LONDON — Apollo Tyres Ltd. has opened a "digital innovation hub" in London as part of its strategy to implement Industry 4.0 manufacturing capabilities.
The facility will use artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies to improve the efficiency, quality and sustainability of its operations, Apollo said.
Digital applications for the new center are being engineered and designed in the United Kingdom, Apollo said, with specialist companies being consulted to help with complex application development.
The hub is also partnering with Glasgow University and implementing an internship program for STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) students.
Neeraj Kanwar, vice chairman and managing director of Gurugram, India-based Apollo Tyres, said his company expects the hub to help it on its "digitalization journey other investments in cloud and data computing."
Apollo invested $5.5 million in the facility, which is integral to Apollo's five-year growth plan, a strategy that involves significant investment in technology and cloud infrastructure, the company explained.
Apollo's London office is considered the "nerve center" of Apollo's global organization employing 20,000 people worldwide, added Kanwar.
Europe represents roughly one-third of Apollo's global revenue, or $750 million in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021. Apollo operates two plants in Europe, in Gyöngyöshalász, Hungary, and Enschede, Netherlands.
The announcement comes on the eve of U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson's visit to India, during which the two countries will be discussing U.K.-India trade and economic partnership.
