[turbo]

Speaking to Autocar India and Autocar Professional, Neeraj Kanwar, vice-chairman and MD, Apollo Tyres said

“We are working towards locally manufacturing Vredestein-branded tyres in India so that we are able to offer Apollo as well as made-in-India Vredestein tyres for the higher segment, primarily targeting customers of Mercedes-Benz, Audi and BMW.”

“In fact, this strategy is linked to the import restrictions on tyres. Imports have been happening in the higher segment of the market which is the 16-inches-and-above category and with the restrictions coming in, it opens up that market for us,”

“We will be launching the Vredestein-branded tyres in India within the next three months"

https://www.autocarpro.in/news-natio...in-india-56935

[IshaanIan]

This is great news. While the Vredestein brand doesn't offer quite as much performance as other top manufacturers, they are still far better than the eco-tyres that are made in our country and I will definitely be a customer if they decide to manufacture here in India and price their tyres well

[GTO]

IMHO, this was a well-planned strategic move. It's a European brand, so they have to first maintain that "foreign'ness". In the long-term, making tyres in the home country with controlled costs is a given. Just like Jaguar-Land Rover has still resisted large scale assembly in India, but I think it will come one day.

Originally Posted by IshaanIan

they are still far better than the eco-tyres that are made in our country

Indian tyres are improving, man - related thread.

[Big Smoke]

Apollo tyres to unveil Vredestein in March in India-



Source: The Hindu, Business section.

[sammysossa]

My Vredestein Sportrac's are showing solid signs of wear only after 25K kms on my Punto Grande and maybe would only stretch for another 5k max. The drive is buttery but on the expense of low mileage, I suppose. Either I got a bad batch or the compound on these is soft and doesn't last long.

[veedub89]

I have had Vredesteins on my B-class for the past 3 years or more.
It's a great tyre. Low noise and decent grip. Better than maybe your average MRF, Ceat and Apollo but maybe not as good as the premium Michelins.

The tyre wear is not that bad after having been used for approximately 35K kms.
Resilience to punctures has also been great.

[anandpadhye]

Local manufacturing is the news but isn't the brand already available in India?

Apollo had launched Vredestein in India back in 2013 right? Here is the thread:
https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/tyre-...1-circuit.html (Apollo's Vredestein performance tyres launched: A report from the Buddh F1 Circuit)

Or was that just a PR event?

[itwasntme]

Originally Posted by anandpadhye

Local manufacturing is the news but isn't the brand already available in India?

Very right, Anand. They were available in select sizes (mostly the Sportrac range) throughout, but looks like Apollo has now brought in the 16 - 20" moulds to make them here.

They have some exquisite tread patterns, especially the Ultrac Sessanta. But better to see their reliability under Indian conditions and then buy a set.