The German Rubber Industry Association (wdk) has said in its latest statement that the coalition agreement between the CDU/CSU and the SPD essentially establishes the correct goals from the standpoint of the German rubber industry.

The promises to technical openness in the automobile sector, to cutting bureaucracy and to a risk-based approach in chemicals policy are undoubtedly welcome, according to Michael Klein, President, wdk. He said that the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act's announced repeal is a significant step towards reducing the burden on businesses and will satisfy the rubber industry's requests during the election campaign.

Praising the announced support for the circular economy, he said, "Waste tyre recycling, in particular, is a prime example of the diverse and successful possibilities of using recycled materials and tyre retreading. The coalition partners would have liked to have highlighted rubber products more clearly here. The promises to reduce bureaucracy are also in line with the demands of the business community. This is especially true for bureaucracy practice checks, which were proposed by the wdk."

But before any real action is done, he also warned that nothing is as it seems because prior government coalitions have also pledged to lessen the various reporting obligations. The executive lamented that the coalition agreement did not specifically target energy-intensive, industrial SMEs and made no mention of market monitoring, although applauding the announced relief for industry from high energy costs.

"Now it's important to breathe life into the letter of the coalition agreement and implement the agreed measures promptly and in close dialogue with the business community. The German rubber industry is happy to provide its expertise for this purpose and will continue to closely and critically monitor the implementation of the agreements,” concluded the wdk President.

The German rubber industry has urged for an immediate implementation of the economic turnaround.

Addressing around 250 representatives of member companies of the employers' association of the German rubber industry (ADK) and the wdk at the ‘Day of the Rubber Industry’ event in Berlin, Michael Klein, President, wdk, said, “The economic turnaround manoeuvre must begin immediately. It is incomprehensible that the small key industries, which are so important for the German location, are not mentioned at all in the coalition agreement. The medium-sized companies are unsettled and urgently need planning security. This means an ambitious reduction of documentation and reporting obligations and the fastest possible relief in energy costs.”

According to the association, the regulatory procedures are particularly difficult for small and family-run businesses to comprehend. The German rubber industry is strong and resilient in decision-making, and it brings together major tyre manufacturers and producers of other rubber goods to form a formidable industry. However, it can only fully utilise its potential if the framework conditions are improved, which is the responsibility of the incoming federal government, stressed the wdk President.

Apollo Tyres has strengthened its renewable energy portfolio by acquiring an additional 3.43 percent stake in Green Infra Wind Power Projects Limited (GIWPPL), a wind power producer operating in Tamil Nadu.

In regulatory filings with the Bombay Stock Exchange and National Stock Exchange, the tyre manufacturer disclosed that its shareholding in GIWPPL will increase to 21.27 percent following the purchase of 60,000 equity shares at INR 10 per share, totalling INR 600,000.

The acquisition represents Apollo's growing commitment to green energy as part of its sustainability initiatives. Before this transaction, Apollo held a 17.84 percent stake in GIWPPL, comprising 312,000 equity shares.

GIWPPL, incorporated in July 2011, operates a 24-megawatt wind power project in Tamil Nadu and is a Sembcorp Green Infra Private Limited subsidiary. The company reported a turnover of INR 235.25 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, up from INR 208.81 million in the previous year.

This investment aligns with Apollo Tyres’ broader strategy to increase its renewable energy sourcing while potentially reducing its carbon footprint and energy costs across its manufacturing operations. Apollo Tyres stated the objective of the acquisition is for “procurement of wind power.”

Apollo Tyres, one of India’s leading tyre manufacturers, announced a change in its senior management structure as part of efforts to align its projects team with global manufacturing operations.

According to a regulatory filing with the National Stock Exchange of India and BSE Ltd, C Krishna Kumar, Vice President of Projects, will report directly to the Chief Manufacturing Officer. As a result of this reorganisation, Kumar will no longer be classified as part of the company’s senior management under SEBI’s Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements Regulations.

The Kochi-headquartered company stated that the change is designed to streamline reporting structures and better integrate the projects division with the company's global manufacturing framework.

Management adjustments are coming as tyre manufacturers worldwide focus on operational efficiencies amid challenging market conditions.

The Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) today released its April 2025 vehicle retail data, revealing a moderate overall growth of 3 percent YoY.

The two-wheeler segment emerged as the primary growth driver, registering a 2.25 percent increase in retail sales compared to April 2024 and a significant 11.84 percent MoM growth. FADA attributes this positive momentum to strong rural demand. However, the sector continues to face headwinds in the form of high financing costs and the pricing impact of OBD-2B emission norms.

The tractor segment demonstrated robust growth, with a 7.5 percent increase in retail sales year-on-year. This strong performance likely reflects the positive sentiment stemming from a strong Rabi harvest, which typically boosts agricultural activity and consequently, tractor demand.

In contrast to the strong performance of two-wheelers and tractors, the passenger vehicle segment experienced a modest 1.55 percent YoY growth, while witnessing a slight dip of 0.19 percent on MoM basis. The auto retail body attributes that deep discounts are prevalent in the market and while the demand for SUVs remains strong, the entry-level segment continues to exhibit sluggishness. FADA also noted that the PV inventory levels are currently around 50 days, significantly higher than their advocated norm of 21 days.

The commercial vehicle segment faced a contraction, with retail sales declining by 1.05 percent YoY and 4.44 percent on MoM basis. FADA suggests that recent price hikes by OEMs and flat freight rates are negatively impacting sales. Within the CV segment, the Small Commercial Vehicle category saw weak demand, while the bus segment remains steady.

Looking ahead to May 2025, FADA anticipates a positive outlook, primarily driven by the strong conclusion of the Rabi harvest. The expectation of a normal monsoon further strengthens this positive sentiment, suggesting continued momentum in rural demand which could positively influence vehicle sales across various segments.

In a significant development, FADA has begun releasing fuel-wise vehicle retail market share data across all key categories. This new initiative aims to provide stakeholders with a granular understanding of evolving energy preferences and the impact of regulatory influences on India's automotive ecosystem.

C S Vigneshwar, President, FADA, said, “The new financial year began on a measured note as overall retails in April managed to grow by 3 percent YoY. All categories except CV closed in the green, with 2W, 3W, PV and Trac up 2.25 percent, 24.5 percent, 1.5 percent and 7.5 percent respectively, while CVs declined by 1 percent. With the tariff war paused, stock markets staged a sharp pullback – alleviating investor concerns – and customers thus leveraged Chaitra Navratri, Akshay Tritiya, Bengali New Year, Baisakhi and Vishu to complete purchases, helping April end on a positive note.”