CEAT expands Chennai plant to boost premium tyre production for India, global markets

Mumbai: Tyre maker CEAT on Thursday said it has expanded its Chennai plant capabilities across categories, boosting its capacity to manufacture advanced and premium products for domestic as well as key international markets, including Europe and North America.

Expanded manufacturing capabilities span premium passenger car and SUV, commercial vehicle and two-wheeler tyre segments, it said.

The Chennai facility caters to India, Europe and the US, manufacturing advanced products such as the company's first made in India 22-inch SUV tyre, seven advanced truck and bus radial tyre sizes and racing and sport touring tyres for two-wheelers, CEAT said.


"The Chennai plant is an important part of CEAT's growth in India and international markets. The expanded capabilities allow us to manufacture increasingly sophisticated products across passenger vehicles, two-wheelers and commercial vehicles," said Arnab Banerjee, Managing Director & CEO, CEAT Ltd.

The expansion would enable the company to better address the specific needs of customers in markets such as Europe and North America, he said, adding, "This investment strengthens our ability to compete in premium segments with products developed and manufactured in India."

The company said it has also expanded the plant's Truck and Bus Radial (TBR) manufacturing capability to address the changing requirements of commercial vehicle fleets in Europe, North America and other advanced markets.

The Chennai manufacturing facility can now manufacture seven advanced TBR sizes that will cater to some of the fastest-growing premium TBR segments in Europe and North America, it said.

Alongside its heavy commercial vehicle portfolio, CEAT said, the Chennai facility is scaling up manufacturing capacity for light truck steel radial tyres in 15, 16 and 17.5 inch sizes.

The segment is seeing increased adoption in India and overseas as vehicle manufacturers introduce newer-generation light trucks and buses, the company said.