Apollo to supply tyres for VW Passat globally

Indian tyre manufacturer Apollo has been selected by Volkswagen to supply tyres for the Passat across the world. This deal comes at a time when Apollo is making inroads into the super competitive European car tyre market. Apollo currently has a presence in 14 countries in Europe. Back home, Apollo is all set to launch its 4G series of tyres with sizes ranging from 12-18 inches.

Apollo has also announced that it will be bringing its Vredestein brand to India this year. The company will introduce these products in India in the third quarter of the calendar year though there are plans for a soft launch in June at the Buddh International Circuit. Apollo is gearing up to position itself against premium brands like Michelin, Bridgestone and Pirelli and will start the import of its ultra high performance tyres here. The range will include the Sportrac 5, Ultrac Cento and the Ultrac Sessanta and Ultra Sessanta SUV tyres. While prices have not been finalised yet, Apollo has confirmed its initial focus will be on the Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities only. At present, Vredestein's presence in India is restricted to being the official tyre partner for the Audi Driving Experience held at the Buddh Circuit.