As the automotive industry continues to evolve, tyre manufacturer Ceat is shifting its strategy to produce more versatile tyres that are suitable for both electric vehicles (EVs) and internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.
The company, which offered a dedicated range of EV tyres, will now produce tyres which will be EV-ready, by default.
“We started with a specific product range for EVs. But what we realised is that ultimately, the tyre for EVs and ICE vehicles will become one. So all the learnings that we have from the dedicated EV tyre development, and IC engine products, we have made them one,” Renji Issac, senior VP and head of R&D and technology at Ceat Limited said.
“All our upcoming products for passenger cars will be compatible with both EVs and internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, simplifying our manufacturing systems and reducing complexity,” he further added. These tyres are aimed at offering higher life, lower noise, and superior durability for both the applications.
The tyre maker introduced a complete EV-centric tyre platform starting 2022, with EnergyRide for two-wheelers, EnergyDrive for passenger cars, and Winenergy for electric buses.
In India, Ceat holds a 59 per cent share in the replacement market, 24 per cent in OE, and 24 per cent in international markets. The company aims to maintain its OE share at around 25 per cent long-term.
Last month, the company launched three new tyre technologies for its SportDrive range for the ultra-high performance four-wheeler market in India. This includes Run-Flat Technology (RFT) tyres and 21-inch ZR-rated tyres which can handle speeds over 300 km/h.
As EVs have fewer moving parts, they are generally quieter than ICE vehicles, which puts more emphasis on the noise generated by the tyres. This is especially important for luxury or performance EVs, where comfort and quietness are often key selling points. For this, Ceat introduced calm technology, which uses specialised foam inserts to reduce both pass-by noise and in-cabin resonance.
The company’s chief marketing officer (CMO), Lakshmi Narayanan B, noted that Ceat’s R&D investments span Europe and India, enabling it to deliver high-quality tyres at competitive prices.
The Mumbai-based firm, which is one of the largest tyre manufacturers in India by revenue, has customers including automakers Maruti Suzuki and Mahindra & Mahindra.
Meanwhile, the situation is different for electric two-wheelers, where tyres cannot be the same as those for e-scooters.
“While it is easy to remove and replace a tyre in a regular electric car, the process is more complicated for e-scooters. Electric vehicle tyres take four to five times longer to remove and replace compared to traditional scooters. A lot of work is needed to train mechanics, and the industry will have to build awareness as it learns and adapts,” Narayanan explained. For electric two-wheelers, Ceat has a 25 per cent market share on the OEM side.
