The bicycle industry has seen an exponential demand, especially since the Covid-19 pandemic hit. With an increase in commodity prices and new players entering the industry, every manufacturer has to be as efficient as possible to make its bicycle stand out in the market. We talk to Scott Sports India on making its place in the Indian market, the impact of the pandemic and investing in its customers. 

The increase in the purchasing power of consumers in developing nations like India, Mexico and Malaysia is anticipated to be the utmost driver for the bicycle market in the years to come. Also, according to a recent study, the global bicycles market is expected to reach USD 78 billion by 2026, especially with so many bicycle players making their way into the market.

One such company is Scott Sports, a Swiss producer of bicycles, winter equipment, motorsports gear and sportswear, which has also made its place in India. Working towards the development, manufacturing, sales and marketing of high-end performance products intended for biking, the company’s agenda is to get more and more people out on bicycles, cycling outdoors. When the company started off in India, a large part of its customers was, in fact, people from the IT sector. These people had travelled across the world on projects, realising that there is a lifestyle that one can have and that there are bikes that one can buy which actually cater to this lifestyle, giving one a better riding experience. However, as time has gone by, the company has had customers right from a 12- or 13-year-old kid to an 85-year-old gentleman, ever since it started its journey in India in 2012. It currently has about 110 outlets and with the Avanti Giro FM1 brand coming in, it is planning to add another 150 outlets in the next 12 months. 

Bikes suitable for anyone and everyone

Scott Sports introduced Avanti Giro FM1 from New Zealand recently in India, making it suitable for southern hemisphere countries. “In the southern hemisphere, largely, there exists a lot of commute and price-sensitive customers, from India to South Africa to Brazil to Australia etc.,” says Jaymin Shah, Managing Director, Scott Sports India, and continues, “That entire belt of countries consists of sports, but at the same time, is very sensitive to price. Therefore, at the end of the day, they want products that are designed for a particular reason, that can do the work and don’t burn a big hole in their pockets. This is why we launched the Avanti brand, which also lets us reach out to a bigger target audience that is India.”

But introducing a bike for the southern hemisphere is not the company’s only unique element. Scott Sports, till it entered the business, realised that bicycles are available in a one-size-fits-all kind of a category. What Scott Sports did was get the same bicycle in different frame sizes. “Just the way you can buy a shirt in a small, medium, large or XL size, the same can be done with bicycles,” Shah reveals and adds, “This is a change that the Indian customer did not know about (about a decade back).”

Another element that Scott Sports focuses on is called ‘bike fit’. Shah explains, “Bike fit is a concept where one can customise the dimensions on one’s bike. The frame size remains the same, but it has a different leg length, torso length and so on.”

Shah further informs, “We have a system and a software, along with a German partner, where the system scans your body and makes recommendations as per the model you want to select.”

A broken helmet is a good helmet

Customisation or no customisation, one factor that people surely look for in any vehicle, including bicycles, is safety. Catering to this need, we see many bicycle brands offering helmets or other safety features. Scott Sports’ bikes come equipped with reflectors, which are mandatory. “Along with this, we sell a lot of products as accessories, like helmets, reflector vests or even reflector stickers,” Shah asserts. Pointing out a very interesting aspect about helmets, he further tells us, “While the core idea of a helmet is to protect the bicycle rider, many people think that the helmet should not break when they crash. However, the fact is that if the helmet does not crack after a severe crash, then the helmet in question is of a sub-standard variety. A good helmet will crack. This is because the crack is what dissipates the fall and distributes the impact.”

Increase in commodity prices

Scott Sports is currently catering to three segments – lifestyle, commute and sports. Shah believes that the sports and lifestyle segments will see growth. “On the commute side, we have suddenly seen a drop in bicycles, only because cars are back on the streets,” he tells us.

As these segments see growth, prices too will be a factor of consideration. All of Scott Sports’ bicycles are made of alloy and carbon. However, general commodity prices, which include aluminium alloy etc., have seen an increase in price. From Scott’s perspective, the demand has not been impacted for one reason alone – the consumer/target audience not looking for the mass market. “They are looking for premium products,” Shah says and continues, “Only time will tell if this is sustainable or not, because a point may come where the consumer will say that he/she is not willing to pay beyond that price. Plus, global shipping rates have gone through the roof, i.e. by five times, which is huge. Scott has also increased the prices of its products in India from 1st April this year.” 

Shah goes on to mention that the government is doing all it can to cool off commodity prices. “However, I don’t think it all can be controlled by just one government measure. That’s because there are a lot of factors which are beyond our control, from the Russia-Ukraine war to the Covid situation. And this applies not just to India but the world,” he cites. 

One material is as durable as the other

On the material front, he clarifies that whether a bicycle is made of steel, alloy or carbon, the product is a durable one. What’s important is that it has to be maintained well. “The biggest difference between an alloy and a steel bike or an alloy and a carbon bike is the weight of the bicycle. Steel bicycles typically tend to be heavier than alloy bicycles and carbon bicycles tend to be lighter than alloy bicycles. One is as durable as the other,” he explains. 

Educating the customer and mechanics

With the customers’ demand and needs changing rapidly, educating them and making them aware becomes highly crucial. Scott Sports has some singular initiatives in this domain. For one, it has a customer helpline number that is not a sales helpline but simply a customer education helpline. “One can call the helpline and talk to our product specialists who will guide the customer through various factors,” Shah avers. 

Another initiative it has is ‘breakfast rides’ (conducted mainly pre-covid). “We used to conduct breakfast rides with small communities across the country, where our product specialists would address one topic,” Shah puts across and adds, “The topic could be with respect to customer education, bike maintenance, bike fit and would vary in every ride. Also, with everything sort of opening up post-covid, we will be restarting these breakfast rides.”

Scott Sports invests not just in its customers but in its mechanics as well. It runs ‘technical services’ meant for trade only and for all the mechanics. “Here, either our team would go out to a regional centre and call in the mechanics nearby or the mechanics would come to Mumbai,” Shah informs and adds, “This is something we used to do on a regular basis to sensitise the mechanics.”

Covid’s impact on business

Post the lockdown, Scott Sports has grown by 100 percent. “In that sense, it was a great year from a business perspective. However, we also realise that there is a lot of demand out there,” Shah shares. 

While it was a smooth-running chain pre-covid, each country had to be subject to its own lockdowns post-covid, as per their respective government’s measures. “So now, all our bikes come from Cambodia, but a lot of components come from Vietnam or Malaysia or Indonesia. It’s not just about putting a bicycle together – it’s about getting all the moving parts, from the tyres to tubes to suspensions, together. So, from that perspective, tying everything together from different parts of the world became a challenge for us,” Shah enlightens.

Challenges for the industry

With these challenges, we can’t remove the competition out of the equation, especially with new companies entering the market. Nonetheless, Shah claims that at the price-point and quality level where Scott Sports is, it is equivalent to a BMW or a Mercedes or an Audi today. “You can buy a product which is priced at INR 40,000 but also buy a Scott bike which is priced at INR 1 million,” he says and goes on, “The mass brands, we hear, are in over-stocked situations, which is also contributed by so many players entering the market. However, when one looks at the premium market – that we are targeting and have been historically present in – no overnight player can really come in and challenge us over there.”

However, there are other challenges to face. The Indian government’s restriction on import of tyres and tubes has impacted the bicycle owners the most, Shah believes. He asserts that there are local manufacturers for automobile tyres. However, on the bicycle front, with the level of quality required for international brands, the importers requiring such tyres are facing the biggest challenge. 

The next step

Scott Sports sold over 12,000 units during the financial year 2021-2022. Speaking of the company’s targets for the current fiscal, Shah tells us, “Our target is not more than 15,000 next year. This is essentially not a reflection of the demand but a reflection of how many bikes we can get into the country.”

Catering to every personalised requirement

The bicycle industry certainly is seeing tremendous demand and is evolving every day, especially where every consumer gets to choose a bike that suits him/her the best. This, of course, comes with its share of challenges for the industry and customers both. For a market like India, where customers can be price-sensitive and some also willing to invest in bicycles, making them aware goes a long way, catering to their every personalised requirement that they look for when purchasing a bicycle.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Himadri Speciality Chemical Ltd is positioning its tyre business as a key growth driver, backed by calibrated investment, product expansion and a long-term plan to scale operations across domestic and export markets.

The company’s re-entry into the tyre segment through the revival of Birla Tyres marks a strategic diversification beyond its core speciality chemicals and carbon materials business. In its first year of operations, the tyre division generated revenue of INR 1.87 billion, reflecting an early-stage but measured recovery.

Management has outlined an ambitious medium-term target to scale the business to around INR 30 billione in revenue over the next four years, signalling a significant ramp-up in capacity utilisation, distribution reach and product portfolio.

The investment strategy is deliberately phased. The company is prioritising product-market fit, channel expansion and brand repositioning before pursuing volume-led growth. It has already established a distribution base of 43 distributors and more than 1,000 dealers, providing a platform for scale.

“We are approaching the revival of our tyre business in a calibrated manner, focusing first on product-market fit, channel strength and brand positioning before scaling volumes,” said Anurag Choudhary, Chairman, Managing Director And Chief Executive.

At the product level, Himadri is strengthening its presence in agriculture and commercial vehicle segments, where brands such as KalaPatthar and Shaan+ are gaining traction. New launches, including AgriPlus and AgriWin tractor tyre series, are expected to support near-term growth.

Looking ahead, the company plans to expand into passenger car radial tyres, with commissioning targeted over the next 24 months. The strategy will focus on electric vehicle-specific tyres, leveraging Himadri’s expertise in carbon black chemistry to develop higher-performance products with improved durability and efficiency.

“Our objective is not merely to regain market presence, but to build a differentiated and competitive tyre business that can sustainably grow across domestic and select international markets,” Choudhary said.

Capacity expansion and production ramp-up will be aligned closely with demand visibility over the next 12–24 months. The company indicated that utilisation levels will increase progressively, supported by new product introductions across agriculture, mining and commercial vehicle segments.

Alongside manufacturing, Himadri is investing in process improvements and supply chain capabilities to ensure consistent quality as volumes scale. The broader objective is to build a differentiated tyre business rather than pursue rapid expansion at the cost of margins.

Management said the tyre division remains at an early stage but is expected to evolve into a meaningful contributor to overall growth in the coming years, complementing the company’s advanced materials and speciality chemicals portfolio.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

CEAT Limited reported a 23 percent year-on-year increase in consolidated revenue to INR 42.19 billion in the fourth quarter of the financial year ended 31 March  2026, with net profit of INR 2.44 billion and an EBITDA margin of 14.18 percent.

For the full year, the tyre maker posted consolidated revenue of INR 156.78 billion, up 18.6 percent, with net profit of INR 6.97 billion and an EBITDA margin of 13.16 percent.

CEAT Limited said the quarterly performance was supported by growth across segments, including its international business, despite geopolitical pressures.

Arnab Banerjee, Managing Director & Chief Executive, said: “FY26 has been a strong year where we delivered robust growth in top line as well as in bottom line. We crossed an important milestone of  INR 150 billion of revenue, accompanied by market share gains in replacement and OEMS. We successfully closed the CAMSO deal during the year.

“In Q4, we delivered high growth in all segments including international business, despite geopolitical tensions. Looking ahead, while there is a momentum on top line, we have short-term challenges on supply chain and costs due to steep increase raw material cost that we intent to mitigate through pricing and strong cost management. We intend to continue expanding our capacities in line with our growth plans.”

On a standalone basis, fourth-quarter revenue stood at INR 40.36 billion, up 18 percent year on year, with an EBITDA margin of 14.55 percent and net profit of INR 2.84 billion.

Kumar Subbiah, Chief Financial Officer, said: “In Q4, we improved operating margins by over 51 bps, driven by a sharper focus on operating efficiencies, scale and disciplined cost management. For the year, we delivered our highest-ever profit of INR 6.97 billion. “Our balance sheet continues to be strong and leverage ratios remain healthy to provide growth capital to the business. While gross debt has increased, we remain committed to maintaining a cautious leverage profile with adequate liquidity.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

South Korean tyre company Hankook will present its latest innovations at The Tire Cologne, taking place from 9 to 11 June 2026.

Interestingly, in addition to showcasing its wide range of tyres and, for the first time, products from the company's battery division.

At The Tire Cologne 2026, Hankook will feature two new products for the passenger and truck tyres from the winter and performance segments.

It will exhibit the Laufenn brand for passenger car tyres, including the new Laufenn S Fit 2 summer tyre. Hankook will present two studies for the first time to the general public, following a limited unveiling in 2025.

The space will include show cars and a presence for the Hankook Alphatread retread brand at the Allianz Zukunft Reifen (AZuR) stand.

To better serve the European market and reduce delivery distances, Hankook is expanding its factory in Hungary. The company is adding a production line for truck and bus tyres, as announced in late 2023. Its total investment in the project will reach EUR 540 million by 2027. Once finished, the facility is expected to produce up to 800,000 units annually.

Furthermore, the stand will also feature award-winning designs from the ‘Design Innovation Project’, which includes a 3D-printed concept tyre made from recycled and renewable materials, featuring an organic tread design. WheelBot 2, a robotic platform equipped with spherical wheels that allow for multi-directional movement, is designed for the PathCruizer mobility pod.

Claus Gommel, Head of Sales Consumer Products, Hankook Reifen Deutschland, said, “Especially in an increasingly digital world, personal interaction remains crucial. The Tire Cologne provides an opportunity for members of the international tyre industry to come together. We look forward to meeting our customers and partners in person.”

Manfred Zoni, Head of Sales Truck and Bus at Hankook in Germany, added, “With targeted investment in production, products and service offerings, we are strengthening our commercial vehicle tyre business in Germany and Europe.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Nokian Tyres has announced the appointment of Ville Mansikkamäki as Senior Vice President for Heavy Tyres, effective by 1 October 2026. The executive, who holds an Executive MBA and a Bachelor of Science in Engineering in Logistics, will also join the company’s management team. Based in Nokia, Finland, Mansikkamäki will report directly to President and CEO Paolo Pompei.

Mansikkamäki joins the Finnish tyre manufacturer from Ponsse Plc, a global producer of cut-to-length forest machines, where he served as Vice President for Europe. His background includes senior business leadership roles at CNH, Valtra and AGCO, bringing extensive experience in heavy equipment and logistics.

He succeeds Tron Gulbrandsen, who has been managing Nokian Heavy Tyres on an interim basis. Gulbrandsen will continue his regular duties as Senior Vice President for Passenger Car Tyres in the Nordics.

Paolo Pompei, President and CEO, Nokian Tyres, said, “I am pleased to welcome Ville Mansikkamäki to Nokian Tyres. His deep expertise in machinery industry and strong international leadership background will significantly support the continued development of our heavy tyres business. I would like to thank Tron for his leadership and valuable contribution to Nokian Heavy Tyres.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!