With increasing technology and service-oriented approach and thrust on transparency in the pursuit of delivering service excellence towards the end-user, tyre dealers will evolve to be seen as providing the values expected of a specialist and not a generalist, says Satish Sharma, President (Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa) and Whole Time Director, Apollo Tyres. 

“In terms of the changes, we will see more transparency ushered in by the technology and change in mindset. The new generation is more data-oriented, so testing and other data will be asked. I believe the service aspect and data-oriented approach will get expanded. A ‘24x7 for 365 days’ kind of service availability will be seen. Retailers are still looked upon as generalists. More and more specialisation will be happening, as the tyre is an engineering product and you want the right quality, assurance and replacements. So, retailers will emerge as specialists. There are also some regulations, such as tyre labelling and end-of-life, coming in. I’m sure the tyre retailers will have a role to play in the regulatory changes that are happening. So, the evolutionary journey is happening in bits and pieces. But given that the change is speedy, we are hopeful that this is the direction we will go,” explains Sharma.

The Indian tyre retail business has witnessed tremendous changes in the recent past. Earlier, a tyre dealership business was not seen as an aspirational choice. Still, with the evolution of finance for commercial vehicle tyres, the emergence of passenger car and motorcycle tyres as a specialised business – which offers a lot from the service angle – is producing a new breed of entrepreneurs who see the tyre retail business as a vocational profession. 

“Today, we are seeing entrepreneurs who have gone from a single retail outlet to multiple retail outlets looking at the benefits of covering the geography. Many of them are also having multiple retail outlets with various brands. On the two-wheeler tyre side, the traditional tyre retail outlet is not able to cater to that market, but they are available at mechanical shops or even puncture shops. At some places where the scaling has happened, one has also seen the entry of some professionals,” adds Sharma.

Tyre service is also emerging as a source of revenue. Specialisations around fitment, alignment balancing, nitrogen filling and other services have generated a sizeable portion of revenues. As radialisation is happening in the commercial tyre segment, dealers are also expanding their business on highways.

New challenges are cropping up for dealers with the emergence of new business models, where tyre companies are catering to end-users directly through supplying tyres on rent or on a CPKM basis and selling on their own websites. However, Apollo Tyres prefers to keep its partners as an integral part of its new business models. Sharma explains, “Providing tyres as a service is happening in the commercial tyre segment, where few tyre companies go directly to the end-user. However, Apollo Tyres has never gone that route and does not believe in going that route. We sell and service only through our dealer partners, and that’s been our preferred choice. When we opt for new business models, we always take care of channel conflict in our organisation. Even if we have to provide services directly to the end-user, we will train our dealer partners to provide the services. That’s the way we handle it. And I believe that’s the right way to handle it. In the passenger tyre segment, many local dealers are selling tyres online with the help of e-commerce portals. That’s why you normally won’t find the desired product on these e-commerce portals, and it’s not a very efficient business as of now.

Apollo Tyres had launched an e-commerce portal, shop.apollotyres.com, for passenger car and two-wheeler tyre customers two years ago to cater to the online selling tyres business. With the portal, consumers can purchase their chosen tyres online and book an appointment with Apollo Tyres’ dealer nearest to their location to get the tyres fitted and serviced. The Indian tyre major also has a portal for commercial vehicle tyres. Consumers can directly buy tyres on the portal, but the commercial transactions are passed to the dealer servicing the customer’s needs. “However, this business model, again in its nascent stage, is not as if it’s put the world on fire. For e-commerce for tyres, there’s a long way to go, simply because the customer realises the quality of service you can actually get by going to the dealer counter and having a good relationship with a tyre specialist – because you need the services repeatedly. As the bouquet of services at a tyre dealer is increasing, you can go to a tyre dealer even for a puncture. If this business model takes off, we are already a foot inside the door,” adds Sharma.

Apollo Tyres will launch a digital experience centre to reach its targeted consumers widely. However, the company firmly believes that a real- life experience of the product better impacts the consumers. In line with this, it is making efforts to train its dealers, setting up a standardised format for its branded retail outlets such as Apollo Zones, Apollo Corner, Apollo Points and Apollo CV Zones. “With our branded retail outlets, we have changed the perception of a tyre shop from a dusty looking shop to a dust-free and air-conditioned outlet, where products can be browsed on digital screens. Products are placed so that one can touch and feel them. Our outlets are very friendly and gender-neutral to encourage women to purchase tyres independently. So, we engage our customers with products more meaningfully,” explains Sharma.

Apollo Tyres is also focusing on expanding its footprint in the rural area. With local entrepreneurs and service forces called rural experts, Apollo Tyres has around 4,500 touchpoints, including about 250 AVK/ ARD and more than 1,000 REDs , in the rural network at the start of FY21 . It also launched the ‘Apollo Tyres Sarpanch’ initiative in March 2021 to enable it to have the most comprehensive tyre distribution network in the rural segment. 

Apollo Tyres recently has launched its Vredestein brand in India. With the brand, the company will initially cater to the demand for tyres between 15 inches and 24 inches, which are generally needed for the luxury and executive premium segment. The company is also working with BMW to supply the Vredestein tyres for BMW 2 and BMW 7 series as OE fitment. “We are cherry-picking the business partners. To create awareness, we are associating ourselves with targeted communities and consumers. We are also engaging ourselves with golf tournaments and providing riding experiences on the F1 tracks,” adds Sharma.

In the tyre retail business, data will gain importance to generate new customers, retain older ones, serve them and manage the business more efficiently. However, dealers may be good at maintaining the balance sheets but they are yet to get hands-on with generating data on the best tyre models, sizes, brands and fast-moving inventories. As per Sharma, “Today, dealers have mistrust with the company manufacturers, and they don’t want to share their data on inventory, the movement, speed and velocity of the inventory at the same time. But as the dealers are getting more and more into digitalisation, they’re seeing the benefits of data. Their minds are also opening up. And so, it’s a journey which needs to be travelled.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. has been officially recognised as a DX Certified Business Operator by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). The designation, which was granted on 1 September 2025, identifies companies that are thoroughly prepared for digital transformation as outlined by the Digital Governance Code.

This certification acknowledges Yokohama Rubber's comprehensive strategy for digital transformation, which is built on three core objectives: advancing business strategy, contributing to sustainability and reinforcing its IT infrastructure. Central to this effort is the company's proprietary AI framework, HAICoLab (Humans and AI ColLaborate), which drives group-wide digital initiatives. These include improving productivity, innovating processes, developing digital talent and building a global cloud-based IT system. The certification confirms that the company's efforts not only meet METI's stringent criteria but also demonstrate appropriate disclosure of information to its stakeholders.

Moving forward, the company said it will continue to leverage data from its entire value chain to adapt to a dynamic business environment. The company aims to enhance customer value, pursue sustainable innovation and transform its corporate culture to strengthen its competitive position and ensure long-term growth.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

TyresNmore, the automotive aftermarket e-commerce platform owned by RPG Group, has promoted Rakesh Tatikonda to Chief Executive Officer and announced the change with immediate effect.

Tatikonda, who previously oversaw business operations at the Mumbai-based firm, will spearhead the organisation’s expansion and innovation strategy. The appointment advances RPG Group’s ‘Talent First!’ policy, which rewards internal promotions and develops employees.

The new chief executive brings over 15 years of industry experience, having worked across multiple sectors with companies such as telecommunications giant Reliance Jio and IT services provider Infosys. Before joining TyresNmore in 2022, Tatikonda held senior positions at tyre manufacturer CEAT, where he developed expertise in strategy, operations, marketing and digital transformation.

“My aim is to transform automotive aftercare in India by offering seamless, tech-driven, end-to-end mobility solutions delivered with trust, transparency, and convenience right at the customer’s doorstep,” Tatikonda said in a statement.

TyresNmore operates a doorstep service model for tyre and battery replacement across six major Indian cities: Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai. The platform represents RPG Group’s entry into the growing automotive aftermarket sector, which has seen increased digitisation as consumers seek convenient maintenance solutions.

During his tenure in operations, Tatikonda scaled the business and improved profitability while driving digital transformation initiatives. His track record shows he strengthened operational efficiency and enhanced customer experience in the mobility convenience sector.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Vaculug, Europe’s largest independent retreader producing high-quality OTR and truck retread tyres for fleets across the UK and Europe, has expanded its UK presence by acquiring Tyrefair in Kinross, Scotland.

This strategic acquisition extends the company's award-winning service further north, ensuring Scottish customers receive the same high-quality OTR and truck retread tyres Vaculug has supplied for 75 years. Since the purchase, the Kinross location has already grown by 25 percent, with an ambitious target to double its business within a year and then double it again.

This move is a key part of Vaculug's 2026 growth strategy, focused on strategic acquisitions that enable better, faster and more sustainable customer service. The acquisition reinforces Vaculug’s long-standing environmental mission, marking a new chapter of sustainable growth with a strengthened Scottish operation.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Nokian Tyres is expanding its US presence through a new nationwide partnership with American Tire Distributors (ATD). This agreement provides Nokian access to ATD’s vast network of over 110 distribution centres, serving roughly 80,000 customers.

The collaboration will efficiently supply tyre shops with Nokian’s complete product lineup, enabling dealers to broaden their inventory. Both companies bring 90 years of experience and a shared dedication to innovation, safety and sustainability. This partnership will offer drivers more choices, supported by Nokian’s award-winning Tennessee factory and ATD’s technology-driven logistics.

This enhanced distribution capability ensures that consumers will have greater access to a full spectrum of high-performance tyres, meeting diverse driving needs and conditions. The alliance strengthens both brands' market positions by combining premium products with an unparalleled delivery system, ultimately improving service for dealers and drivers alike across the country.

Chris Ostrander, SVP, North America, Nokian Tyres, said, “The partnership with ATD enables us to reach more tyre shops and more drivers than ever before. ATD’s robust distribution network, customer service and responsiveness strengthen our agility to serve both new and existing customers.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!