Apollo Tyres, the world’s 17th biggest tyre manufacturers and one of India’s leading tyre companies, recently inaugurated its Global R&D Centre, Asia located just outside the southern Indian city of Chennai.
This is the company’s second global R&D centre, after the Global R&D Centre, Europe located in the Netherlands became operational in 2013. The two Global R&D Centres of Apollo Tyres, in addition to the core research, serve the product development needs of the respective regions.
The Global R&D Centre, Europe in Enschede, the Netherlands with a team of over 150 people, services the Europe and America region. While the Global R&D Centre, Asia,having more than 140 people in its team, services the product development needs for the entire Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa region.
“Apollo Tyres has been at the forefront of launching breakthrough products over the past four decades suiting the Indian context. The Global R&D Centre, Asia will break new frontiers and accelerate our R&D vision for India and the region,” said Onkar S.Kanwar, Chairman, Apollo Tyres Ltd, on the occasion of the inaugural ceremony.
Kanwar also said that the opening of the global R&D centre in Chennai, India aligns with the vision of the country’s Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, of Brand India, having technology as one of the core sectors for India becoming a global power.
Besides the two Global R&D Centres, Apollo Tyres also has also set up two satellite R&D Centres in Bengaluru and Germany.
The Advanced Engineering Centre in Bengaluru is working towards integrating electronics into tyre technology, where as the one in Raunheim (Frankfurt), Germany is working towards establishing ties with leading German original equipment (OE) customers for both Apollo and Vredestein brands.
Few years back the company had restructured its Research & Development team, across key geographies, to create synergy and greater alignment to the company’s growth aspirations; and to generate speed and relevance while entering new markets.
Onkar S.Kanwar inaugurated the Global R&D Centre, Asia, along with Apollo Tyres Ltd.Vice Chairman & Managing Director,Neeraj Kanwar,in the presence of the company’s Supervisory Board of Directors and Members of the Management Board.