Apollo Tyres Ltd has launched its first Apollo Rural Mobile Store in Pandavapura, Mandya district, Karnataka, as it looks to improve tyre access for rural customers in India. The mobile retail van was flagged off by Rajesh Dahiya, Vice President, Commercial, and forms part of a planned 25-unit rollout over the next 18 to 24 months.
The format is designed to serve villages where customers may have limited access to authorised tyre outlets. Apollo says each van will carry a curated range of products and provide guidance on tyre selection, usage and maintenance.
The move reflects a wider challenge for tyre manufacturers in large rural markets. Product availability, advice and fitment support can be uneven outside major towns. In practice, mobile retail can reduce travel time for customers while giving manufacturers more direct visibility of replacement demand.
Rajesh Dahiya said the initiative aimed to bring Apollo’s products and expertise directly to customers’ doorsteps and simplify the tyre-buying journey for remote communities.
The first store was launched in southern India, with Apollo planning to deploy 25 mobile stores across the country within two years. The launch event also included a health check-up camp organised with Apollo Tyres Foundation support.
The rural mobile format sits alongside Apollo’s recent activity across both commercial and consumer tyre channels. Tyre News recently reported on Apollo’s new truck and bus bias range for commercial operators, while the company has also expanded its Aspire 5 and Vredestein product lines for passenger and performance segments.
For the tyre trade, the launch is less about a single van and more about channel access. India remains a major replacement tyre market where rural mobility, agriculture, small commercial vehicles and two-wheelers all depend on reliable tyre supply. A mobile retail model could help manufacturers gather local demand data while building trust beyond established dealer networks.
Tagged with: Apollo Tyres, rural tyre retail, mobile tyre store, India tyre market, replacement tyres, tyre distribution, last-mile connectivity, tyre maintenance, commercial vehicle tyres, rural mobility
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