CHINNAPANDURU, India—Apollo Tyres Ltd. has commissioned production at a car and truck/bus tire plant in Chinnapanduru, Andrah Pradesh, its fifth factory in Indian and seventh overall.
Apollo has budgeted $280 million for Phase I of this factory project, with capacity for both car and truck/bus tires ramping up gradually over the coming 12 to 18 months.
The plant is designed to produce 15,000 passenger and 3,000 truck/bus radials per day at full Phase I capacity, Apollo said. Built using a modular layout, the facility's capacity can be expanded with "minimal" engineering efforts and with economies on investments, Apollo said.
"This ultra-modern facility is a reflection of our growth aspirations and manufacturing capabilities, showcasing some of the best practices available across the globe in tire manufacturing," Apollo Tyres Chairman Onkar Kanwar said.
Kanwar was on hand for the commissioning ceremony along with his son, Neeraj Kanwar, chairman and managing director, and other supervisory board members and senior management.
The highly automated plant uses information technology-driven systems and robotics, Apollo said and employs young, skilled workers recruited for the most part locally.
"This plant mirrors the hopes and aspirations of the new self-reliant India," Onkar Kanwar said.
The use of state-of-the-art manufacturing technologies at this facility will enable the company to target premium OEMs and aftermarket customers in India, Apollo said, further consolidating vision of providing world quality products to global markets.