Hankook has opened Hankook Technoring, a new proving ground in Taean, South Korea. The company said in a statement that it is the largest proving ground in Asia with an area of 1.26 million square metres and would serve as a state-of-the-art research and development facility for Hankook’s pioneering products. 

Hyunbum Cho, Chairman and CEO of Hankook & Company, said, “Tyres are the only medium in a vehicle that comes into contact with the road surface. They are the key to maximising vehicle performance, safety, high fuel efficiency and ride comfort. To ensure the best product quality in all conditions, testing on a wide variety of tracks is of great importance.” 

The site comprises 13 test tracks and allows for thorough testing of all product categories, including tyres for electric vehicles and supercars. The test tracks are designed for all types of vehicles – from supercars to trucks and buses. The test site also has a control tower, office buildings, workshops, filling stations and charging stations for electric vehicles. The 37.1-metre-high control tower records the test progress through integrated monitoring systems for all test areas and climate conditions, the release said. 

The company said with the completion of the Hankook Technoring, it created a complete research and development infrastructure to further drive its innovation capability. This infrastructure is designed to create synergies with existing facilities, which include the global headquarters, Hankook Technoplex (Seoul, Korea). In addition, the manufacturer also has its own test site, the Technotrac in the north of Finland for testing on snow and ice, as well as other regional R&D centres in Germany and in the USA. Original technologies are developed and secured at the Hankook Technodome, the central R&D centre outfitted with the latest equipment. 

Hankook Technoring will serve as an important basis for further technical developments and as a place of origin for innovations in the tyre sector. The test site is relevant to both future developments in e-mobility and autonomous vehicles in the replacement sector, and, with the necessary test capacities, will meet the stringent and diverse requirements of premium car manufacturers, the release pointed out. 

With the collected data from current tests at the Hankook Technoring, Hankook intends to accelerate its digital transformation as well. The company is working on a Big Data analysis platform to develop an artificial-intelligence-based “Virtual Optimisation Technology”. In the future, Hankook also wants to create a database with the evaluation data of tyres and vehicles that have been tested under the toughest conditions. With this database, Hankook is expanding the technology around what is referred to as the "digital twin". This digital testing of tyres is an important addition to track and equipment testing and makes it possible to shorten the development time of a tyre. Hankook thus brings together “real-life testing” for the mobility of the future with the use of virtual testing possibilities. 

In addition, Hankook plans to actively expand its cooperation with mobility companies, research and educational institutions and start-ups. By utilising the state-of-the-art infrastructure of Hankook Technoring, cooperative work can continue to improve technologies. In this way, the company will not only further expand its research and development capabilities, but also contribute to the advancement of global mobility technology, it added. (TT)  

JK Tyre & Industries Ltd has strengthened its position as a leader in sustainable tyre technology and a conscientious partner in India's green industrial journey by commencing production of its ‘UX Royale Green’ passenger car tyres at its Chennai Tyre Plant using ISCC Plus-certified sustainable raw materials.

Developed in August 2023, the UX Royale Green is made with 80 percent sustainable, recycled and renewable materials and was put to rigorous evaluation and testing. The sustainable tyre is the product of more than 10 years of diligent study conducted by the Global Tech Centre of JK Tyre. The company's research and development team has been concentrating on creating sustainable alternatives to traditional petroleum-based products. The certification confirms the usage of traceable, ethically obtained renewable and recycled raw materials and is given under the internationally recognised International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC +) system. Certified raw materials for the UX Royale Green include steel wire, recycled polyester, recovered carbonaceous black, bio-attributed polymers, renewable oils and recycled rubber powder. All of these products are sourced using circular methods.

Dr Raghupati Singhania, Chairman & Managing Director, JK Tyre & Industries Ltd, said, "The commencement of sustainable tyre production represents a defining step in JK Tyre’s journey toward environmentally responsible innovation. We are pleased to set new industry benchmarks that balance high performance with ecological responsibility. This milestone reflects our ongoing commitment to driving responsible mobility – anchored in green technology, circular economy principles and the delivery of world-class, low-impact products. At the same time, innovation, quality and safety continue to be foundational to our operations."

Apollo Tyres has launched the ‘Apollo Tyres Healthcare Express’, a mobile medical unit designed to monitor the health of truckers and the surrounding community. C Thomas Mathew, Unit Head, Chennai Plant, Apollo Tyres Ltd, flagged off the unit, which would service major transport hubs within a 50-km radius, including Madhavaram, Manjambakkam and Poonamallee, serving a population of over 10,000 truckers.

For a small consultation charge of INR 10 per visit, this mobile medical unit will offer essential healthcare services to the trucking community. It will provide a wide range of services, such as general medical care, screenings for certain diseases and preventative and awareness programmes. Additionally, it will increase knowledge of important health concerns including HIV/AIDS, STI prevention, vision care, tuberculosis and non-communicable illnesses like diabetes and hypertension. A team consisting of a medical officer (MBBS), a pharmacist, an optometrist, outreach workers and a project coordinator will run Apollo Tyres' Healthcare Express.

Over 12 million people have benefited from the Apollo Tyres Foundation's healthcare initiative for the trucking community since it began in 2000. The organisation reached out to more than a million people in order to raise awareness during the Covid-19 outbreak. In partnership with local authorities, it also made it easier for over 10,000 people to get tested for Covid-19 and for over 150,000 people to get vaccinated.

World-class cyclist and multiple Tour de France champion Tadej Pogačar has joined Continental as its new global ambassador.

This new collaboration with one of the best contemporary cyclists is a logical continuation of Continental's longstanding reputation as a reliable brand in both the automotive and cycling industries. The long-term relationship will place special emphasis on fostering mutual respect and understanding between bikers and drivers. Pogačar and Continental are both dedicated to enhancing communication between drivers and boosting everyone's safety.

In 2024, Pogačar, 26, created history by winning several Monument races and placing first in the Tour de France, the Giro d'Italia and the Road World Championships. Only two riders in history have accomplished this feat. In addition, he earned victories in Liège-Bastogne-Liège and Strade Bianche. He is committed to developing future cycling talent in Slovenia and abroad through his foundation and the ‘Pogi Team’ development squad.

For many years, Continental has maintained a strong presence in the cycling industry. Not only do all of the support cars of the Tour de France use Continental car tyres, but numerous elite teams, including the 2024 winning squad, also use Continental bike tyres. Additionally, Continental is a major sponsor of the Giro d'Italia, providing its automobile tyres to all official support vehicles to increase safety on the difficult 3,000-kilometre course.

Pogačar said, "Top performance is not only the result of talent, but also of the pursuit of continuous development. Continental and I share the ambition to always make the most of our possibilities – both in terms of sport and development. So this partnership was an obvious choice. As a professional cyclist, I know how crucial it is to trust your tyres. Without the right equipment, I wouldn't have become the rider I am today.”

Egemen Atış, Head of Strategy, Analytics & Marketing at Continental Tires EMEA, said, "Tadej Pogačar and Continental both stand for exceptional performance but above all for safe driving. Risky manoeuvres, misjudging situations and thinking only of oneself doesn't win races. Tadej’s ability to see the bigger picture, alongside his extraordinary talent, makes him not only the best cyclist in the world at the moment, but also the perfect partner for Continental."

Indian tyre manufacturer Apollo Tyres Ltd reported a 3% increase in annual revenue to INR 261.23 billion for fiscal year 2024-25, while its net profit fell 35 percent from the previous year.

The company, which markets its products under the Apollo and Vredestein brands, saw its operating profit decline to INR 35.71 billion for the full year, compared with INR 44.47 billion in the previous fiscal year.

For the fourth quarter ended March 31, Apollo Tyres posted a revenue of INR 64.24 billion, up 3% year-on-year, while quarterly net profit dropped to INR 1.85 billion from INR 3.54 billion in the same period last year.

"We acknowledge that our performance over the past few quarters has not met industry benchmarks and our own expectations. After a thorough internal review, we have identified the key challenges that contributed to this underperformance," said Onkar Kanwar, Chairman of Apollo Tyres.

"With targeted strategies now in place to address these issues, we are confident in our ability to deliver stronger results in the coming quarters," he added.

Apollo Tyres, which has manufacturing facilities in India, the Netherlands and Hungary, distributes its products in over 100 countries.