October 15, 2013: Apollo Tyres has opened its first branded retail outlet, an Apollo Zone, in Sri Lanka. The outlet is designed to provide customers with an enhanced retail experience and a better feel for the brand and products like its passenger and commercial vehicle tyres. The Apollo Zone is located in the upmarket area of Galle Road in Colombo, and is operated by Apollo’s Business Partners, Ideal Wheels & Tyres.
The tyremaker says Sri Lanka has become one of its fast- growing export markets, with sales increasing by more than 50 percent year-on-year.
According to Satish Sharma, chief, India Operations, Apollo Tyres, said, “Sri Lanka is at the cusp of growth, especially the regions which were most affected by war. Also, there is enough movement of commercial vehicles due to the rapid infrastructure development across the country; this in turn leads to increased demand for tyres. Branded retail outlets, such as the one which we have opened today in Colombo, will result in an higher visibility for the Apollo brand.”
Nalin Welgama, chairman, Ideal Wheels & Tyres, said “we are very much excited to have partnered Apollo Tyres. We are proud to announce that we have been able to capture a lion share of the truck-bus bias tyre market in our territory within a short span of time. With the opening of the ultramodern Apollo Zone and island-wide distributor network, will enable us to consolidate our market share further.”
Photograph (L-R): Satish Sharma, chief, India Operations, Apollo Tyres, Nalin Welgama, chairman, Ideal Wheels & Tyres and Aravinda De Silva, deputy chairman, Ideal Wheels & Tyres.