Michelin, the world’s leading tyre manufacturer, marked a major milestone today with the rollout of its first made-in-India premium passenger car tyre from its Chennai plant. This marks the company’s entry into local passenger car tyre production, reinforcing its long-term commitment to India’s fast-growing mobility market.
The made-in-India range will be commercially available across the country by the first half of 2026 and will exclusively cater to the premium segment, covering tyre sizes between 16 and 22 inches. Iconic Michelin lines such as the LTX Trail ST, Pilot Sport 4 SUV, Pilot Sport 5, and Primacy 5 will now be locally produced, with the Primacy 5 being the first model to roll out from Chennai, said, Mr. Shantanu Deshpande, MD, Michelin India.
The new line follows Michelin’s investment of ₹ 564 crore announced in September 2024 for passenger tyre manufacturing. With an additional INR 100 crore infusion, the total investment now stands at INR 686 crore (Euro 76 million), in addition to the INR 2,800+ crore already invested in its Chennai facility, Mr. Vitor Silva, President, Africa, India & Middle East, said.
Michelin sees its ‘Made in India’ initiative as a reflection of both its global technological expertise and India’s evolving automotive landscape. The company noted that the domestic passenger car market is transforming rapidly, driven by improved infrastructure, rising disposable incomes, and growing consumer preference for larger, feature-rich vehicles. SUVs now account for over 50% of sales in FY24–FY25, with the market valued at $ 18.13 billion in 2024 and projected to reach $ 33.85 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of nearly 11%.
With India’s expanding road network and rising expectations for performance and safety, Michelin aims to focus on tyres designed for SUVs and larger vehicles above 16 inches. The company believes its locally manufactured premium tyres will bring global standards of quality and innovation closer to Indian consumers.
To ensure availability, Michelin has been expanding its retail network and customer touchpoints across India. It currently operates 75 standalone Michelin Tyres & Service centres and recently opened a flagship “Experience Store” in Nashik — the first of its kind in the country. The retail footprint will continue to grow in step with local production.
Mr. Florent Chaussade, Executive Director, Michelin India, said, Michelin’s Chennai facility already serves as a benchmark in sustainable and advanced manufacturing. It produces 38 tyre references for truck, bus, and defence applications, and was the first in India to roll out energy-rated truck and bus tyres, among the most fuel-efficient in the market. The plant is also one of the greenest in the country, with a zero-carbon footprint, zero liquid discharge, 100% recycling, 80% water use through rainwater harvesting, and nearly 45% renewable energy utilisation.
The new passenger car production line, covering 22,000 square metres, represents Michelin’s Industry 5.0 vision, combining automation with human expertise. Built in just 12 months, it includes 50,000 hours of employee training at Michelin plants worldwide and uses advanced robotics and automation, enabling high scalability and precision. Despite its capacity, the line operates efficiently with just 200 employees — less than half the industry average for a similar setup, Mr. Chaussade said.
Through its Chennai operations, Michelin continues to position India as a strategic manufacturing hub, blending cutting-edge automation, sustainability, and world-class quality to meet the rising demand for premium mobility solutions.
