This edition of Autocar Professional examines how changes in the automobile are reshaping the tyres beneath it. Vehicles are growing larger, powertrains are evolving and transport operators expect more from every kilometre their fleets cover. This offers Indian tyre makers an opportunity beyond supplying a growing vehicle market, since the investments made today will determine who can develop the more demanding products of tomorrow.
The latest edition notes that this investment is gathering pace. Crisil expects leading manufacturers to spend around Rs 18,000 crore over FY27 and FY28. Several plants are running close to their limits, and JK Tyre says it had to forgo some export orders to protect its position in the domestic market. JK Tyre and Apollo are debottlenecking and expanding capacity in response to rising demand.
India's large vehicle fleet and established tyre exports give the industry a strong base. However, rising raw-material and freight costs mean each new investment will have to work hard. The measure of this cycle will be the industry's ability to make tyres that customers choose for their performance, both at home and in markets around the world.
This issue also carries coverage from the IAA show in Hannover, capturing key developments, featuring conversations with the CEO of Daimler Truck and senior leaders at Bosch and BorgWarner, whose perspectives help assess what global shifts in commercial vehicles could mean for a country like India.
Autocar Professional magazine is available through all good newsagents and for download from Magzter.
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