COVID-19 pandemic and lower consumer sentiments severely impacted Hankook Tire’s sales and operating profit for the first quarter of 2020.

Sales dropped to $1.2 billion in Q12020 as against $1.46 billion in Q12019. Operating profit fell to $88.6 million in Q12020 from $125 million in Q12019.

The South Korean tyre maker said COVID -9 had an overall impact on it’s both OE and aftermarket businesses as well as the adjustment of the operating days of global production facilities.

However, high-inch tyres of 18 inches or more accounted for 33.7% of the sales of tyres for passenger cars, up 2.7%p YoY on the account of the company’s global top tier technologies and quality. “ The stable growth of high-inch tyres over 18 inches in major markets such as South Korea, North America and China has further consolidated its premium brand image,” said the company.

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JK Tyre & Industries, one of the leading tyre manufacturers in the country, has announced the appointment of Sylvain Sagot as Director – Quality.

Sagot comes with over three decades of experience in quality assurance, process excellence and operational leadership in the automotive and tyre industry. A French national, he began his career as a Quality Engineer at Michelin Netherlands in 1991.

In 2004, he worked with Renault as a Supplier Development Consultant and went on to grow to the ranks of Supplier Performance Manager for the Renault Nissan Alliance. He also worked with Alstom and Gajah Tunggal, one of the biggest tyre manufacturers in Southeast Asia as QA General Manager & TBR Plant Head in Indonesia for over three years.

Sagot in his last role was the International Truck Trailer Quality & Product Safety Director at Carrier, where he spent over a decade.

JK Tyre & Industries believes that Sagot with deep expertise in supplier development, quality management systems, product safety, and OEM partnerships in large-scale manufacturing environments, will further strengthen its global operations.

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  - Jitendra Pancholi July 04, 2025 19:47 PM

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Nynas, with its strong commitment to innovation and product sustainability, recently commissioned an independent study to evaluate the environmental impact of its products across four key application areas: transformer oils, lubricating greases, tyres and bitumen binders. Conducted by Future Earth Analytics, LLC, the research revealed that many Nynas products deliver significant sustainability advantages, often surpassing industry performance benchmarks.

The study highlighted several environmental benefits across different applications. In transformer oils, certain Nynas products improve cooling efficiency and energy transmission, reducing energy losses during operation. For tyres, specific Nynas tyre oils contribute to lower rolling resistance, which helps decrease fuel consumption in vehicles. In lubricating greases, the use of naphthenic base oils reduces reliance on lithium – a resource-intensive material – while also cutting energy consumption during production. Additionally, Nynas’ strategic location near bitumen customers minimises transportation distances, thereby lowering associated emissions.

The findings underscore a substantial environmental impact: had customers opted for alternative products instead of Nynas’ offerings in 2023, an additional 740,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions would have been generated. This saving is equivalent to avoiding the consumption of five million barrels of oil.

To assess these benefits, researchers employed a dual analytical framework combining Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Net Energy Analysis (NEA). This approach allowed for a detailed comparison of energy savings and emissions reductions across different lifecycle phases, such as cradle-to-gate and use-phase impacts. By focusing on stages where variations occur, the study provided a quantitative evaluation of how choosing Nynas products can lead to measurable energy and emissions savings compared to market alternatives. The results reinforce Nynas’ leadership in delivering sustainable solutions that support a lower-carbon future. 

Marika Rangstedt, Sustainability Manager, said, “The beneficial effects are true not only for our recent circular or renewable products, but also for many of our traditional products. We are leading the way in sustainability and setting new standards for product related environmental responsibility within our industry.”

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Westlake Performance Tyres, a brand of ZC Rubber, has teamed up with German motorsport team Red Bull Driftbrothers as the new official supplier and tyre partner. The company will supply its Westlake Sport RS tyres for the team’s two 1,000 hp BMW M4s.

Munich marketing agency die agentour was the driving force behind the collaboration. The Red Bull Driftbrothers and ZC Rubber have a long-term cooperation that benefits both parties in many ways. Giving the team tyres will help with technical advancements based on driver Elias Hountondji's input, among other things. The collaboration will also help ZC Rubber spread the word about the Westlake brand throughout the European market. Demonstrating the products' and technologies' performance and quality in harsh environments is also a clear signal to the European OEM and replacement market.

This year's ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring marked the debut of the new collaboration. The Red Bull Driftbrothers created a stir among the record-breaking audience when they performed a display drift in their recently tyred BMW vehicles during the pre-race of the renowned race. The Westlake Sport RS tires were especially taxed by the high track temperatures.

Henry Shen, Deputy General Manager, Zhongce Rubber Group (ZC Rubber), said, “We’re proud to be the tyre partner of Red Bull Driftbrothers. Their trust in WESTLAKE, especially the performance of our SPORT RS on the demanding drift circuit, is a powerful endorsement. This partnership is built on a shared drive to push boundaries, and we’re excited to support their passion with our technology on the global stage.”

Elias Hountondji, driver and engineer of Red Bull Driftbrothers, said, “We are very excited about the partnership with Westlake Performance Tyres and ZC Rubber. Tyres are crucial for our sport. They have to withstand extreme abuse while providing a consistently high level of grip right to the end. The Westlake Sport RS is the perfect choice for this. It is extremely stable across the entire temperature range and the entire tread depth. Even with a very low tread pattern, you still have complete confidence as a driver.”

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German premium tyre manufacturer Continental Tires has inaugurated its fourth Continental Premium Drive (CPD) dealership in Thane in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

The new facility spans across 3,400 sqft and is equipped with tyre and vehicle care equipment to cater to the needs of premium and luxury vehicle owners. With this, Continental Tires has a robust network of 200 CPD brand stores across the country as part of its ‘In the market, for the market’ approach.

The CPD offers tyre puncture repair, tyre replacement, battery charging, AC & brake servicing, wheel alignment & balancing and nitrogen filling among other services.  

Samir Gupta, Managing Director – India and Head of Central Region Asia-Pacific, Continental Tires, said, "The opening of our new store in Thane reinforces our strategic focus on delivering excellence in safety, comfort, and performance. This expansion is a testament to our unwavering commitment to serving customers with best-in-class products and services. With several new CPD outlets in the pipeline, we are poised to accelerate our growth. Aligned with our ‘In the Market, For the Market’ approach, we are strengthening our retail network to better meet the evolving needs of customers across Maharashtra, and India at large."

Jawahar Diwan, Owner, Diwan Auto Care, said, "We are thrilled to further strengthen our partnership with Continental Tires with the addition of another CPD store in the Thane district. With six service outlets serving customers across Mumbai, Thane, and Bhiwandi, we are equipped with state-of-the-art technology tailored for servicing premium and luxury vehicles, offering high-quality solutions to end-consumers.”

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