BKT unveils €320m investment plan for Indian consumer tire entry

Mumbai – Balkrishna Industries Ltd. (BKT) has announced a INR35 billion (€325 million) investment programme to support its entry into India’s consumer tire market, starting with two-wheeler products and followed by “commercial on-road” tires.

The move marks BKT’s expansion beyond its traditional off-highway (OHT) business into on-road mobility segments in India, said the Indian group 24 Feb.

The investment will fund manufacturing capacity expansion, research and development, vertical integration through BKT Carbon, and the strengthening of its domestic distribution network, it added..

“BKT’s consumer foray is a natural extension of a trusted global legacy built on performance and engineering discipline,” said chairman and managing director Arvind Poddar.

“We believe Indian consumers deserve products built to international benchmarks.”

The initial launch includes two two-wheeler tire lines: Zenova, designed for urban commuting, and Thyros, developed for on-road and light off-road use.

BKT said it will also enter the commercial on-road segment by June 2026 with the launch of truck and bus radial (TBR) products, including the m.Loadxpert (11.00R20) and Milexpert RG (295/90R20).

The tires are intended for applications such as cement transport, construction logistics and regional cargo movement, it said.

Rajiv Poddar, joint managing director, described the expansion as “a strategic step under Vision 2030 to scale responsibly and expand BKT’s mobility footprint in India.”

He added that the company has set “a defined revenue roadmap toward INR230 billion by 2030,” supported by what he called “disciplined investment and integrated manufacturing.”

The company aims to transfer its established engineering standards into the consumer segment, said Satish Sharma, senior president and director – business development & strategy.

The focus, said Sharma, will be on “fit-for-purpose solutions across the two-wheeler and commercial vehicle segments.”

In addition to the investment plan, BKT announced structural changes aimed at separating tire and materials operations of the group.

BKT is introducing BKT Tyres as its dedicated tire product brand and BKT Carbon, which produces carbon black and industrial materials.

The group said the revised brand framework reflects the expansion of its activities beyond its traditional OHT base.