Balkrishna Industries Ltd. (BKT) has strengthened its commercial vehicle radial (CVR) tyre distribution network in Tamil Nadu with the inauguration of a 10,000 sq ft facility in Sankagiri, Salem. The facility is operated by authorised distributor Sri Jayanthi Roadways and will serve eight markets — Salem, Sankagiri, Namakkal, Erode, Coimbatore, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri and Karur.
The new hub is intended to improve the availability of BKT's CVR tyre portfolio and provide a local touchpoint for fleet operators, dealers and channel partners. Sankagiri is a trucking and logistics hub connecting Salem, Coimbatore and Kerala, positioning the facility along a key freight movement corridor.
The move is part of BKT's efforts to expand its on-highway tyre business in India and increase its presence in the commercial vehicle segment. The company said Tamil Nadu is a priority market for its CVR business due to its road infrastructure, freight movement and commercial transport ecosystem.
BKT Tyres Expands CVR Distribution In Tamil Nadu
As part of the facility's inauguration, BKT held a Partner Connect programme on September 23, bringing together dealers, fleet operators and representatives from the regional transport ecosystem. A flag-off ceremony was also held for seven commercial vehicles fitted with BKT tyres.
The event included participation from the Sankagiri Lorry Owners Association (SLOA), which represents more than 3,300 members, along with representatives from the regional transport and fleet community.
BKT's National Sales Head for Commercial Vehicle Radial Tyres, Amitkumar Agarwal, said the Sankagiri facility is intended to improve product access and strengthen relationships with fleet operators, transporters and channel partners. He also pointed to the partnership with Sri Jayanthi Roadways, which has more than four decades of industry experience, as part of the company's distribution expansion in South India.
The company said the facility forms part of its continued expansion of its CVR portfolio in India, targeting the requirements of the commercial transportation sector. BKT had previously announced its entry into the two-wheeler, passenger car and commercial vehicle tyre markets in India.
BKT, headquartered in Mumbai, manufactures off-highway tyres and has a portfolio of more than 3,600 specialised products covering agriculture, industrial, construction, mining, earthmoving and material handling applications. The company said it serves customers across 163 countries. Its manufacturing ecosystem also includes in-house carbon black production and R&D centres focused on application-specific tyre design.