CEAT, one of the leading tyre manufacturers in the country, has further expanded its SportDrive range with new products targeting the luxury four-wheeler and ultra-high-performance passenger vehicles segment.

The company has introduced the Run-Flat tyres, which can withstand punctures and can be safely driven at considerable speeds for upto 80 km before needing to be repaired. This also makes CEAT the first Indian tyre maker to roll out such a product in the country.

Furthermore, it has also introduced 21-inch ZR-rated tyres that are designed to handle speeds upto 300 kmph, while also being quieter thanks to the CALM technology, which utilises special foam inside the tyre.

These tyres are targeted towards the premium luxury and high-performance car segment, which at present, makes up for a small percentage of the Indian passenger vehicle market. But the idea for CEAT to is establish its presence in the segment, as it pursues its ambition to be amongst the top 10 tyre makers globally.

L-R: Lakshmi Narayanan B, CMO, CEAT; Renji Issac, Head of R&D, CEAT; Arnab Banerjee, MD & CEO, CEAT and Vishal Pawar, Global Sales Head, CEAT, with the new range of SportDrive.

The company’s tyres will now be available for premium high-performance brands such as Jaguar, Lamborghini and Porsche. On the other hand, the CALM technology tyres along with Run-Flat Tyres will be available for brands such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Land Rover and Honda.

The company shared that these tyres have been developed in an extensive collaboration between the company’s Germany-based R&D Centre and Halol R&D Centre in Gujarat.

Renji Issac, Senior Vice-President and Head of R&D and Technology, CEAT, explained that the company combined ‘European capabilities and Indian sensibilities' to spawn high-performance tyres for the Indian and global markets.

What’s more these products are priced competitively at INR 15,000 to INR 20,000 for Run-Flat Tyres, INR 25,000 to INR 30,000 for the ZR-rated Ultra-High Performance CALM technology tyres.

Arnab Banerjee, MD & CEO, CEAT, said, “Under the new SportDrive range of tyres, CEAT with the launch of ZR-rated tyres, CALM Technology and Run-Flat tyres, strengthens its position as a premium, technology-driven brand. These innovations reflect our commitment to enhancing safety, comfort and performance for luxury and high-performance vehicle owners. We are proud to be the first Indian company to introduce Run-Flat tyres, reinforcing our leadership in the four-wheeler segment.”

Lakshmi Narayan B, CMO, CEAT, added, “CEAT’s latest innovations are a testament to our relentless pursuit of excellence in tyre engineering. The new range of SportsDrive with Run-Flat Tyres and ZR-rated tyres with CALM Technology have been rigorously tested at our state-of-the-art facilities in Germany, blending our rich Italian heritage with precise German engineering to deliver tyres that meet the exacting standards of luxury vehicle owners worldwide.”

The company will introduce the new range across key markets such as Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Kolkata, Pune, Chandigarh, Uttar Pradesh, Bengaluru, Tamil Nadu, Coimbatore, Madurai, Kerala, Hyderabad, Guwahati and Ahmedabad from April.

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Goodyear celebrated the 100th anniversary of Goodyear Blimp with an unforgettable milestone – hosting the world’s first high-altitude Pokémon battle aboard the iconic Wingfoot Three blimp, soaring 1,000 feet above Los Angeles.

Partnering with GameStop, the event featured popular YouTuber Casey Neistat battling on ModRetro’s Chromatic handheld, a retro-inspired console developed by Oculus VR founder Palmer Luckey. Joining as special guest trainers were Luckey himself, ModRetro CEO Torin Herndon and GameStop’s Head of Social Media, Joe Fonicello.

The historic clash blended gaming, aviation and pop culture, with highlights shared across social media afterward. As part of Goodyear Blimp’s yearlong centennial festivities – officially recognised on 3 June 2025 – the event showcased the brand’s legacy of innovation. Fans can expect more thrilling collaborations and aerial spectacles as the anniversary celebrations continue, reinforcing Goodyear’s enduring influence in both technology and entertainment.

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Indian tyre maker sees steady growth despite European challenges

Apollo Tyres reported a four percent increase in first-quarter revenue to INR 65.61 billion, driven by steady growth in its Indian operations whilst European divisions faced challenging market conditions.

The Gurugram-based tyre manufacturer said consolidated revenue for the three months ended 30 June rose from INR 63.35 billion in the same period last year. However, operating profit declined to INR 8.68 billion from INR 9.09 billion.

Net profit jumped to INR 3.81 billion from INR 3.02 billion the previous year, excluding an exceptional restructuring cost of INR 3.69 billion that the company disclosed separately.

The results come as India’s tyre industry navigates mixed demand patterns, with the aftermarket segment showing particular strength whilst original equipment manufacturers face varied demand from automobile producers.

“This quarter’s results reflect solid execution and a focus on profitable growth,” said Onkar Kanwar, chairman of Apollo Tyres. “It’s encouraging to see Indian Operations performing in line with expectations -- driven particularly by strong momentum in the aftermarket segment.”

Kanwar said the quarterly performance demonstrated “the resilience of our business model and our ability to create long-term value for shareholders.”

The European operations faced what the company described as traditionally one of their seasonally weaker quarters, though management said performance was solid given challenging market conditions across the region.

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Germany's rubber industry faces growing challenges due to high energy costs, threatening its long-term competitiveness. The German Rubber Industry Association (wdk), alongside other mid-sized industrial sectors within the ‘Alliance for a Fair Energy Transition’, is pushing for immediate government action to introduce a competitive production electricity price. This measure aims to stabilise energy expenses and protect domestic manufacturers from losing ground in global markets.

Current relief policies disproportionately favour large-scale consumers, leaving small and medium-sized enterprises at a disadvantage with higher electricity rates. The wdk emphasises that an effective industrial electricity price must include cost caps, broader eligibility criteria and simplified access – addressing existing shortcomings where support has been insufficient, overly complex and burdened by bureaucracy.

Separately, the association highlights the need for a distinct decarbonisation electricity price to support industrial transformation toward climate-neutral production. This initiative should extend to more businesses, ensuring long-term investment security in electrification projects spanning at least a decade.

However, European Commission regulations, particularly the CISAF framework, currently limit national flexibility in implementing such relief measures. The wdk urges the German government to advocate for reduced bureaucratic hurdles, faster approvals and expanded EU aid frameworks to enable timely support for energy-intensive industries. Without swift intervention, the sector warns of irreversible damage to regional economic stability.

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German tier 1 supplier ZF Group has announced that it has secured three large test system orders including for powertrain, tyre manufacturing and testing, which marks its entry into the Indian powertrain and next-gen mobility segment.

ZF Group’s order, estimated to be several million euros, has been placed across India for a range of testing equipment. The 440 KW transmission test bench is the first of its kind in India. It features a unique 3E dyno configuration that connects directly to the device under test, eliminating the need for an intermediate gearbox. This design significantly reduces energy loss and improves performance, accuracy and efficiency. The system also includes a movable dyno that can be adjusted horizontally for greater flexibility.

Other significant orders include several R&D test benches for a leading tyre manufacturer. These benches will be used for testing rolling resistance (efficiency) and performing endurance and high-speed tests on passenger car and two-wheeler tyres. Additionally, three automated end-of-line (EOL) test benches for passenger car tyres have been ordered by another Indian manufacturer. These systems are used at the end of the production line to ensure product quality before the tyres are shipped out.

Akash Passey, President, ZF Group India, said, “This is a proud moment for ZF as we bring our advanced testing technology to India. These orders not just set a new benchmark in the segment but serve as a reference point for future projects in the region. These orders reinforce our commitment to innovation and excellence in engineering in automotive and industrial segments.”

With this move, ZF introduces a new portfolio of mid-size and large-size powertrain benches, tyre R&D testing machines and low speed uniformity and balancing test systems, which are tailored for the Indian market.

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