Hankook Tire has launched the fourth generation Ventus evo, a sporty ultra-high-performance summer tyre for changeable conditions.

Featuring a new mixture developed using artificial intelligence (AI), the tyre provides excellent wet grip and low rolling resistance. The wide drainage grooves work in tandem with the optimised tyre contact area to facilitate good evacuation of water and reduce the risk of aquaplaning, while the extra-rigid sidewalls and tread blocks provide stability during cornering and shorten the dry braking distance by six percent compared to the third-generation tyre. The innovative mixture, on the other hand, ensures low rolling resistance despite the high grip. This reduces fuel consumption and provides a 32 percent increase in mileage compared to the third-generation tyre.

Klaus Krause, Vice President and Head of Europe Technical Centre, Hankook, said, “With the fourth generation of the Ventus evo, we are setting new standards. We decided early on to leverage AI in the development of tyre mixtures and were able to successfully transform the laboratory results into high-quality industrial processes. Today, we’re seeing the benefits of that effort. With its innovative mixture ratio, the Ventus evo overcomes traditional trade-offs, delivering uncompromising excellence in performance, safety and mileage.”

The new Ventus evo and Ventus evo SUV will be available in stores in 58 sizes by this summer, with plans to expand the offering to 94 sizes – from 17 to 23 inches in widths from 205 to 325 in the 65 to 30 series and with speed indexes from V to (Y) – by the end of next year.

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BKT Tires has achieved a noteworthy initial rating from the international environmental watchdog, CDP. The company’s inaugural disclosure for the 2025 fiscal year resulted in a ‘B’ score for its climate change management and a ‘B-’ in water security.

These ratings, issued by the global Carbon Disclosure Project, highlight BKT’s emphasis on operational transparency and its structured approach to environmental stewardship. The scores are recognised as an affirmation of the firm’s strategic initiatives aimed at minimising its ecological footprint and enhancing climate resilience throughout its business activities.

The accomplishment is attributed to the concerted effort of the organisation’s workforce. This milestone establishes a benchmark for BKT’s ongoing journey towards its sustainability objectives.

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Leading Indian tyre manufacturer CEAT is advancing its sustainability targets through a strategic partnership with CleanMax Enviro Energy Solutions Limited. Under a group captive arrangement, CleanMax will supply renewable electricity from a combined ~59 MW hybrid wind-solar project. This clean energy will power CEAT’s manufacturing facilities located in Halol, Gujarat, and Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu.

The hybrid model merges wind and solar generation, capitalising on their complementary patterns to deliver a more stable and consistent power output with a higher plant load factor. This reliability is essential for energy-intensive industrial operations and supports greater grid stability.

Annually, this initiative is projected to produce approximately 135.8 million units of renewable energy, elevating CEAT’s clean power consumption to around 60 percent of its needs. The environmental benefit is substantial, with an expected reduction of about 100,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions each year – an impact comparable to planting nearly 4.5 million trees annually.

This collaboration leverages CleanMax’s established expertise in the commercial and industrial renewable sector. For CEAT, it marks a significant step towards its net-zero ambition by enhancing energy security, boosting operational efficiency and achieving considerable progress in its decarbonisation journey.

Roopesh R, Senior Vice President – Procurement, CEAT, said, “This long-term partnership with CleanMax allows CEAT to strengthen our renewable energy footprint across Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. Sustainability is an important part of how we plan for the long term and CEAT is committed to grow our business that serves our customer responsibly while remaining resilient for the future. As a company already advancing in areas such as green sourcing, sustainable transportation, biodegradable packaging, sustainable manufacturing and reduced distribution emissions, integrating this hybrid wind-solar renewable energy is a natural and strategic progression in our sustainability journey. These hybrid projects will bring cost efficiencies at our key manufacturing facilities and will help us in our journey to produce tyres with low carbon footprint – and be a benchmark in the industry.”

Kuldeep Jain, Managing Director, Clean Max Enviro Energy Solutions Limited, said, “We are proud to collaborate with CEAT, a globally recognised brand in the automotive sector, and support its strategic sustainability objectives by enabling the decarbonisation of operations across its key manufacturing hubs. These projects demonstrate how well-structured collaborations can accelerate the adoption of renewable energy and build a more sustainable energy future for large-scale manufacturing.”

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JK Tyre & Industries Ltd has inaugurated the Phase III expansion of its passenger car radial tyre manufacturing facility at Banmore in Madhya Pradesh, increasing production capacity as it steps up domestic manufacturing investment.

The expansion lifts the plant’s output to 30,000 passenger car radial tyres a day, equivalent to about 10.5 million tyres a year. The development forms part of a multi-phase investment of more than INR 10 billion at the Banmore site.

The new facility was inaugurated by Hisashi Takeuchi, in the presence of Raghupati Singhania and Anshuman Singhania, alongside senior representatives from Maruti Suzuki India Limited.

JK Tyre said the expansion supports its strategy to serve India’s aftermarket, original equipment manufacturers and export markets, as passenger vehicle demand continues to grow. With the commissioning of Phase III, the Banmore plant has become a key hub for high-performance passenger car radial tyre manufacturing.

Speaking at the inauguration, Dr Raghupati Singhania said: “The inauguration of Phase III expansion by Hisashi Takeuchi San at our Banmore plant reflects JK Tyre’s unwavering commitment to strengthening India’s manufacturing ecosystem and supporting the country’s mobility growth story. As passenger vehicle demand continues to rise, our focus remains on incessant capacity enhancement, modernisation, and technology-led innovation. Banmore has been a cornerstone of our passenger car radial journey, and this expansion further reinforces our ability to serve OEMs and consumers with high-quality, sustainable, and future-ready products, while contributing to industrial growth and employment generation in Madhya Pradesh.”

The company said the Banmore facility continues to contribute to regional industrial development through direct and indirect employment, sustainability-focused manufacturing practices and community initiatives, including programmes in healthcare, education, livelihood development and sports.

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Caterham Motorsport has entered a new multi-year partnership with Nova Motorsport, appointing them as the Official Tyre Partner. This agreement effectively continues the successful, long-term relationship previously held with Avon Motorsport, as Nova Motorsport now manufactures the same championship-winning tyre products under licence.

The partnership ensures a supply of high-performance tyres across four official Caterham championships: the Roadsport and 270R Championships will utilise the Nova ZZS; the 310R Championship will use the Nova ZZR and ZZS and the flagship UK Championship will be equipped with Nova Motorsport Slicks and Wets. These tyres, rebranded from the former Avon line, are specifically engineered for the unique demands of the Caterham Seven.

Freed from the constraints of road tyre labelling regulations, the new Nova ZZR and ZZS products are dedicated entirely to track performance, offering enhanced capabilities. This transition to the Nova brand and the secure, long-term nature of the alliance underscore Caterham Motorsport's strategic confidence in Nova Motorsport to deliver proven, ultra-high-quality products for its driver-focused racing series.

Daniel Stanton, Head of Sales & Marketing, Nova Motorsport, said, “We are immensely proud to solidify our relationship with Caterham Motorsport as the brand’s official tyre partner. This builds on a working relationship that has lasted many successful years under the Avon Motorsport banner. Nova Motorsport and Caterham share key synergies as businesses; we are both focused on the specialist, niche and high-performance segments of the automotive and motorsport world. This multi-year partnership is a major strategic pillar for Nova Motorsport. It underscores our unwavering commitment to reliably supplying Caterham competitors around the world with the tyres they need to compete and win at the highest level.”

Alex Read, Head of Motorsport, Caterham, said, “Nova Motorsport is the perfect fit for Caterham Motorsport. Our products demand specialist tyres, and the Nova team, with its heritage rooted in Avon Motorsport, understands this implicitly. The tyres supplied are uniquely designed for our Sevens, meaning our competitors will directly benefit from Nova Motorsport’s renewed dedicated focus on the Caterham product. We are fully confident in the quality and service our drivers will receive and are looking forward to getting the 2026 Caterham Motorsport racing season underway with our new partners.”

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