Chennai: CEAT Limited has expanded manufacturing capabilities at its Chennai plant across passenger car and SUV, commercial vehicle and two-wheeler tyre segments, strengthening the facility’s role in supplying premium products to India as well as international markets including Europe and North America.
The expansion covers products ranging from all-season and rugged-terrain SUV tyres to advanced Truck and Bus Radial tyres and high-performance motorcycle rubber. It also enables CEAT to manufacture its SportDrive SUV ZR22, which the company says makes it the first Indian tyre manufacturer to produce 22-inch tyres in India.
Located in Sriperumbudur, Kanchipuram, the 163-acre plant is becoming an increasingly important manufacturing base for CEAT as the tyre maker pushes deeper into premium and specialised segments.
Among the products being manufactured at the facility is the 4SeasonDrive+, an all-season tyre developed to bring European-standard all-season capability to India. The tyre has been designed to work across changing weather conditions, with particular emphasis on wet-weather grip.
The plant also produces CrossDrive RT, a rugged-terrain tyre developed around the requirements of the US rugged and off-road tyre market. CEAT says the tyre combines off-road capability with characteristics suitable for regular road use, while also expanding the company’s premium SUV portfolio in India.
At the upper end of the SUV market sits the SportDrive SUV ZR22, developed for large-rim, ultra-premium sport utility vehicles. The 22-inch range incorporates CEAT CALM technology and is being introduced for sale in India.
The larger wheel size may grab the attention, but CEAT’s broader strategy is centred on manufacturing increasingly specialised tyres in India for markets with substantially different performance and regulatory expectations.
Arnab Banerjee, Managing Director & CEO, CEAT Limited, said, “The Chennai plant is an important part of CEAT’s growth in India and international markets. The expanded capabilities allow us to manufacture increasingly sophisticated products across passenger vehicles, two wheelers and commercial vehicles, while responding to the distinct requirements of customers in markets such as Europe and North America. This investment strengthens our ability to compete in premium segments with products developed and manufactured in India.”
Commercial vehicle tyre capability expanded
CEAT has also widened the Chennai facility’s Truck and Bus Radial, or TBR, manufacturing capabilities as it targets commercial vehicle customers in Europe, North America and other advanced markets.
The plant can now manufacture seven advanced TBR sizes, aimed at premium segments in Europe and North America.
Commercial vehicle tyre requirements are increasingly moving beyond conventional measures such as durability and mileage. Fleet operators are also looking at fuel consumption, ride comfort, handling and compatibility with newer vehicle architectures, including electric commercial vehicles.
Among the newer products are wide-base tyres, which can replace the traditional dual-tyre arrangement used on each wheel in certain applications. The configuration can help reduce vehicle weight, improve fuel efficiency and free up additional payload capacity.
CEAT’s newer low-profile tyre sizes are intended for applications including modern tractors, regional-haul vehicles, trailers and urban distribution fleets, where stability, handling and ride characteristics are significant considerations.
Alongside its heavy commercial vehicle range, the Chennai facility is increasing manufacturing capacity for light truck steel radial tyres in 15-inch, 16-inch and 17.5-inch sizes.
The company expects demand in this category to grow in India and overseas as manufacturers introduce newer generations of light trucks and buses.
Premium motorcycle tyres join the mix
The Chennai plant is also being used to expand CEAT’s presence in higher-performance two-wheeler tyres, including products aimed at racetrack and large-capacity motorcycle applications.
Its latest SportRad Racing Slick range has been developed for racing use and tested on track by expert riders. The tyres have been engineered primarily around grip and racetrack performance.
CEAT’s premium motorcycle portfolio also includes SportRad ST, a sport-touring tyre range intended for motorcycles above 650cc.
The SportRad ST has been developed for long-distance and high-performance touring, with emphasis on high-speed stability and cornering grip.
The move into specialised motorcycle tyres comes as manufacturers increasingly look beyond the mass-market commuter segment towards premium motorcycles, where tyre requirements — and expectations — tend to rise roughly in step with engine capacity.
Automation and renewable energy at Chennai plant
CEAT’s Chennai manufacturing facility incorporates connected machinery, real-time data analytics and advanced automation across its operations.
The plant is CEAT’s second factory to be inducted into the World Economic Forum’s Global Lighthouse Network, a programme recognising manufacturing facilities deploying advanced technologies at scale.
The Chennai facility has also received the British Safety Council 5-Star Award and Sword of Honour for its safety practices.
CEAT said around 25% of the plant area is under green cover, while a significant share of its energy requirement comes from renewable sources. The facility includes a 9 MW rooftop solar installation and operates as a zero liquid discharge plant.
The expanded manufacturing capabilities underline CEAT’s attempt to move further up the tyre value chain rather than relying primarily on volume-driven categories.
For the Chennai plant, that now means handling everything from racing slicks and 22-inch SUV tyres to sophisticated commercial vehicle radials — an unusually broad job description for one factory. More importantly, it positions the facility as a production base for technology-led tyres designed not only for Indian roads but also for some of the world’s more demanding automotive markets.
