biking communities and enthusiastic and passionate riders,” explained Kanwar.

In FY 2020, in the two-wheeler segment, the company launched 17 new SKUs for the higher premium bikes and scooters and extended its steel radial portfolio with the launch of two new SKUs – Alpha S1 140/60 R17 and 130/70 R17. For its two-wheeler business, the company executed the Alpha sustenance campaign earlier in 2020 to make it one of the most viewed brands by the end of the campaign.

Talking on the recent imposition in Chinese tyres, Kanwar said, “We are definitely better placed than before.”

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Fornnax Technology, a global leader in recycling equipment manufacturing, has officially brought Sushil Upadhyay on board as the new Head of its Service Department, a leadership transition that takes effect immediately. With a professional background spanning over 26 years, Upadhyay arrives with extensive experience drawn from multiple multinational corporations. Throughout his career, he has successfully managed and coordinated large, cross-functional teams comprising more than 300 professionals. Within his new capacity at Fornax, his primary focus will involve steering strategic transformations within the service domain, with the objective of optimising equipment reliability, maximising value across the lifecycle of machinery and elevating the sustained performance of the company’s worldwide installed base of industrial recycling solutions.

In the coming year, the service division under his leadership is set to concentrate on a series of clearly defined operational objectives. Key among these is the effort to curtail instances of unexpected machinery downtime by integrating both preventive and predictive maintenance approaches. The team also intends to roll out measurable performance benchmarks for service delivery, which will include tracking metrics such as speed of response, Mean Time to Repair (MTTR) and overall equipment uptime. Moreover, there will be a concerted push to reinforce the availability of spare components by optimising regional warehousing and distribution processes.

Further developments on the agenda involve the creation and delivery of well-structured training modules targeting technical expertise and workplace safety, aimed at enhancing the capabilities of service personnel. In parallel, the organisation plans to introduce digital tools designed to boost transparency in operations and enable customers to more effectively monitor service activities. These combined efforts underscore Fornnax’s commitment to evolving its service infrastructure in response to growing demands for efficiency and reliability.

Jignesh Kundaria, Director & CEO, Fornnax, said, “Our people are the true engine behind our innovation and execution. As we scale globally and expand our footprint across diverse recycling applications, cultivating a culture of excellence remains central to our strategy. In 2026, we are intensifying our focus on talent development, leadership growth and building a high-ownership, high-accountability environment that drives continuous improvement across engineering, manufacturing, and service. This will set new benchmarks in the industry, and I believe Upadhyay will play a crucial role in this journey.”

Upadhyay said, “Fornnax’s strong positioning in high-capacity shredding solutions and its commitment to sustainable recycling deeply resonated with me. The company’s engineering strength and rapid growth trajectory present a powerful opportunity to build a world-class service organisation. In an industry where machine reliability directly impacts customer profitability, service becomes a direct driver of customer success. I am excited to elevate Service from a support function to a strategic growth enabler, which is specifically focused on uptime, lifecycle value and long-term partnerships.”

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Pirelli has commenced 2026 by building upon its record-breaking previous year, which was distinguished by numerous victories and podium placements across its entire product portfolio and its innovative Cyber Tyre technology. This exceptional momentum is underscored by the remarkable performance of the recently launched summer Cinturato, a tyre engineered for premium sedans and CUVs that has rapidly established itself as a benchmark for safety, longevity and dynamic equilibrium. Having already secured two wins in 2025, the next-generation Cinturato has added two outright victories and three podium finishes in the opening months of 2026, excelling in six comparative tests conducted by leading European automotive publications and independent organisations.

The Cinturato's success story includes a premier position in a test by Tyre Reviews, where it was lauded as the best summer tyre of the year for its impeccable dry braking and precise steering feedback. It also achieved a triumph in evaluations by the Automobilclub von Deutschland, earning an ‘excellent’ rating and top marks in safety-critical areas like dry braking and aquaplaning resistance. Further reinforcing its technological sophistication, the tyre secured second place with a ‘Highly Recommended’ rating from the ADAC, which recognised its robust durability and diminished environmental footprint alongside its balanced handling.

Additional podium finishes came from Auto Zeitung, which praised the Cinturato as a tyre devoid of weaknesses for its safe handling and impressive mileage, and from Sweden's Vi Bilägare, which highlighted its agile nature and short stopping distances. The tyre's comprehensive capabilities were also affirmed by Auto Bild, where it progressed from a strong qualifying performance to the final round, impressing testers with its grip and balanced behaviour, especially on wet surfaces.

This outstanding beginning to the year for the Cinturato is part of a broader renewal of Pirelli's summer offerings, which recently welcomed the fifth-generation P Zero, the quintessential tyre for sports cars, and the third-generation Scorpion, the latest evolution designed to deliver safety and enduring performance for SUVs.

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Prinx Chengshan, together with its brand Chengshan, participated in the 25th Heilongjiang Agricultural Machinery Exhibition in Harbin on 14 March 2026. The event served as a platform to advance the modernisation of China’s agricultural machinery sector and foster industry exchanges. In this context, the company displayed a comprehensive range of agricultural tyres tailored for tractors and combine harvesters.

For tractors, the company presented its agricultural radial tyre series. The TX600 model is engineered with robust tread blocks and a cut-resistant compound, ensuring stable handling during high-speed operations while offering strong defence against punctures. The TX700 features a reinforced carcass and belt structure, providing significant load capacity and superior traction to perform effectively in wet and uneven fields. Meanwhile, the TX800 incorporates a deep R-1W tread pattern and a specialised wear-resistant compound, supported by strengthened beads and shoulders. This design enhances resistance to damage from straw and stones, thereby extending tyre longevity. Addressing the needs of combine harvesters, the TX2000 model delivers a 20 percent increase in load capacity and excellent flexibility. Its low-pressure, wide-footprint design minimizes soil compaction, aligning agricultural efficiency with environmental sustainability.

Additionally, the company’s bias tyre offerings, the CSY90 and CSY93, were also showcased. These tyres feature a traditional herringbone tread pattern that ensures effective self-cleaning and robust traction. They maintain reliable performance in challenging terrains such as soft sand and muddy fields, while their durable construction supports continuous operation during peak farming periods.

With the global push towards agricultural modernisation and mechanisation, Prinx Chengshan has strategically expanded its off-the-road (OTR) tyre operations. A key milestone in this effort is the newly operational green smart factory for OTR tyres. With an investment exceeding RMB 1.1 billion (approximately USD 159.50 million) and spanning over 100,000 square metres, the facility is designed to produce 84,000 engineering tyres and 10,000 giant tyres annually. Serving diverse sectors including mining, construction and agriculture, this initiative enhances the company’s high-end product portfolio and promotes the sustainable advancement of China’s OTR tyre industry.

Looking ahead, Prinx Chengshan intends to uphold its integrated product and service approach. By advancing agricultural tyre technology, the company aims to support the evolution of agricultural machinery through intelligent and sustainable solutions, contributing to the sector’s continued progress.

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Tructyre has announced the appointment of Mark Holland as its new Operations Director, effective from April 2026. In this role, he will leverage his extensive background in managing large-scale mobile service operations to enhance support for fleet customers across all sizes.

Holland transitions to Tructyre from ATS Euromaster, where he spent nearly six years as Operations Director. His tenure there also included leadership positions such as Head of Mobile Operations, Head of Network Development and Area Operations Manager. Prior to joining ATS Euromaster in 2011, he served as Network Manager at Auto Windscreens, where he was responsible for overseeing the company’s mobile teams.

In his new capacity, Holland will oversee a 350-strong fleet of service vehicles, along with tooling, equipment, supply chain and distribution. He will also manage Tructyre’s 24/7 Customer Experience Centre in Gateshead, which handles over 11,000 calls each month. Tructyre specialises exclusively in mobile servicing for trucks, trailers, buses and coaches. Its operations are supported by a network of 40 depots across England, Wales and Scotland, supplemented by additional stocking points, ensuring technicians have round-the-clock access to the necessary fitments for both planned service work and roadside emergencies.

Holland said, “Tructyre is partway through a major investment in new systems, so it’s an exciting moment to be stepping into this role. These upgrades will streamline processes for both our technicians and colleagues within our Customer Experience Centre, enabling us to deliver an even faster, more efficient service for fleets. Few industries carry the responsibility that ours does, and the opportunity to help de‑risk Britain’s commercial vehicle fleets is one I take seriously. I’m looking forward to driving operational excellence in everything we do and ensuring our customers have complete confidence in their tyres.”

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