Russian tyre manufacturer JSC Cordiant has started up commercial production at the former Bridgestone facility in Ulyanovsk, Russia. Vadim Volodin, CEO of Cordiant, and Alexey Mordashov, CEO of Cordiant parent firm Severgroup, attended the formal launch event on March 19.

After two and a half years of inactivity, Cordian resumed the plant's testing runs in November of last year. The facility, which was renamed the Gislaved Ulyanovsk factory, can now produce 2.4 million passenger vehicle tyres. With a daily capacity of 5,000 units, the unit has been in operation since 2016 and is regarded as one of the most advanced full-cycle tyre businesses in the Russian Federation. Its product line, which includes tyres with standard sizes ranging from 13-inch to 19-inch for cars, crossovers and SUVs, as well as tyres that have been approved for supply to automakers as original equipment, is produced under the Gislaved brand. In December 2023, after the Kremlin invaded Ukraine, Bridgestone sold the factory to Cordiant as the Japanese group left Russia.

“The launch is important both for the sustainable development of the Cordiant holding and for the entire tyre industry in Russia,” said Mordashov, adding that the start-up will have stabilising effect on the market and will enable Cordian to meet the growing domestic demand.

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The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. has announced a significant victory for its flagship ADVAN tyres in the GT300 class during Round 5 of the 2025 AUTOBACS SUPER GT Series at Suzuka Circuit. This marks the third win this season for a car equipped with ADVAN tyres, reinforcing Yokohama Rubber's strong position in the pursuit of a second consecutive GT300 championship.

The triumphant vehicle was the No. 7 CARGUY FERRARI 296 GT3, fielded by the CARGUY MKS RACING team, which is competing in its debut SUPER GT season. Driven by the rookie duo of Zak O’Sullivan and Rikuto Kobayashi, the car started on the front row after a strong qualifying performance. O’Sullivan aggressively challenged for the lead from the outset before handing over to Kobayashi on the 18th lap. Despite a radio failure that left him without communication from his team, Kobayashi delivered a remarkably consistent and fast drive, seizing the lead on lap 35 and securing a decisive victory by a 17-second margin.

Adding to the success of the ADVAN brand, a second car fitted with the tyres also achieved a podium finish. The No. 5 TEAM MACH entry, driven by Yusuke Shiotsu and Iori Kimura, crossed the line in third place, underscoring the competitive performance and reliability of Yokohama Rubber’s racing tyres under the demanding conditions of Japan’s premier GT racing series.

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Continental’s dedication to comprehensive environmental and social responsibility has been formally recognised with the 2025 Kalmar Sustainability Award. The honour was conferred at Kalmar’s Supplier Day event in Szczecin, Poland, following a rigorous independent evaluation.

Continental distinguished itself by earning the highest score on Kalmar’s supplier sustainability scorecard, which measures performance in critical areas like responsible sourcing, data transparency, hazardous substance compliance and active participation in sustainability initiatives.

This partnership is operationalised through Continental’s role as the premium supplier of V.ply and radial tyres for Kalmar’s port logistics vehicles, which include reach stackers, terminal tractors and container handlers. The collaboration is strengthened by a shared vision for a carbon-neutral future. Continental implements this vision by focusing on the entire tyre lifecycle, from employing energy-efficient production and sustainable materials to designing long-lasting products like the TerminalMaster tyre.

Digital tools such as ContiConnect further this mission by optimising tyre pressure and health, which reduces fuel consumption and extends tyre life, thereby minimising the overall environmental footprint. This award celebrates a synergistic alliance built on a mutual commitment to innovation and superior quality standards.

Christian Berner, Global Key Account Manager for Port Operations at Continental, said, “We are honoured to receive this award from Kalmar, a valued customer with whom we have enjoyed a strong partnership for more than 15 years. This award is a testament to our shared values: a strong commitment to sustainability and lifecycle responsibility as demonstrated in our yearly sustainability report.”

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In a unique cultural partnership, Goodyear and American rapper Ice Cube are collaborating throughout the year to celebrate his classic hits, including a notable lyric from his 1993 single: Even saw the lights of the Goodyear Blimp and it read, 'Ice Cube's a Pimp'. The campaign connects the 100th anniversary of the Goodyear Blimp with Ice Cube's Truth to Power: 4 Decades of Attitude tour.

The collaboration officially launched on 24th August with a blimp flyover at the BIG3 Championship basketball finals in Orlando, a league founded by the artist. This continues the airship's storied tradition of appearing at major events. The partnership will extend to select concerts on Ice Cube's upcoming tour. Attendees in cities including Denver, San Diego, Los Angeles and Cleveland will experience the iconic Goodyear Blimp both in the sky above the venues and through integrated elements inside the arenas, offering fans a distinctive concert experience. This initiative brings to life the classic lyric, merging music history with a century of aviation legacy.

Ice Cube said, "From the beginning, I always thought you had to dream big if you really wanted to make it big. The idea of the Goodyear Blimp championing my name was a metaphor for the sky being the limit, yet here we are with Goodyear as a partner and the blimp flying in the Orlando skies, saying, 'Ice Cube's a Pimp!'. I'm honoured to have Goodyear sponsoring my Truth to Power tour, where we will take people through a musical journey over my four-decade career."

Doug Grassian, Vice President – Global External Communications, Social Media and Partnerships, Goodyear, said, "When Ice Cube referenced the Goodyear Blimp in his iconic song, it became part of music history and made a cultural impact. Aligning together for his upcoming tour feels like we are bringing that lyric to life, both literally and figuratively, for fans across generations."

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In an unfortunate incident, a fire broke out at Contec’s tyre facility in Szczecin during the night of 23-24 August. The company confirms that all 10 employees on site were safely evacuated thanks to the effective response of emergency services, with no injuries reported. While the situation is now under control, the incident resulted in significant material damage and a complete halt to production operations.

The company has expressed profound disappointment at the damage to an installation that had operated safely for over a decade. The timing is especially difficult given recent operational achievements. As an independent entity, Contec had successfully been converting 85 percent of end-of-life tyres into circular raw materials for new tyre production. This process had established a key part of the circular ecosystem within tyre manufacturing, making the current interruption to this sustainable work particularly challenging. The company is now assessing the full impact of the event.

Krzysztof Wróblewski, CEO and CTO, Contec, said, “Our full attention is now focused on our team, ensuring their well-being, our clients to help them find solutions, as well as assessing the situation and our post-incident operations. I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the incredible support and concern we have received. Your kindness means a great deal to us during this challenging time. We are aware that this is a difficult situation not only for our company and shareholders but for the entire industry. We will provide updates regarding any impact on our operations on an individual basis as more information becomes available. Furthermore, we are committed to sharing our findings with others in the industry, as we believe that increasing safety standards benefits everyone.”

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