Michelin May Focus On Making Tyres for Two Wheelers and Passenger Cars in India

The Michelin story in India hasn't been been a rosy one. They've tried twice to enter the Indian market with the help of Joint Ventures and failed to get anywhere with it. The first time Michelin entered into a JV with MRF in 1995 and then with Apollo Tyres in 2005. Both ventures saw Michelin part ways with its Indian partner.

However, that experience hasn't demoralised the French tyremaker and yet again it has India on its radar. Florent Menegaux, President, Passenger Car and Light Truck Product Line, said "India is growing at a rapid pace and we need to be in India. Michelin tyres are available in India but are imported and we are looking at poroducing them locally."

The company has long back kick started manufacturing truck tyres in India and subsequently will move on to making tyres for two-wheelers followed by passenger cars. The company had invested Rs. 4000 crore in a plant in Chennai and that is where the production of truck tyres has already begun. There is, however, no JV this time around as the company wants to go out on its own and that is one reason why the company is investing in a Technical Centre in India.

The Technical Centre will come up in Gurgaon and Michelin has already zeroed down upon a few candidates, who are undergoing training at the company's facilities worldwide. These are exciting times for Michelin as India is a big market for them but with local and more established players already a part of it, it will be interesting to see Michelin's approach.