KATHMANDU, Nepal—Apollo Tyres Ltd. has stepped up its activities in South Asia with the opening of a new sales office in Nepal, its first in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation region outside of India.
The expansion gives the India-based tire maker a presence in a country where it sees significant potential for growth and infrastructure progress.
"Over the past few years, we have been making steady inroads into the Nepalese market," Rajesh Dahiya, Apollo's vice president of marketing, sales and service, said during the grand opening of the new office.
According to Dahiya, Apollo's product range fits well with the Nepalese consumer requirements, and the company has been able to penetrate "most of the replacement tire market segments."
"Now that we have a foothold in Nepal," Dahiya said, "we believe it is the perfect time to step up our focus in this market."
Apollo claims to have a "sizeable market share" in the commercial vehicle and passenger vehicle tire segments in Nepal.
Nepal, the tire maker said, contributes more than 35 percent of the company's exports to SAARC countries.