Tire brand
Apollo
Apollo is the flagship brand of Apollo Tyres Ltd, a multinational Indian manufacturer founded in 1972 and headquartered in Gurugram, in the state of Haryana.
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Brand profile
Apollo is the flagship brand of Apollo Tyres Ltd, a multinational Indian manufacturer founded in 1972 and headquartered in Gurugram, in the state of Haryana. Its lineup spans passenger, SUV, light-truck, heavy-truck, agricultural, industrial and off-road tires. Present in North America since 2021, the brand mainly markets truck and bus tires here, while its sister brand Vredestein serves the passenger segment in Canada through Canadian Tire.
Positioning: Heavy-truck, agricultural and off-road tires from a globally significant Indian manufacturer.
History
Apollo Tyres Ltd was incorporated on September 28, 1972, in India, promoted notably by Raunaq Singh, Mathew T. Marattukalam and Jacob Thomas. Its first plant came on line in 1977 in Perambra, in the Thrissur district of Kerala. Over the decades, the manufacturer established itself as one of India's largest tire producers, with a presence in the passenger, light-truck, heavy-truck, agricultural, industrial and off-road segments. Its international expansion accelerated in 2009 with the acquisition of the Dutch firm Vredestein, giving rise to the entity Apollo Vredestein B.V., headquartered in Amsterdam with its plant in Enschede, the Netherlands. That acquisition gave Apollo European expertise in premium and winter tires. In 2017, the group opened a plant in Hungary to strengthen its European capacity. Apollo today operates several production facilities in India, plus the Dutch plant in Enschede and the Hungarian plant. The group remains heavily focused on the Indian market, which accounts for the vast majority of its revenue, with Europe forming its second pillar. In North America, Apollo entered the commercial-vehicle market in 2021, followed in 2024 by the full rollout of its EnduMile long-haul lineup in the United States, unveiled at the TMC show. In Canada, the sister brand Vredestein gained a foothold through an exclusive agreement with Canadian Tire, making its passenger tires available in more than 500 stores across the country. Apollo is thus pursuing a strategy of gradual globalization, combining high-volume Indian production, specialized European manufacturing and targeted expansion into the North American commercial-transport market.
Technologies
Apollo develops all-steel radial architectures for its truck and bus tires, designed to maximize mileage and lower the cost per mile, two central criteria for North American fleets. Its EnduMile and EnduRace lineups rely on rubber compounds and tread designs optimized for even wear, rolling resistance and durability. The manufacturer emphasizes retreadable casings, extending the useful life of fleet tires. On the agricultural side, Apollo has invested in the radialization of tractor tires with products such as the FX range, delivering a better ground footprint and reduced soil compaction. For off-road use, heat- and abrasion-resistant compounds are employed in the E3/L3 classes. The integration of Vredestein also brought expertise in winter and high-performance tires.
Innovations
Apollo's research and development draws on centers in India and Europe, notably the European technical center stemming from the integration of Vredestein in the Netherlands. This synergy made it possible to broaden the group's capabilities toward winter, high-performance summer and all-season tires aimed at the European market. For North America, the EnduMile long-haul lineup is described by the manufacturer as the culmination of several years of research focused on the needs of American fleets, with a range of more than 40 SKUs covering the bulk of the commercial-truck market. Apollo also invests in the radialization of Indian agriculture and in industrial and construction tires, including Vredestein products for grounds maintenance and machinery. Retreading and retread materials are an integral part of its sustainability approach, aimed at reducing the cost and life-cycle footprint of fleet tires.
Manufacturing
Apollo Tyres' head office is located in Gurugram, India. The group operates several Indian plants, including its very first in Perambra, Kerala, in service since 1977. In Europe, it produces in Enschede, the Netherlands, under the Apollo Vredestein entity, and at a plant opened in Hungary. There is no plant in Canada or Quebec. The North American presence rests on distribution: for commercial transport, Apollo maintains domestic inventory in the United States and fast nationwide delivery, while in Canada the passenger tires of the sister brand Vredestein are sold through an exclusive agreement with Canadian Tire and its network of more than 500 stores.
Reputation
Apollo has built a reputation as a manufacturer offering good value for the money, particularly well regarded in India and expanding across Europe and North America. For North American fleets, the sales pitch rests on high mileage, low cost per mile, an extended manufacturing warranty and delivery service. In Quebec, the Apollo brand remains most relevant for commercial transport, agriculture and off-road use rather than for mainstream passenger tires, which run through Vredestein at Canadian Tire. For Quebec snow and cold, the 3PMSF marking should be checked on a case-by-case basis depending on the model and the intended road use.
Models and families
Related Apollo models
These families are presented for reference. Actual availability depends on the catalogue and sizes.