Michelin Tyres on Wednesday announced the opening up of two TyrePlus concept stores in Hyderabad, thereby taking the number of stores up from 16 to 18 across the country.

Through these new touch points, Michelin Tyres, part of a global leading tyre manufacturing French major, Michelin seeks to offer new retail experience for the consumers. This is something which TyrePlus stores offer across the world, Mr. B. Kumar, Country Head-Distribution, Michelin India, said.

The company appointed MV Tyre World and Xenex as its franchisee partners in Hyderabad.

Mr. Kumar said, "In today’s busy world, where people have money but less time, such stores offer a hassle free ownership and service experience. In these TyrePlus stores, customers can buy Michelin tyres and tyres of other manufactures and also other car accessories.

They also get access to quality after sales service, which makes a difference."

The company currently procures tyres from its global manufacturing bases and supplies them in the Indian market to the original equipment manufacturers like Honda, Mercedes and Volvo Trucks and in the replacement segment.

NEW PLANT

Michelin is in the process of setting up of a manufacturing base in Chennai, Tamil Nadu for truck tyres and expects to commission this during the year. Barely 17 per cent of truck tyre market is radial tyres. This offers immense scope for Michelin to tap into once the plant is ready, he said.

>vrishi@thehindu.co.in