Pirelli will manufacture tyres in India with its local partner, BKT
The Italian group, which has so far operated solely at a commercial level, has signed an agreement with the Mumbai-based group to produce 800,000 tyres by 2030
Pirelli is entering the Indian market and launching local production in partnership with an industrial partner. The Italian tyre giant, which currently has only a commercial presence in the country, has signed an agreement with Balkrishna Industries (BKT) to produce 800,000 Pirelli-branded car tyres by 2030, manufactured at a newly built BKT plant equipped with sophisticated technologies that meet Pirelli’s high quality standards.
The agreement also provides for the establishment, subject to certain conditions being met, of a 50-50 joint venture and the construction of a production plant dedicated to high-end car tyres, bearing both the Pirelli and BKT brands, for the Indian market and other international markets.
This is a strategic agreement because the Indian car market is one of the most dynamic in the world, with registrations expected to grow by 5–7 per cent annually between 2025 and 2030, whilst globally, car sales are seeing significant declines even in countries such as China, which have previously driven global growth. Furthermore, the market for high-end cars is also growing in India, thereby expanding the market for premium tyres: for a manufacturer such as Pirelli, this represents a highly significant opportunity. Indeed, according to Marco Tronchetti Provera, Executive Chairman of Pirelli: “India is playing an increasingly central role in the evolution of the global automotive industry, thanks to market growth, the development of mobility and the progressive strengthening of the country’s industrial and technological capabilities. The agreement with BKT, a leading industrial partner, will enable us to strengthen our position in one of the markets with the greatest growth prospects and to support its development by leveraging our expertise, innovation and positioning in the highest-value segments.”
Who is BKT
Founded in 1987, Balkrishna Industries (BKT) is an Indian multinational and one of the leading manufacturers of off-highway tyres, based in Mumbai. With a portfolio of over 3,600 specialised products for agricultural, industrial, construction, mining, earthmoving and materials handling applications, the company serves customers in more than 160 countries and also manufactures rubber tracks for the agricultural and industrial sectors.
