Balkrishna Industries Limited (BKT), the Mumbai-headquartered tyre manufacturer widely recognised for its off-highway tyre expertise, has announced its entry into India’s consumer on-highway tyre market. The move, unveiled on February 24, 2026, marks a significant expansion of the company’s mobility portfolio with purpose-engineered products for two-wheelers and medium- and heavy-commercial vehicles (M&HCVs), aligned with its long-term objective of scaling revenue to ₹23,000 crore by FY2030.
Alongside the product rollout, BKT introduced a nationwide brand campaign titled “Elevate Your Drive”, appointing Ranveer Singh as brand ambassador. The company also revealed a refreshed brand architecture under its corporate identity “BKT – Growing Together.” The framework brings together two strategic pillars — BKT Tyres, encompassing its complete tyre portfolio across off-highway and on-highway segments, and BKT Carbon, representing its carbon black and industrial materials business.
Strategic Expansion Driven by Vision 2030
Commenting on the development, Arvind Poddar, Chairman and Managing Director, said the entry into the on-highway segment represents a natural progression aligned with India’s evolving mobility requirements.
He emphasised that decades of manufacturing expertise and engineering discipline position the company to deliver tyres focused on safety, reliability, and long-term value while strengthening partnerships across consumers, dealers, and distributors.
Rajiv Poddar, Joint Managing Director, described the move as a key milestone under the company’s Vision 2030 strategy — an India-led growth initiative aimed at expanding its mobility footprint while maintaining profitability and engineering excellence.
The company has outlined a defined revenue roadmap targeting ₹23,000 crore by FY2030, representing a 2.2-times increase compared to FY2025 levels.
Two-Wheeler Portfolio Built for Diverse Riding Conditions
BKT’s two-wheeler tyre portfolio includes two dedicated product lines. BKT ZENOVA is designed for urban commuting, prioritising ride comfort and grip, while BKT THYROS targets mixed terrain usage across both on- and off-road environments.
Manufactured in India under IATF 16949-certified quality processes and compliant with BIS standards, the tyres underwent comprehensive validation testing at National Automotive Test Tracks (NATRAX), the government-run testing facility in Indore. Testing parameters included wet and dry braking performance, ride quality, and vehicle handling.
Commercial Vehicle Range Planned for FY2026-27 Launch
For the commercial vehicle segment, BKT will introduce two M&HCV radial tyre models — BKT m.Loadxpert (11.00R20) and BKT Milexpert RG (295/90R20) — scheduled for launch in the first quarter of FY2026-27 (April–June 2026).
The tyres are engineered for demanding applications such as cement transportation, construction logistics, and regional cargo movement. Each unit undergoes 138 in-process quality inspections along with more than 20 design verification tests conducted at NABL-accredited laboratories.
Satish Sharma, Senior President and Director – Business Development and Strategy, highlighted that the company’s next phase of growth will focus on delivering durability, mileage efficiency, ride comfort, and advanced performance across multiple categories, including two-wheelers, truck and bus radials, passenger vehicles, and light trucks.
He also underscored several customer-centric initiatives such as a distribution-focused market strategy designed to avoid channel conflicts, a Journey Assistance Program for riders, and programmes like Save the Casing alongside end-user loyalty platforms aimed at strengthening long-term customer engagement.
Investment and Distribution Strategy
To support the expansion, BKT has committed an investment of ₹3,500 crore (approximately USD 400 million). The capital will be deployed across manufacturing capacity enhancement, research and development, vertical integration through BKT Carbon, and strengthening its nationwide distribution network.
Under Vision 2030, the company expects its revenue mix to comprise approximately 70% from off-highway tyres, 20% from on-highway categories, and 10% from third-party carbon black sales.
The newly launched products will be introduced through BKT’s existing distributor-dealer network via a phased rollout beginning with high-demand markets across India.
Established in 1987, BKT manufactures more than 3,600 specialised tyre products catering to agriculture, construction, mining, and material-handling applications, serving customers across 163 countries worldwide.
