Kochi, Feb 24 (UNI) Apollo Tyres Ltd has formally inaugurated its state-of-the-art dedicated outdoor tyre testing facility at Ivalo in Finland, marking a significant milestone in its commitment to delivering high-performance winter and all-season tyres globally.
The facility, which was announced a few months ago, became fully operational in December 2025. Its formal inauguration underscores the company’s long-term focus on advancing winter mobility solutions and enhancing product excellence in challenging climatic conditions.
Developed under a long-term agreement with UTAC, a globally recognised automotive testing and certification group, the new testing centre represents a strategic investment in advanced evaluation capabilities. The move strengthens Apollo Tyres’ position at the forefront of tyre innovation, safety, and performance engineering, a release said.
The facility was jointly inaugurated by Vice Chairman and Managing Director Neeraj Kanwar, Chief Commercial Officer Benoit Rivallant, and Chief Technology Officer Daniele Lorenzetti, reaffirming the company’s commitment to safety, precision engineering, and technological advancement.
Purpose-built to meet the rigorous demands of modern tyre development, the outdoor testing facility features dedicated snow and ice tracks designed to replicate diverse real-world winter driving conditions.
It is equipped with advanced measurement systems that enable precise data collection for braking, handling, traction, and stability assessments.
The infrastructure has been specifically tailored for comprehensive tyre performance evaluation, offering the company complete autonomy over its winter testing operations. This independence ensures flexible scheduling throughout the winter season, faster development cycles, and the ability to conduct tests under varied and optimal climatic conditions.
By centralising and upgrading its winter testing operations, Apollo Tyres expects significant gains in operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Engineering teams can now conduct continuous testing without external constraints, resulting in faster product validation timelines, greater repeatability and accuracy of results, reduced logistical complexity, and improved utilisation of resources.
These advancements are expected to directly contribute to the development of superior winter and all-season tyres that meet the highest standards of safety, durability, and performance.
The facility has been developed in compliance with all current technical and legal requirements, while also anticipating future regulatory standards. Its systems and infrastructure are designed to adapt to evolving testing methodologies and certification frameworks, ensuring alignment with global industry regulations.
Describing the inauguration as more than just the opening of a facility, Neeraj Kanwar said the investment reinforces the company’s ability to develop tyres that perform reliably in the most demanding winter conditions while maintaining year-round versatility.
Benoit Rivallant noted that beyond testing, the facility would also enable customers to experience winter testing firsthand, strengthening their understanding of tyre development and performance.
Daniele Lorenzetti said the dedicated outdoor testing centre significantly enhances the company’s research and development capabilities by providing highly consistent real-world data, enabling faster validation and quicker speed to market while improving performance, safety, and sustainability.
With winter mobility standards continuing to rise globally, the new facility positions Apollo Tyres to effectively meet the evolving expectations of customers, partners, and regulators in the years ahead.
