Giti Tire Earns First ISCC PLUS Certification For Anhui And Fujian Plant

Giti Tire Earns First ISCC PLUS Certification For Anhui And Fujian Plant

Giti Tire has achieved International Sustainability and Carbon Certification PLUS (ISCC PLUS) accreditation for its Anhui and Fujian Province plant in China, a major production site for its passenger, light truck and heavy-duty tyres destined for the European market. This globally recognised standard verifies sustainable practices across raw material sourcing, production and supply chain management. It mandates certified sustainable feedstocks, verified reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, robust waste and circularity systems and strict traceability, all while meeting social sustainability criteria.

This certification strengthens Giti Tire's capacity to develop tyres carrying the ISCC PLUS label. The milestone aligns with the ambitious goals detailed in the company’s 2024 Sustainability Report, which includes targeting net-zero for its global Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2050. To support these objectives, Giti is making significant investments in renewable energy and sustainable manufacturing processes. A key initiative is a new state-of-the-art carbon neutral production line at its Anhui plant, scheduled to commence operations in 2026, complementing broader efforts in innovative tire technologies aimed at improving fuel efficiency and lowering carbon output.

Dr Pang, Chief Sustainability Officer, Giti Tire, said, “ISCC PLUS accreditation is a landmark moment in our sustainability journey, verifying that key raw materials come from responsible and fully traceable supply chains as well as confirming our commitment to people and the planet. This recognition places us among the industry’s premium manufacturers, an achievement that reflects our rising leadership in the global tyre sector.”

TVS Srichakra To Invest INR 21bn For Capacity Expansion For Uttarakhand Plant

TVS Srichakra To Invest INR 21bn For Capacity Expansion For Uttarakhand Plant

TVS Srichakra Limited has approved a capital investment of up to INR 21 billion to expand manufacturing capacity at its Unit 2 facility in Rudrapur, Uttarakhand.

The decision was taken by the board of directors at a meeting held on recently, the company said.

The investment will be directed towards capacity addition at the existing plant, which currently has an annual production capacity of about 9.2 million to 9.5 million tyres. Capacity utilisation at the unit stands at roughly 80–85 per cent.

The proposed expansion is expected to raise capacity by about 40–45 per cent and is scheduled to be completed in the first half of the 2027–28 financial year.

The company said the investment would be funded through a combination of internal accruals and debt. The expansion is intended to meet growing demand for the company’s two-wheeler and three-wheeler tyres.

TVS Srichakra disclosed the development under Regulation 30 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India’s listing regulations.

Pirelli Board Rejects Fragmentation, Upholds Integrated Strategy For Cyber Tyre

Pirelli Board Rejects Fragmentation, Upholds Integrated Strategy For Cyber Tyre

At a meeting of the Pirelli Board of Directors, the management presented an analysis of the evolving automotive competitive landscape. This environment is now defined by increasingly integrated and connected systems, such as software-defined vehicles and autonomous driving, which have transformed the tyre into a sophisticated, data-driven component. In this context, Pirelli’s pioneering Cyber Tyre technology – a hardware and software system that communicates in real time with both vehicles and road infrastructure – was underscored as a critical strategic asset. Its validity is confirmed by adoption from major prestige car manufacturers and relative agreements with the Apulia Region, Movyon and Anas for smart road services.

Following this assessment, CEO Andrea Casaluci presented a clear position, asserting that all Cyber Tyre activities must continue to be developed in a fully integrated manner with the rest of the Pirelli Group, both functionally and organisationally. He emphasised that management must align completely with the Group’s strategic and industrial approach, expressly rejecting any project that could lead to even partial compartmentalisation, separation or segregation of this business unit. The Board voted on this management consideration, resulting in nine votes in favour and five against. Directors Chen Aihua, Zhang Haitao, Chen Qian, Fan Xiaohua and Tang Grace cast the dissenting votes.

The management further detailed the substantial risks of fragmenting the Cyber Tyre operations, arguing such a move would be unworkable. It would critically undermine the integrated business model that relies on constant interplay between technology, innovation, production and marketing. Isolating the Cyber Tyre business would involve transferring related patents, thereby stripping Pirelli of free access to its own strategic know-how and contradicting core principles of the company Bylaws. This segregation would weaken technological development, erode Pirelli’s competitive edge and innovative leadership and reduce synergies while increasing costs through duplicated structures. Ultimately, it would trigger significant value destruction, impair financial solidity and still fail to address the limitations imposed by relevant US legislation.

Maxxis Dominates Desert Challenge At 2026 King Of The Hammers

Maxxis Dominates Desert Challenge At 2026 King Of The Hammers

Maxxis has launched its 2026 King of the Hammers campaign with a dominant display at the Desert Challenge, signalling a week of strong potential. The event served as a powerful opening act, with Maxxis drivers securing multiple podium finishes across several competitive UTV classes. Notably, a standout performance came from Dustin ‘Battle-Axe’ Jones, who captured second place in the UTV Pro Modified category. He navigated the brutal desert landscape without any tyre issues on his RAZR XTs, demonstrating both control and speed. The rising talent Chaden Minder further highlighted the tyre's capabilities, driving to second place in UTV Open and an impressive third place overall in the Desert Challenge. His error-free run was supported by the notable traction and resilience of his RAZR XT tyres. Additional strong finishes came from Sierra Romo, who placed within the overall top 10 and took eighth in UTV Open, and Todd Zuccone, who earned third in UTV Pro Stock Turbo.

All eyes now turn to defending champion Kyle Chaney, whose historic overall victory in a UTV at last year's Race of Kings redefined expectations. He returns to defend his title and pursue further history by competing in both the 4400 and 4900 classes. His early form appears promising, having already qualified third overall and in the 4900 class for the upcoming UTV Hammers event. The qualifying session for the 4400 class is set for Wednesday, with the main UTV Hammers Championship race following on Thursday.

For fans following remotely, the entire spectacle from Johnson Valley, California will be broadcast on YouTube. The week's intense schedule continues Tuesday with the Every Man Challenge Qualifier and POWER HOUR. Wednesday features the Race of Kings Qualifier and Power Hour, leading into Thursday's UTV Hammers Championship. Friday hosts the Every Man Challenge race, building towards the week's premier event, the Race of Kings, on Saturday.

Tyres Europe Reports Decline In European Replacement Tyre Sales

Tyres Europe Reports Decline In European Replacement Tyre Sales

Tyres Europe has released replacement tyre sales data for the Q4 and full year 2025. According to the report, demand across Europe remained subdued. Secretary General Adam McCarthy noted that the consumer tyre segment, which includes passenger cars, SUVs and light commercial vehicles, experienced a five percent decline in the final quarter compared to the same period in 2024, contributing to an overall annual decrease of two percent. This downturn is attributed to ongoing macroeconomic pressures, including weak consumer confidence, minimal growth in miles driven and increased competition from imports throughout the year.

The transition towards all-season tyres accelerated, with summer tyres seeing a particularly sharp seven percent drop, while winter tyres fell by two percent, a decline exacerbated in the fourth quarter by milder weather conditions compared to the previous year. The Truck & Bus segment also weakened, with quarterly and annual declines of two percent and four percent, respectively, mirroring soft freight activity and subdued industrial output, alongside pressure from imports. Agricultural tyre sales were steady in the fourth quarter but finished the year four percent lower, indicative of persistent caution in farm sector investment.