It is a story of a visionary entrepreneur and the man behind the phenomenal success of Apollo Tyres. Authored by a leading UK-based journalist Tim Bouquet, the book "The Man Behind The Wheel" is a compelling tale of how Onkar S Kanwar built Apollo from scratch and took it to the world stage.
Published by Rupa Publications, the book was unveiled by Shashi Tharoor, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha. Praising this collaboration, Tharoor said that the book is a marvellous story with tremendous amount of interesting facts and anecdotes. "It is the story of the father-son transition in the company, family dynasties, Indian companies established abroad, and more. People know Kanwar as a business tycoon but the book gives a chance to know more about him."
From acquiring a non-existent factory in Kerala in 1974 to building Apollo Tyres, one of India’s most successful automotive companies with a turnover of $2 billion with manufacturing facilities across India and Europe, Kanwar acquired a company in the Netherlands, set-up a Greenfield facility in Hungary. He followed his steadfast vision to build not just a company, but also an industrial institution.
Speaking about his experience, Tim Bouquet said, “I had heard about Onkar Kanwar and the story of Apollo Tyres during my various visits to India and in Britain, which led me to write this book. Speaking with various individuals about Onkar and to the man himself, has been an enriching journey itself.”
In the book Kanwar’s closest friends and colleagues have spoken about the triumphs and the setbacks that have shaped both his and the company’s life and times. His wife and family share their personal insights of the man who is at the hub and heart of their world and how his values as a Sikh, and as a father, a brother and husband have moulded him as an entrepreneur.
BW Reporters
Vaishali Dar is a Senior Associate Editor with BW Businessworld and Editorial Head with BW Disrupt. She writes on corporates, start-ups, hospitality and travel
