The Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Mr. M.K. Stalin, recently inaugurated Apollo Tyres’ ninth global tyre manufacturing unit and the fourth in India on the outskirts of Chennai. Present on the occasion were Mr. Onkar S. Kanwar, Chairman, Mr. Neeraj Kanwar, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Apollo Tyres, and the company’s Directors and CEOs from India, South Africa and Europe.The greenfield Chennai facility is a reflection of India’s growth aspirations and manufacturing capabilities, showcasing some of the best practices available across the globe in tyre manufacturing. A highly automated plant with extensive use of robotics and IT-driven systems, it employs young and skilled manpower on the shopfloor.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Kanwar observed: “While planning this manufacturing facility, we have ‘questioned’ the existing practices and studied benchmarked systems within Apollo and outside, with a desire to create an iconic tyre manufacturing facility, which is technologically advanced and yet cost competitive. I am happy that this plant mirrors the hopes and aspirations of new India, even as India goes global.”
Built over 128 acres, plant construction began on site in December 2008 at the peak of the global downturn. This is the fourth facility of Apollo Tyres in India, with the existing two facilities in Kerala and one in Gujarat.
“Our journey here began in 2008. When the world was going through a severe economic recession, we undertook the task of investment in an iconic tyre plant in India to meet tomorrow’s needs. It proved to be one of the best decisions we have taken in a while. The Tamil Nadu Government has supported us in every single step that we have taken”, added Mr. Kanwar.
The first tyre was commercially produced by February 2010, in a short span of just 14 months. The projected investment of Rs. 450 crores in 2008 has since been scaled up multi-fold to Rs. 2,100 crores. The Chennai plant currently produces 7,000 passenger vehicle tyres and 1,300 commercial vehicle tyres a day. At its terminal capacity, production is expected to reach 16,000 passenger vehicle and 6,000 commercial vehicle tyres a day.
Commissioned in a record time of 14 months, the Chennai plant received necessary certifications and clearance for supplying to OEMs in just four months. Equipped with the most modern and advanced equipment and technology, the plant will bring into India true economies of scale and know-how. But more than anything else, this unit is a manifestation of what is possible in India today.
Apollo Tyres Ltd., the leading Indian tyre manufacturer, is built around the core principles of creating stakeholder value through reliability in its products and dependability in its relationships. Besides four manufacturing units in India, it has four in Southern Africa and one in the Netherlands. Apollo’s subsidiary companies are Apollo Tyres South Africa Pty Ltd. (previously known as Dunlop Tyres) and Apollo Vredestein BV in the Netherlands.
India, South Africa and Europe are the company’s three domestic markets from where products are exported to over 70 countries. In each of the domestic markets the company operates through a vast network of branded, exclusive and multi-product outlets.“Our business philosophy has always been that if we move ahead in Apollo, we have to take the community we are a part of also forward in whatever manner we can. Therefore, even as this plant was being constructed we joined hands with the Tamil Nadu National State AIDS Society and set up five HIV-AIDS awareness clinics across the State. We picked the busiest trucking halt points and have been doing active work in HIV-AIDS awareness and prevention. In no other State in the country do we have 5 clinics”, said Mr. Kanwar.
