Tyre manufacturer Apollo Vredestein plans to move into the UK fleet tyre market this year with its Vredestein brand.
It says in 2017 it aims to become a substantial player in fleet sector, which now accounts for most of the UK market's growth in annual registrations (+2.3%), overtaking private sales in 2016 (fleet, 51.3% .v. private, 44.8%).
Its products cover summer, winter and all-season tyres for high-performance cars as well as tyres for light commercial vehicles.
The company's UK manager Karl Naylor said: 'Vredestein is a premium European brand that has a great deal of appeal in the UK.
'The Vredestein Wintrac xtreme S and Quatrac 5 were the first winter and all-season tyre (respectively) with a Y-speed rating. These are tyre choices that would both reduce fleet maintenance costs and make the fleet safer.
'We are also launching our newest van and light truck tyre, the Comtrac 2 All Season, this month.
'Again, light commercial vehicles are an important part of many fleets, and registrations for this vehicle segment showed another rise in 2016, which is now the fourth consecutive year of growth for the segment in the UK'
Vredestein will also offer fleet customers a two-year warranty on its tyres, including accidental damage, damage due to impact and non-repairable puncture cover.
The company makes tyres in India and the Netherlands and is setting up a new factory in Hungary. It markets its products under two brands ' Apollo and Vredestein ' Apollo in India and Vredestein in Europe.
Tyres are sold in more than 100 countries through a network of branded, exclusive and multi-product outlets.
The Dutch Vredestein dates back more than 100 years and was purchased by India-based Apollo Tyres in 2009. The company positions itself as a supporter of all campaigns aiming to make the road a safer place.
