Apollo Tyres and NATRAX have partnered to establish first-of-its-kind test track in India for validating tires for electric vehicles (EVs). The new facility will enable EV manufacturers to assess the cut and chip resistance of their tires.
NATRAX (National Automotive Test Tracks) is an automotive testing and certification center under NATRiP, a flagship project of the Ministry of Heavy Industries through the Government of India’s Automotive Mission Plan.
The evaluation of cut and chip resistance is important for EVs due to their unique characteristics, such as regenerative braking and high-speed acceleration. The facility will also assess the resistance of fuel-efficient tires under the Star label program.
At the announcement of the new facility at NATRAX, Dr Hanif Qureshi, additional secretary of the Ministry of Heavy Industries at the Government of India, highlighted the importance of sustainable mobility and credited the track facilities at NATRAX to the government’s commitment to growing its automotive industry. He also noted that the addition of the new track aligns with India’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan’ initiative, promoting self-sufficiency and reducing import dependence.
Satish Sharma, president of Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa (APMEA) at Apollo Tyres, said that by investing in this advanced testing facility, Apollo Tyres aims to accelerate tire development for OEMs, particularly of EV and low-rolling resistance tires tailored to Indian roads and climate conditions.
Daniele Lorenzetti, chief technology officer at Apollo Tyres, said, “This test track is uniquely designed to validate tyres in a consistent manner by mimicking real world conditions with split mu surfaces and gradients. This test track will help to reduce product development time, enabling Apollo Tyres to bring new products to market faster and more efficiently.”