A recent FICCI survey made it amply clear that the Covid-19 pandemic has had a deep impact on Indian businesses which could lead to "unprecedented collapse" of the Indian economy. Only a substantive and urgent economic package by the Government could save a large section of the industry from permanent impairment, survey findings stated.

The survey has just brought to the fore what businesses, cutting across segments, have been realizing ever since the Corona outbreak led to shuttering of businesses and disruption of supply chains. A financial stimulus is, indeed, imperative in view of the huge financial impact on businesses especially to those like auto & tyre sectors who had been facing exceptional distress even before the arrival of the current pandemic. For instance, Tyre industry is poised to lose sales of nearly Rs 10000 crore due to lock-down till the end of April. There is huge blockage of funds by way of inventories of raw materials and in the form of finished goods. Many OEMs have asked for deferment of payments and realizations from the replacement market have dried out.

It is heartening to note Government’s resolve to fight back with full might. Hon’ble Prime Minister has exhorted his cabinet that Government must work on war footing to mitigate the impact of Covid-19 and strategize for the emergent conditions. However, what is of greater significance is PM’s advice to lessen the country’s dependence on other nations and give a sincere push to 'Make in India' as a long-term strategy to immune the country from external trade shocks. He emphasized on boosting India's manufacturing and exports to benefit from emerging world realties.

Certainly, it is all the more important now to identify champion sectors where the country has much better bet of attaining the ideals of Make in India. These sectors will include the ones which have significant employment potential, have proven credentials in domestic manufacturing and exports, enjoy wide acclaim for quality worldwide and have the capacity to ramp up and become global leaders.

On all these counts, Tyre Industry in India has withstood the test very well over the years. It is unfortunate that Indian Tyre Industry has remained one of the less celebrated success stories on manufacturing landscape of India. The industry has not been adequately acclaimed for sterling achievements in areas such as exports, research & development and innovation. It is time that industry’s key contribution as wheels of nation’s economy gets adequately noticed.

For one, Tyre Industry is self-sufficient in India with indigenous capacities to manufacture practically all kinds of tyres from a moped tyre to mammoth off-the-road tyres. Not many countries in the world can boast of this capability.

Not only has the Tyre Industry worked for a self-reliant India ever since independence but has emerged as a major exporter with Indian manufactured tyres being exported to more than 100 countries in the world including the most discerning ones such as US and European countries. Exports of tyres from India are in the range of Rs 12000 crore per annum (nearly 20% of the industry revenue).

Job creation potential of the Tyre Industry is huge in view of a rich value chain extending from rubber planters to tyre mechanics. Industry supports over one million Natural Rubber (NR) planters since as much as 75% of the NR produced in the country is consumed in tyre manufacturing. Another million or so are engaged in tyre manufacturing, tyre retreading and those employed at tyre dealerships and tyre repair services across the length and breadth of the country.

Indian Tyre Industry is increasingly converging with the world in terms of practices, product quality and research & development. Today India has some of the finest radial tyre manufacturing facilities in the world. International vehicle majors (OEMs) have been rolling out leading brands in India on Indian made tyres underscoring the quality edge. The Indian Tyre Industry is emerging as a force to reckon with in the global manufacturing ecosystem. As many as four Indian tyre companies find a pride of place among the top 30 tyre companies in the world.

At a time when private investments have been hard to come by, Tyre Industry in India has continued to invest handsomely in capacity creation and technology. Ongoing and recently completed investments are to the extent of Rs 51000 crore which is unprecedented in the history of the industry.

There is little doubt that India is in the sweet spot as far as tyre manufacturing goes. Seasoned entrepreneurship, availability of skilled manpower, availability of NR plantations and products surpassing international quality benchmarks –are all the ingredients to make India a hub for tyre manufacturing in the world.

Tyre Industry deserves to be a shining example of Indian manufacturing (much like IT or Pharma in the respective sectors) in view of advancements in technology, contribution to Auto and Transport sectors, job creation potential and growth projections.

Currently, several countries in the world are looking to reduce their dependence on China for political, economic and strategic reasons. US and Japan are openly looking for alternatives to China to source products which offer quality and price competitiveness. And therein lies the opportunity of casting the net wider for exports of tyres from India.

However Indian Tyre Industry can leverage this opportunity and replace China in several key markets only if production and exports are provided a policy push by the Government and bottlenecks are removed. China enjoys huge economies of scale as far as tyre manufacturing is concerned. For instance China exports tyres worth US $15 bn in a year which is nearly double the size of Indian Tyre Industry. Actually China has provided large export incentives to its tyre companies since the manufacturing capacity in China is many times that of its domestic requirements. To insulate its companies from the vagaries of fluctuation in Natural Rubber prices and availability, China is maintaining large reserves of rubber as a state policy.

Corona outbreak can work to India's advantage as the quality of tyres produced in India has received worldwide acclaim. India can leverage this opportunity, if production and exports of tyres is given a strong fillip. That requires a support to the industry much in the same way that Chinese Government has been providing to its tyre companies.

India’s economic engine needs a lot of help from the Government to restart after the lockdown. However support to a champion sector like Tyre Industry which has already proven its credentials as employment and export revenue generator will pay dividends in multiples.

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Hankook Tire is embarking on a new venture as the inaugural Official Tire and Founding Partner of the U.S.-based simulation golf league Tomorrow’s Golf League (TGL), beginning with its second season. This alliance is built upon a common dedication to cutting-edge technology, a principle that defines both organisations. The league itself, a brainchild of sports executive Mike McCarley and golf icons Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, represents a forward-thinking approach to the sport. It utilises a custom-built, tech-centric arena to fuse simulator golf, live action and data-driven insights, creating a fast-paced and accessible format that is rapidly attracting a global audience.

This partnership will see Hankook Tire’s global branding integrated across multiple platforms to enhance its premium status. The company will achieve this through prominent LED signage within the SoFi Center, targeted television commercials and extensive visibility during the live broadcasts of TGL Season 2. The objective is to deliver a distinctive brand experience that bridges the gap between mobility and sports, engaging golf enthusiasts of all ages across North America and international markets.

The sporting action will commence with TGL Season 2 on 28 December, running through March 2026 for a total of 15 rounds. The league will feature six teams: Atlanta Drive GC, Boston Common Golf, Jupiter Links Golf Club, Los Angeles Golf Club, New York Golf Club and The Bay Golf Club. These teams, staffed by 24 active PGA Tour golfers, will compete in an intense race for the championship title.

Sanghoon Lee, Co-CEO, Hankook Tire, said, “We are delighted to join TGL Season 2 as a global partner. Through our partnership with TGL, which is reshaping the landscape of sports entertainment, Hankook Tire will further enhance its innovative technology and premium brand value, solidifying its position as a global leader in the mobility industry.”

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Bridgestone Retail Operations (BSRO), a part of Bridgestone Americas, has achieved a significant milestone with the full accreditation of its technician training curriculum by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). This distinction, which places BSRO among a select few automotive service providers, confirms that its internal training programmes meet the institute's rigorous standards for educational quality and effectiveness.

The accreditation process was both extensive and intensive. To qualify, BSRO embarked on a four-year internal assessment and invested USD 3 million to revitalise its company training centres with the latest technology and equipment. This preparation culminated in an 18-month evaluation by ASE, which scrutinised 53 distinct training activities and involved more than 3,500 employees. The review thoroughly assessed all aspects of the programme, including the curriculum, training facilities, instructional equipment, instructor qualifications and, crucially, student outcomes.

This achievement has direct and meaningful implications for both technicians and customers. For the technicians working across more than 2,200 Firestone Complete Auto Care, Tires Plus, Hibdon Tires Plus and Wheel Works stores, this accredited curriculum provides a seamless pathway to earning individual ASE certifications. These certifications are widely recognised as a gold standard in the industry and are linked to greater career longevity and higher wage potential. For customers, this structured, high-quality training ensures that BSRO stores can consistently maintain and enhance the rigorous standards of trusted service they expect.

Marko Ibrahim, President, Bridgestone Retail Operations, said, “Achieving ASE accreditation positions BSRO as an industry leader in automotive training and education. This significant milestone reflects our unwavering commitment to excellence, elevating the quality and consistency of our training programme and empowering our technicians with industry-recognised credentials. The impact is already clear, and I could not be prouder of our team for their dedication to building a better skilled, more reliable workforce.”

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The European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers’ Association (ETRMA) has officially rebranded as Tyres Europe. This new identity establishes a clear, dedicated focus on representing the European tyre manufacturing industry. The association aims to champion a competitive and innovative sector that advances safe, smart and sustainable mobility.

This strategic name change is designed to immediately clarify the organisation's mandate for all EU stakeholders, especially within a new political cycle and evolving market. Tyres Europe will engage in constructive, evidence-based policy discussions, advocating for the industry on key legislation including the EUDR, ESPR, Euro 7 and substance regulations. It will also push for an active industrial policy to bolster the competitiveness of Europe's tyre manufacturing base.

The association has elected Livio Magni of Pirelli as its new President and Paolo Pompei of Nokian Tyres as Vice-President for a two-year term. An official launch event is scheduled for 18 November in Brussels, featuring a strategic update from leadership and keynote speeches from high-level representatives of the European Commission and Parliament on Europe's mobility value chain.

Livio Magni, Tyres Europe President & Pirelli CEO Region Europe, said, “The tyre industry is a strategic pillar for Europe’s mobility, prosperity and safety. Through Tyres Europe, we will continue to work closely with policymakers and key stakeholders to ensure a predictable business environment that enables manufacturers to invest, innovate and compete in Europe. As an industry, we remain committed to driving innovation to deliver products that are increasingly safe and environmentally responsible.”

Paolo Pompei, Tyres Europe Vice-President and President & Nokian Tyres CEO, said, “Our sector is investing in capacity, efficiency and R&D to serve European mobility, reliably. Tyres Europe is committed to advocating for industrial policies that empower manufacturers to deliver greater value to society and to be recognised for their performance.”

Adam McCarthy, Tyres Europe Secretary General, said, “Tyres are as essential to vehicle performance as batteries and semiconductors and face multiple cross-cutting challenges that reflect the broader industrial transition. Tyres Europe will keep engaging with EU institutions to build coherent, workable rules that deliver real-world outcomes across competitiveness, circularity and innovation.”

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The Rubber Board organised a mass run in Kottayam town on Monday, bringing together its employees, their families, and college students as part of a nationwide fitness campaign now in its sixth year.

The Fit India Freedom Run 6.0 drew participants from Baselius College and CMS College alongside Rubber Board staff, forming part of a month-long initiative running from  2-31 October across India.

Launched in 2020 by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the Fit India Freedom Run was conceived to commemorate two significant dates in India’s calendar—Independence Day on 15 August and Gandhi Jayanti on 2 October. The programme seeks to promote walking and running as accessible routes to improved health and physical fitness amongst the general population.

This year’s edition has adopted the theme of “Swachhata and Swasthiya” (Cleanliness and Health), reflecting the government’s emphasis on hygiene as a cornerstone of healthy living. The dual focus aligns with broader public health messaging that connects environmental cleanliness with individual well-being.

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