The Indian automotive landscape is currently undergoing a seismic shift. Driven by the rapid rise of rural urbanisation, an aggressive government push for electrification and the development of world-class road infrastructure, the industry is witnessing a period of robust growth. With sales of both new and used vehicles touching record highs, the demand for high-quality tyres remains in a significant upswing.

At the helm of one of the market’s most prominent players is Rajarshi Moitra, Managing Director of Bridgestone India and Vice-Chairman, Automotive Tyre Manufacturers’ Association (ATMA).

In an interaction with Tyre Trends, Moitra discusses the company’s future-ready roadmap, from its substantial capacity expansions to a ‘sharp and deep’ strategic focus designed to maintain leadership in an increasingly premium and electrified market.

A BULLISH OUTLOOK ON THE SUBCONTINENT

While global economic indicators remain varied, Moitra is unequivocally optimistic about the local trajectory. “The Indian automotive industry is at an exceptionally positive juncture from a medium-to-long-term perspective,” he asserts.

This optimism is grounded in several structural tailwinds that suggest India is slated for very strong growth. Key among these factors is the sheer room for market expansion.

“Firstly, we are still significantly under-indexed in terms of car penetration, with only 50 cars per 1,000 people – well below even some smaller developing nations,” Moitra explains.

Furthermore, the geographical spread of wealth is changing. Bridgestone is observing massive growth in Tier 2, 3 and 4 towns, a phenomenon Moitra attributes to ‘rural urbanisation’.

Bridgestone India estimates a transformative half-decade ahead for the industry. “The number of affordable households – those capable of purchasing a car – will double in India over the next five year. When you couple this with the government’s massive capital outflow into road connectivity and the rise of e-commerce, it creates a very bullish environment for both passenger and commercial mobility,” Moitra says.

THE ‘SHARP AND DEEP’ STRATEGIC PILLAR

Despite India being the world’s largest two-wheeler market, Bridgestone is famously absent from that segment – and intends to stay that way for now. Moitra clarifies that the company’s philosophy is rooted in specialisation rather than horizontal expansion. “At Bridgestone, we believe in being ‘sharp and deep’ in our strategy,” he says.

Currently, Bridgestone India’s business split is heavily weighted towards the consumer segment, with 70 percent of sales coming from Passenger Car Radial (PCR), 25 percent from Truck and Bus Radial (TBR) and 5 percent from Off-the-Road (OTR) segment.

“We see enough headroom for growth within the passenger car segment across products, channels and customer experience, so we are focusing our resources on maintaining our leadership there,” Moitra notes, dismissing any near-term plans to enter the two-wheeler space.

Instead, the company is doubling down on ‘white spaces’ within the consumer car category, specifically targeting higher rim diameters and specialised compounds for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).

INVESTING IN CAPACITY AND LOCAL INTELLIGENCE

To support this growth, Bridgestone is moving aggressively on the manufacturing front. With current operations running at 90–95 percent capacity, the company is in the midst of a major investment cycle.

At present, the company’s Pune plant has a capacity to produce 4.01 million passenger car tyres and around 693,000 truck & bus radial tyres, while the Indore plant has a capacity to produce 7.11 million radial tyres for passenger cars and light trucks.

“Our last major investment was USD 85 million in October 2024, which is being ramped up in phases through 2029,” Moitra confirms. This capital is being used to scale volumes and enhance technical capabilities at the Indore factory.

The new investment is expected to further add 1.1 million tyre production capacity in Pune by CY2029, thus taking its total production capacity to around 11.1 million units in the country.

“Our strategy is two-fold: we want to be future-ready for market demand while simultaneously sweating our current assets to drive higher efficiency,” Moitra explains. Crucially, this expansion isn’t just about physical output; it’s about local autonomy. Moitra highlights that a ‘very large part’ of procurement is now local, decided by teams on the ground in India.

The launch of a Satellite Technology Centre in 2025 has further decentralised the company’s innovation engine. According to Moitra, this centre plays a pivotal role in increasing local leverage and technical presence, allowing the Indian arm to maintain a balance between local agility and global sourcing.

EVs AND PREMIUMISATION

As the Indian market matures, consumers are demanding larger wheel sizes – a trend Moitra says is led by OEMs. “We are seeing a clear market shift towards higher inches – for example, a car like the Maruti Suzuki Swift moving from 14-inch to 15-inch and others moving from 16-inch to 17-inch,” he observes.

Bridgestone’s ‘all-inch’ strategy covers the spectrum from 12 to 20 inches, but their brand strength is most potent in these premium, higher-diameter sizes.

This premiumisation dovetails with the transition to electric vehicles (EVs). Bridgestone has positioned itself with an ‘EV-ready’ portfolio, exemplified by the Turanza 6i. “It balances long-lasting durability and safety with low noise and comfort – essential for EVs,” says Moitra. To ensure they capture this nascent but fast-growing market, the company expanded the range from 36 sizes in 2024 to 72 sizes by 2025.

The OEM relationship remains the cornerstone of this technological foresight. “The OEM segment allows us to see ahead of the curve regarding future vehicle technologies,” Moitra explains.

At present, 35 percent of their consumer business is OE-based and Bridgestone is in active discussions with many of the newer automotive entrants arriving in India.

While Bridgestone is aggressively expanding its footprint in new tyre technology and premium consumer segments, it is taking a markedly more conservative approach towards the retreading sector in India. Despite the potential for material circularity, the company does not view retreading as a strategic priority for the immediate future.

Moitra clarifies that Bandag, Bridgestone’s global retreading arm, is not currently active in India, and there are no plans to introduce it in the near-term. This decision is driven largely by the unique and challenging dynamics of the local market, which is currently dominated by cold retreading.

He points out that a significant pricing challenge exists when ‘cold retreads versus biased tyres versus some of the cheaper tyres’ are compared, making the business case difficult to justify at this stage. Consequently, Bridgestone has opted to remain focused on its core segments for the next two to three years rather than entering the retreading space.

SUSTAINABILITY AND THE ‘INSTITUTION OF RESPECT’

Beyond the numbers, Bridgestone is attempting to build what Moitra calls an ‘institution of respect’. This involves a heavy commitment to environmental goals. The Pune plant already holds the distinction of being the first carbon-neutral facility in the Bridgestone group.

“Sustainability is a core agenda across our entire value chain,” Moitra explains, noting a public commitment to reduce the company’s carbon footprint by 50 percent by 2030, including Scope 3 emissions. This holistic approach ranges from manufacturing processes to material circularity in the tyres themselves.

Looking ahead, the goal is to protect a dominant market share – currently over 20 percent by volume and 23 percent by value in the passenger car aftermarket. To do this, Bridgestone plans to expand its physical reach by 30 percent over the next five years, building upon its current network of over 4,000 touchpoints.

As the company transitions its branding from the Olympics to Formula E, the focus remains clear: high performance and the next era of mobility. “It’s the perfect platform to showcase our technological edge,” Moitra concludes.

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Robin Wiener, President of the Recycled Materials Association (ReMA), has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Tire Recycling Foundation (TRF). Her appointment recognises her leadership within both the recycled materials and tyre manufacturing sectors. In this new capacity, Wiener will support the Foundation's mission to enhance the tyre recycling supply chain and foster the growth of innovative markets for recycled tyre materials.

TRF, a joint initiative led by the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association and the Tire Industry Association, aims to drive circularity and sustainability in the US tyre recycling industry. Wiener joins a board of global industry leaders dedicated to securing funding and allocating grants for critical research and demonstration projects.

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Apollo Tyres Chairman Onkar S. Kanwar has said the company remains focused on disciplined execution, sustainability and long-term value creation as it navigates geopolitical uncertainty, changing trade dynamics and a challenging global business environment.

Addressing shareholders at the company's 53rd Annual General Meeting (AGM), Kanwar said FY26 had been a year that tested businesses worldwide, but Apollo Tyres had continued to strengthen its financial performance while investing for future growth.

"The future is not something we inherit. It is something we create through the choices we make every day," Kanwar told shareholders, quoting Mahatma Gandhi's observation that "The future depends on what we do in the present."

Apollo Tyres reported consolidated revenue of INR 284.71 billion for FY26, crossing the INR 280 billion milestone, while operating profit rose to INR 41.43 billion. Kanwar said the company's focus extended beyond financial performance to improving capital efficiency, operational discipline and profitable growth.

"Every important decision we take is driven by one simple question: Are we building a stronger company for tomorrow?" he said.

Kanwar also highlighted the company's efforts to strengthen the Apollo Tyres brand through its association with the Indian national cricket team, describing the partnership as one that reflected Apollo Tyres' values of resilience, determination and excellence rather than merely serving as a branding exercise.

Sustainability remained central to the company's strategy, he said, noting that Apollo Tyres' greenhouse gas emission reduction targets had been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), reinforcing its commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

The company continued to expand the use of renewable energy while improving responsible sourcing and resource efficiency across its operations, Kanwar said. "Sustainability is no longer a separate agenda for Apollo Tyres; it has become an integral part of how we innovate, manufacture and grow."

Kanwar credited employees for the company's performance, describing their commitment and adaptability as the foundation of Apollo Tyres' continued progress. He also acknowledged the support of governments and institutions across the markets where the company operates.

He singled out Hungary as a key manufacturing base in Europe, saying Apollo Tyres' plant at Gyöngyöshalász reflected the benefits of long-term collaboration with the Hungarian government.

Looking ahead, Kanwar expressed confidence in the company's growth prospects, citing India's expanding market opportunities and Apollo Tyres' international manufacturing and distribution footprint.

"Uncertainty will always be a part of business, but organisations that remain true to their values, continue to innovate and invest responsibly will be best placed to succeed," he said.

Thanking shareholders, customers, dealers, suppliers, financial institutions and government partners for their continued support, Kanwar said Apollo Tyres remained committed to building "a company that is stronger, more resilient and more responsible with every passing year."

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CAMSO Construction and CEAT Specialty has announced the appointment of Jason Canning as Vice President & Head – International Sales for CAMSO Construction and CEAT OHT business units. The executive will assume responsibility for steering the company’s worldwide sales strategy, accelerating international revenue expansion, and fortifying collaborations with original equipment manufacturers, distribution networks and end-users in pivotal global regions.

With a career spanning over two decades, Canning brings extensive commercial leadership experience garnered across the speciality tyre, industrial products and engineered materials industries. His professional track record is distinguished by consistent delivery of sustainable financial growth, the cultivation of high-performance international sales teams and the establishment of durable strategic alliances with major OEMs, channel partners and a diverse clientele across multiple continents.

This strategic hire underscores the organisation’s ongoing commitment to securing premier global talent in support of its ambitious international development objectives. The move also reaffirms the company’s dedication to providing customer-centric, premium-grade solutions on a worldwide scale, aligning with its broader vision for sustained market presence and operational excellence.

Canning said, "I am excited to join CAMSO Construction and CEAT OHT at such a pivotal time for the organisation. I look forward to leveraging my international experience to strengthen our global partnerships, expand our market presence and drive sustainable growth for the business."

Amit Tolani, Director, CAMSO Construction and Chief Executive, CEAT Specialty, said, " Jason's international experience and proven track record of building high-performing sales teams make him an outstanding addition to our leadership team. His deep understanding of the OHT products landscape, along with strong OEM and channel relationships, will support our global expansion."

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ZC Rubber has held its first Indonesia Distributor Conference, bringing together around 140 representatives from the company, PT Matahari Tire Indonesia (MTI) and its core Indonesian distributor network as it seeks to strengthen its presence in Southeast Asia.

The two-day event, held in Jakarta on July 23–24 under the theme "Gathering Momentum in Indonesia, Creating Success Together", focused on the company's manufacturing development in Indonesia, product planning for regional markets and closer collaboration with distributors.

Opening the conference, Henry Shen, Senior Vice President of Zhongce Rubber Group (ZC Rubber), highlighted the progress of MTI since it was established nearly three years ago. According to the company, the Indonesian plant began production 289 days after construction started and produced its first one million tyres a further 282 days later.

"MTI is an important part of our long-term development in Indonesia and Southeast Asia. It gives us a stronger local manufacturing base, closer access to market demand and greater flexibility in serving both regional and international customers,” said Shen.

Located in Kendal Industrial Park in Central Java, the 58.8-hectare facility is ZC Rubber's second overseas tyre plant. The company said Phase I has reached its planned production capacity, while Phase II has entered operation.

During the conference, Wang Xianning, Vice President of ZC Rubber and General Manager of MTI, outlined developments in production capacity, intelligent manufacturing and the plant's end-to-end quality control system.

Zhang Chunsheng, Deputy General Manager of ZC Rubber's Truck and Bus Tire Division and Director of its TBR and OTR Research Institute, presented the company's tyre technology roadmap and product development plans. These include refining products for Indonesia's road conditions, heavy rainfall, high temperatures and demanding commercial vehicle applications.

"Feedback from distributors, fleets and users in Indonesia is helping us refine products for local conditions, while ZC Rubber's global R&D platform allows those products to meet the requirements of wider regional and export markets," Zhang said.

Jeffrey Zhang, General Manager of ZC Rubber's International Business Department, and Justin Cui, Assistant General Manager of MTI, also presented localised product planning, marketing programmes and channel development strategies for the Indonesian market.

The conference included discussions with distributors covering product performance, customer demand and regional market conditions. The company said the feedback gathered would be incorporated into future product planning and market support.

ZC Rubber also announced the formation of an Indonesia Marketing Committee, comprising representatives from four national distributors. The committee will provide a forum for MTI and its partners to discuss product requirements, market developments and coordinated sales and marketing activities.

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