BKT and Pirelli partner to manufacture premium tyres in India

Balkrishna Industries (BKT) and Pirelli have entered into a strategic agreement to expand their presence in the Indian passenger car tyre market. Under the first phase of the deal, an off-take agreement, BKT will manufacture up to 800,000 Pirelli-branded tyres by 2030 at its Bhuj facility in Gujarat, India. This production will adhere to Pirelli’s specific technological and quality standards.

A second phase is planned, which involves a potential 50-50 joint venture to construct a dedicated production plant for high-value passenger car tyres. This facility would produce tyres under both the Pirelli and BKT brands for both domestic Indian markets and international export.

The partnership aims to capitalize on the projected growth of the Indian automotive sector, where car registrations are expected to rise by 5% to 7% annually through 2030, and the premium tyre segment is forecasted to grow nearly fivefold. For Pirelli, the move establishes a local manufacturing footprint, while for BKT, it facilitates its expansion from off-highway tyres into the passenger vehicle segment.