TVS Srichakra targets monthly output of 2.3 m

Unveils youthful logo for 2-wheeler brand 'TVS TYRES'

TVS Srichakra, India’s leading maker of two- and three-wheeler tyres, is targeting to grow its monthly production by three lakh during the current and next financial years.

The company, which markets its two- and three-wheeler tyres under the brand name ‘TVS TYRES’ and its off-roaders under the ‘EUROGRIP’ line, started FY 2014-15 with a monthly production of 1.7 million tyres and hopes to close the year with a target of 2 million tyres per month. By the end of financial year 2015-16, the company hopes to see monthly production at 2.3 million levels, its Director Vijayaraghavan P told Deccan Herald during a telephonic interaction.

The increase in production would be achieved by expanding its existing plants at Madurai in Tamil Nadu and Rudrapur in Uttarakhand, Vijayaraghavan said, but refused to divulge investment numbers.

The company, meanwhile, unveiled a new logo for its brand ‘TVS TYRES’. Vijayaraghavan said the change in identity targets a more youthful, energetic positioning for the brand. He said the logo of a soaring eagle holding a tyre aloft on its wings was designed in-house with inputs from a consultancy.

Vijayaraghavan said the company has offerings for scooters, motorcycles and mopeds and caters to economy, executive, and premium segments.

The TVS Srichakra director claimed that the company served all two-wheeler manufacturers in India as an original equipment maker (OEM). Ahead of the launch of a new model, two-wheeler manufacturers inform TVS Srichakra about the same and provide them with the specs for the tyres. Vijayaraghavan said manufacturers are at liberty to source tyres from multiple vendors to factory-fit its new models, but claimed his company had an edge with its “innovation, process expertise, consistent quality, on-time delivery, and technical service”.

To ensure this, the company employs eight regular test riders who take two-wheelers fitted with the latest tyres on test-rides from Madurai to Tiruchirappalli every day.

In addition, the company also employs an expert Japanese test-rider who is also based at Madurai, besides engaging the services of an overseas consultancy.

On the export front, Vijayaraghavan said the company ships its off-road tyres like forklift and tractor tyres to around 80 countries in Europe, North America, and the Middle East. In each country, it operates through a single distributor which stocks the tyres across its multiple outlets. In addition, the company also exports its two-wheeler tyres to South America and South-east Asia under the same model.

TVS Srichakra, which claims to be the largest maker of tubeless two-wheeler tyres, is also targeting the production of radial motorcycle tyres shortly.
DH News Service