Apollo to end tire production at Dutch plant

Enschede, The Netherlands – Apollo Tyres NL BV will discontinue tire production and related activities at its plant in Enschede by summer 2026, parent group Apollo has announced.

The decision was linked to “macro-economic disruptions, steep increases in energy and labour costs, and a decline in demand for Spacemaster and Agri tires.”

Pricing pressure from low-cost competitors, make the manufacturing at ATNL uncompetitive, added the Apollo press statement.

The high cost-situation was expected to continue so that profitable production at Enschede no longer feasible, the tire maker added.

Over the last couple of years, we implemented several cost-saving initiatives at Enschede "but most of these were completely negated due to the ever-increasing inflation,” said Benoit Rivallant, president, ATNL.

According to a press release issued 25 April, the company’s board has formally informed the workforce and work’s council at the Dutch plant of its decision.

The Enschede factory mainly produces passenger car tires, farm tires and speciality Spacemaster spare tires, and has a capacity to manufacture 670,000 units of tires per annum.

Apollo also operates a newly redeveloped 25,000 square metre tire warehouse in Enschede, which was reopened in February.

This facility will support the company's logistics and distribution activities in the region and handles two main product brands – Apollo tires for trucks, buses and off-highway vehicles and Vredestein for passenger cars.