Bridgestone is planning to cut jobs at two factories in northern Spain in response to a negative shift in the European market and the growth of non-European goods.

According to a Reuters report quoting local union UGT, the business intends to lay off 546 workers at two plants in Cantabria and the Basque Country in northern Spain that produce tyres for tractors, other farm vehicles, buses and trucks. The report adds that UGT and other unions have declared their intention to call for a strike at the two facilities, but they have not given any specifics.

The company's local unit, Bridgestone Hispania, employs 2,800 people at the moment, according to UGT. Bridgestone stated that it has to modify its production capacity in light of the current market conditions, which are marked by inflation, uncertainty and regulatory changes, says the report.

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TyreSafe, UK’s leading tyre safety charity, has joined forces with Dudley Council Trading Standards for an enforcement operation targeting part-worn tyre retailers, with support from West Midlands Police. Unannounced audits followed earlier advisory visits during which traders had already received guidance on statutory obligations. Nonetheless, every business inspected failed to meet basic safety and legal standards, producing a 100 percent non-compliance rate.

The inspections exposed a range of serious breaches, including dangerous illegal string repairs, punctures in sidewall and shoulder areas that cannot be repaired, absent or temporary ‘PART-WORN’ markings, improper pressure testing, aged and hardened rubber and tread depth below the legal minimum. Under the Motor Vehicle Tyres (Safety) Regulations 1994, such tyres must be thoroughly inflation-tested before sale, have at least 2.0 mm of tread, be structurally sound and carry a permanent uppercase ‘PART-WORN’ stamp.

Each trader subsequently received an individual Trader Notice summarising visit findings, identifying specific concerns, acknowledging compliance where found and offering practical guidance on meeting legal duties. TyreSafe and Dudley Trading Standards now intend to use the case study to urge other UK local authorities to prioritise joint enforcement against part-worn tyre retailers and remove illegal stock from the consumer market.

Laura Reuben, Public Protection Manager, Dudley Council, said, “The findings of this operation are deeply concerning. Consumers purchasing part-worn tyres often assume they are buying a safe, legal alternative to pass an MOT or save money, but our joint checks show a widespread disregard for basic safety laws. Educational visits alone have proven insufficient, and we will not hesitate to use our formal enforcement powers to protect motorists from dangerous stock.”

Stuart Lovatt, Chairman, TyreSafe, said, “This operation with Dudley Trading Standards exposes a stark reality: 100 percent non-compliance among the retailers audited, even after receiving compliance advice. Dangerous tyres on the road pose an immediate threat to driver and pedestrian safety. We urge local authorities across the UK to follow Dudley’s lead and integrate targeted, unannounced part-worn checks into their enforcement schedules.”

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Bridgestone Sales (Thailand) Co., Ltd. is assembling speed enthusiasts to showcase their sporty spirit and partake in exclusive motorsport excitement at the highly anticipated 2026 Bridgestone Driving Experience, themed ‘FEEL THE VIBE. SHARE THE MOMENT’. The event welcomes customers using any model of BRIDGESTONE POTENZA tyres to elevate their driving experience by taking their own vehicles onto a real racing circuit.

Now in its fourth consecutive year, the programme offers participants the chance to explore their vehicles’ full performance capabilities under the guidance of professional drivers and automotive experts. Theoretical sessions and practical driving techniques form the core of the experience, complemented by exclusive prizes, Hot Lap opportunities and giveaways throughout the day.

Entertainment highlights include an exclusive Meet & Greet with Beer Baiyoke and the Top Secret Thailand team; Thai actress-singer-model-racing driver Maprang Alisa Khunkhaeng, as well as Ko and the Street Doc team. The action-packed schedule promises excitement and motorsport experiences for all attendees.

Scheduled for 22 November 2026 at Pathum Thani Speedway in Pathum Thani Province, registration is already open from 21 October to 10 November 2026, with selected participants to be announced on 16 November 2026. Additionally, Bridgestone is offering a ‘Buy 3 Tires, Get 1 Free’ promotion for customers switching to POTENZA tyres, valid for purchases from 21 October to 10 November 2026, along with the chance to join the event. Interested customers can contact the page administrator through the POTENZA CLUB Facebook Group.

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Michelin has formed a technical and sporting alliance with Segway as the Segway Dakar Rally Factory Team prepares to enter the 2028 Dakar Rally aboard an entirely new, fully electric racing motorcycle. Acting as the team's official tyre supplier and technical partner, Michelin will be involved from the project's very first stages, supporting Segway throughout development.

Segway, drawing on its electric mobility background, is pursuing a demanding engineering goal: designing a brand-new 100 percent electric racing motorcycle built to survive the Dakar Rally's punishing conditions. The event will act as a live testing environment where both partners can subject their newest innovations to extreme demands and probe fresh territory in performance and electric mobility.

The partnership is being officially sealed at EICMA 2026 in Milan, Italy, a major international motorcycle industry showcase, where representatives of both firms will sign an agreement confirming their joint dedication to the Dakar 2028 venture. Cooperation will reach far past race-tyre supply, with engineers from both sides collaborating to weave rally-raid requirements into Segway's future electric machine.

Michelin will lend its off-road and rally-raid know-how plus tyre and Bib Mousse puncture-prevention expertise, initially guiding Enduro and Desert tyre selection and advising on Bib Mousse choice, fitting and use. Joint workshops will unite Michelin Motorsport specialists with Segway engineers, gathering data under rally-raid-representative conditions to steer later tyre optimisation. With Michelin's Dakar record since 1983 and 40 victories behind it, a joint testing programme will adapt tyres progressively to the motorcycle's final specifications and demands.

Cyriaque Echevin, Michelin Off-Road Tire Marketing Director, said, “True to its pioneering spirit, Michelin is delighted to support the Segway Dakar Rally Factory Team in this particularly ambitious project. Taking on the Dakar Rally with 100 percent electric motorcycles represents an exciting technological challenge, bringing new parameters that we will need to factor into our development work. Our role will extend far beyond supplying tyres: our teams will work alongside Segway’s engineers from the earliest stages of the project, sharing our rally-raid expertise and contributing to the development of the new motorcycle. The Dakar Rally provides an exceptional testing ground for pushing technological boundaries through close collaboration with our partners.”

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Pirelli has chosen a softer trio of compounds for the São Paulo Grand Prix at Interlagos, naming the C3 as Hard, the C4 as Medium and the C5 as Soft. That is one step softer than a year ago, when the weekend followed the Sprint format. The race closes the long back-to-back swing through the Americas at the José Carlos Pace circuit.

Fresh asphalt laid during the year between Turns 3 and 5, and again between Turns 8 and 9, could shift grip levels and change how the track evolves. Longer runs may be affected in particular. Across the three free practice sessions, teams will study the new surface and its influence on wear and degradation.

Last year, degradation was a decisive technical theme in São Paulo. Graining came in milder than feared, but the C2 Hard of that weekend tended to slide, and the C3 and C4 wore heavily while still supporting competitive stints. A two-stop race proved the strongest approach.

Interlagos produces broadly average lateral forces overall, mixing fast corners with long straights, so the layout is not especially punishing. Loads fall fairly evenly between front and rear axles. Overtaking chances are plentiful, giving strategists room to manoeuvre, yet degradation management has usually decided who performs best, making the trade-off between one-lap speed and long-run durability central to trackside work.

Rain and sharp temperature swings are familiar at this venue given its calendar slot, so Intermediate and Full Wet tyres may again feature. In 2025, Medium and Soft dominated a wide spread of strategies, with most teams choosing two stops after an early neutralisation triggered pit visits. Pit windows differed by driver, opening gaps that aided overtaking; only two drivers stopped once, and Hard tyres appeared in just a few brief stints.

Interlagos has staged 42 Grands Prix, 37 of them titled the Brazilian Grand Prix between 1973 and 2019 before the São Paulo name returned in 2021. Michael Schumacher leads with four wins, while Sebastian Vettel, Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen hold three each; Ferrari and McLaren share nine team victories. The special Podium Cap, designed by Denis Dekovic for Pirelli Design and inspired by Brazil's 1958 blue football shirt with a jaguar-pattern finish, is on sale via Pirelli's e-commerce platform.

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