Apollo Tyres Unveils 'Kanwar Tulip' Variant in Celebration of Vredestein's 115th Anniversary

Key Highlights:
•    Apollo Tyres debuts 'Kanwar Tulip' to mark big anniversaries.
•    This tulip celebrates 15 years of Vredestein acquisition and 115 years of Vredestein.
•    Purple petals echo Apollo Tyres' logo.
•    Bred by Jan Ligthart, grown in Den Helder, Netherlands.
•    Apollo Tyres boosts European R&D and production post-2009 Vredestein acquisition.

Apollo Tyres has commissioned a new variation of tulip, a plant closely linked with the Netherlands, in honor of the 15th anniversary of the company's acquisition of Vredestein, as well as the 115th anniversary of the founding of the legendary Dutch premium tyre brand.

The Vredestein brand provided Apollo Tyres with an ideal entry into Europe's highly competitive premium tyre industry. Since its takeover in 2009, Apollo Tyres has continued to invest in its European R&D and manufacturing skills, producing premium-quality tyres that provide outstanding levels of performance, durability, and safety at an affordable price.

The 'Kanwar Tulip' is named in honor of the Kanwar family, who founded and own Apollo Tyres, and is distinguished by its highly distinctive purple petals, which echo the primary color of the Apollo Tyres logo. During their visit to Amsterdam last week, Apollo Tyres chairman Onkar Kanwar and vice-chairman and managing director Neeraj Kanwar received a bouquet of Kanwar Tulips.

Jan Ligthart created the unique cultivar of the Kanwar Tulip, and the first crop was cultivated in Den Helder, north of Amsterdam.

Vredestein was established in 1908 in Loosduinen, Netherlands, to design and manufacture bicycle tyres. After gaining pace in its early years of business, the company expanded into the production of car tyres in 1912.

In 1952, the firm established its Enschede facility in the Twente region of the eastern Netherlands, where it continues to manufacture an award-winning range of summer, winter, and all-season passenger car tyres. The facility allowed Vredestein to be pioneer in the all-season tyre category, most notably with the introduction of the first Quatrac tyre in 1991, a popular model line that continues to win critical acclaim across Europe.

Benoit Rivallant, President of Apollo Tyres Europe, stated, "Since 2009, we have seen the Vredestein brand rise from strength to strength, and we are proud to be a part of its ongoing success story. Despite its Dutch roots, the brand is known around the world for its amazing range of industry-leading tyres for cars, trucks, agricultural machines, and bicycles; it has played an important role in the development of Apollo Tyres in Europe."

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Since the acquisition of Vredestein, Apollo Tyres has introduced significant products and initiatives, including the expansion of Vredestein's winter tyre portfolio with the Wintrac Xtreme S in 2014. During the same year, the corporation invested in the Enschede manufacturing factory to enhance production capacity and fulfil rising demand in Europe. 

Additionally, Apollo Tyres expanded its agricultural product line in 2015 and opened a new production facility in Hungary in 2017, enabling the development of cutting-edge tyre solutions like the Quatrac Pro EV and Ultrac Pro UUHP tyres. 

These products have garnered praise from testers and publications across Europe. Apollo Tyres introduced the Traxion Harvest as well as new variations of the Traxion Versa and Endurion.

CMV360 Says

The unveiling of the 'Kanwar Tulip' marks a vibrant celebration of Apollo Tyres' 15-year partnership with Vredestein and the latter's 115th anniversary. This purple-petaled tribute reflects the enduring bond and commitment to innovation, symbolizing a bright future ahead in the premium tyre industry.