Ralson ramps up TBR production, eyes European expansion

Indian tire manufacturer Ralson is aggressively expanding its radial truck & bus tire (TBR) capacity at its Indore plant in Madhya Pradesh, India, targeting European markets. The company, historically known for bicycle tires in India, has rapidly grown its TBR business since the Indore facility began production in October 2022, with commercial sales launching four months later. The plant currently operates at an 85% utilization rate with an annual capacity of 1 million units, according to Prabhakar Garimella, senior vice president of global sales, who spoke to the European Rubber Journal at The Tire Cologne trade fair. To meet rising demand, Ralson’s board has approved a 1.2 million-unit capacity expansion at the Indore site, to be completed within 18 months. The facility sits on a 100-acre site, with only 30% currently developed, leaving potential to scale annual production to 5 million tires in the future. The expansion underscores Ralson’s push into export markets, particularly Europe, as it seeks to diversify beyond its domestic bicycle tire roots.