Pirelli and BKT partner to manufacture tyres in India

Italian tyre manufacturer Pirelli and India’s Balkrishna Industries Ltd. (BKT) have signed a strategic agreement to expand their presence in the Indian automotive market. The partnership is structured in two distinct phases.

In the first phase, BKT will manufacture up to 800,000 Pirelli-branded premium passenger car tyres by 2030. This production will take place at BKT’s new, technologically advanced facility in Bhuj, Gujarat, under an off-take arrangement. The tyres will be produced according to Pirelli’s specific technological and quality standards.

The second phase involves a potential 50:50 joint venture to establish a dedicated manufacturing plant for high-value passenger car tyres. This facility would produce tyres for both the Pirelli and BKT brands, serving both the Indian domestic market and international markets.

The collaboration aims to capitalize on India’s growing automotive sector, where car registrations are projected to grow by 5% to 7% annually between 2025 and 2030, and the premium tyre market is expected to expand significantly.