Hankook Tire & Technology (Hankook Tire), leading global tyre manufacturer and the exclusive supplier and official partner of Formula E, is all set to display its ‘iON’ technology at the Season 11 pre-season testing of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship (Formula E) to be held in Valencia, Spain, from 4 to 7 November.

Twenty-two drivers from 11 participating teams will test the new GEN3 Evo race cars fitted with Hankook’s GEN3 Evo iON Race tyres at Circuit Ricardo Tormo. The last day of testing will also feature Formula E’s first-ever female-only test session, which is in line with FIA’s ongoing efforts to promote gender diversity in motorsport through its expanding FIA Girls on Track initiative. As part of this initiative, up to 22 female drivers will participate in the testing, with one to two representatives from each team testing the new GEN3 Evo.

Hankook’s GEN3 Evo iON Race tyre is developed in close collaboration with the FIA specifically for the GEN3 Evo race cars that boast 0-100 km/h acceleration in just 1.86 seconds, which is 30 percent quicker than the current Formula 1 car and 36 percent faster than its predecessor, the GEN3. The new tyre claims 5-10 percent improved grip over previous models and provides superior traction, stability and heat resistance to support the vehicle’s maximum speed of 322 km/h.

Consisting of a 16-round journey across 10 major cities worldwide – starting with the São Paulo opener this December and concluding with the London race next July – the Formula E Season 11 will witness six global EV manufacturers, including Porsche, Jaguar, Nissan, Stellantis, Mahindra, and Lola Cars, competing for the championship title. Hankook will serve as the title sponsor for five races, including the Mexico City E-Prix (Round 2), the Shanghai E-Prix (Rounds 10 & 11) and the Berlin E-Prix (Rounds 13 & 14), with each event branded under the Hankook name.

The Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) today released its April 2025 vehicle retail data, revealing a moderate overall growth of 3 percent YoY.

The two-wheeler segment emerged as the primary growth driver, registering a 2.25 percent increase in retail sales compared to April 2024 and a significant 11.84 percent MoM growth. FADA attributes this positive momentum to strong rural demand. However, the sector continues to face headwinds in the form of high financing costs and the pricing impact of OBD-2B emission norms.

The tractor segment demonstrated robust growth, with a 7.5 percent increase in retail sales year-on-year. This strong performance likely reflects the positive sentiment stemming from a strong Rabi harvest, which typically boosts agricultural activity and consequently, tractor demand.

In contrast to the strong performance of two-wheelers and tractors, the passenger vehicle segment experienced a modest 1.55 percent YoY growth, while witnessing a slight dip of 0.19 percent on MoM basis. The auto retail body attributes that deep discounts are prevalent in the market and while the demand for SUVs remains strong, the entry-level segment continues to exhibit sluggishness. FADA also noted that the PV inventory levels are currently around 50 days, significantly higher than their advocated norm of 21 days.

The commercial vehicle segment faced a contraction, with retail sales declining by 1.05 percent YoY and 4.44 percent on MoM basis. FADA suggests that recent price hikes by OEMs and flat freight rates are negatively impacting sales. Within the CV segment, the Small Commercial Vehicle category saw weak demand, while the bus segment remains steady.

Looking ahead to May 2025, FADA anticipates a positive outlook, primarily driven by the strong conclusion of the Rabi harvest. The expectation of a normal monsoon further strengthens this positive sentiment, suggesting continued momentum in rural demand which could positively influence vehicle sales across various segments.

In a significant development, FADA has begun releasing fuel-wise vehicle retail market share data across all key categories. This new initiative aims to provide stakeholders with a granular understanding of evolving energy preferences and the impact of regulatory influences on India's automotive ecosystem.

C S Vigneshwar, President, FADA, said, “The new financial year began on a measured note as overall retails in April managed to grow by 3 percent YoY. All categories except CV closed in the green, with 2W, 3W, PV and Trac up 2.25 percent, 24.5 percent, 1.5 percent and 7.5 percent respectively, while CVs declined by 1 percent. With the tariff war paused, stock markets staged a sharp pullback – alleviating investor concerns – and customers thus leveraged Chaitra Navratri, Akshay Tritiya, Bengali New Year, Baisakhi and Vishu to complete purchases, helping April end on a positive note.”

Trelleborg Tires has expanded its agricultural tyre portfolio with the launch of the new TM900 ProgressiveTraction tractor tyre range for high-horsepower tractor applications.

The proprietary ProgressiveTraction technology from Trelleborg Tires improves traction by optimising important tyre components through a variety of special features. Because of its unique double-edge lug, the tread increases traction and decreases slippage while improving grip on the ground. Concurrently, an additional lug serves as an extra terrace on the tread profile, enhancing its capacity for self-cleaning and boosting overall effectiveness. The ProgressiveTraction lugs' larger base also offers improved vibration resistance, which lowers wear and increases tyre life.

When compared to rival tyres, the ProgressiveTraction range provides up to a 17 percent increase in traction than competitor tyres, helping professionals increase productivity, reduce fuel consumption and lower overall operating costs. The strengthened carcass guarantees greater vehicle handling and tyre performance, especially at high speeds, while the unique tread pattern design and premium materials offer up to 20 percent better wear resistance against competitors on the road. Additionally, the lugs' adjusted angle and form enhance driving comfort and stability, making all working actions safer, smoother and more pleasurable.

Alessio Bucci, Global Product Marketing Director, Trelleborg Tires, said, “Trelleborg tyres are engineered to evolve alongside the agricultural industry. As tractors become more powerful and farmers face greater challenges, it’s essential that tyres do more than just carry the load: they must actively enhance performance, protect the soil and boost operational efficiency. The new TM900 ProgressiveTraction embodies this vision, delivering maximum traction, reduced vibration, longer life and exceptional behaviour across all conditions.”

As part of the consultation on the simplification of the REACH Regulation, the European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers' Association (ETRMA) has formally sent its feedback to the European Commission.

The association said it strongly supports REACH's goals of safeguarding the environment and public health, but it also highlights the necessity of consistent, proportionate and predictable regulations to maintain European industry's competitiveness. ETRMA's statement emphasises the necessity of implementing a Regulatory Management Option Analysis (RMOA) framework and demands for REACH to be in line with current and future EU laws.

The key recommendations made by the association include enhancing regulatory coherence and simplification, introducing an RMOA framework, no extension of registration requirements to polymers, reforming the REACH Authorisation process and enforcing a uniform and continuous level playing field in the EU.

European logistics company Vos Logistics has extended its contract with Continental. Continental has been supporting the Dutch company with professional tyre management as part of the Conti360° Fleet Solutions service portfolio since 2016.

Vos Logistics specialises in a broad range of logistics services tailored to individual clients. Bulk commodities transportation and end-customer deliveries are handled by the firm. The logistics company serving all of Europe has been using the Conti360° Fleet Solutions tyre management system for all 1,100 of its trucks since the middle of 2024. Specifically, the company's fleet reliability is maximised by the tight network of over 7,000 Continental partner workshops spread across 25 European nations.

Vos Logistics enjoys complete cost transparency and the benefits of predictive maintenance with the Conti360° kilometre contract and customer-specific information. The freight forwarder equips its fleet with a wide range of high-quality tires to meet the varying operating needs of long-distance and regional shipping. By doing this, Vos Logistics is able to minimise the vehicles' total CO2 emissions, maximise operating safety and utilize the tyres' entire service life.

Pieter Derksen, Purchasing Manager, Vos Logistics, said, “In order to maintain our high level of service in this cost-sensitive market, the operational reliability of the vehicles is of crucial importance to us. Thanks to data-driven maintenance, our tyres are always ready for use, which allows us to focus on our core business. With Continental, we are also working with a partner that shares our values of efficiency and sustainability.”

Jessika Hoeflich, Head of Fleet Solutions EMEA, Continental, said, “The cooperation with Vos Logistics is characterised by mutual trust and shared values. With our customer-oriented Conti360° Fleet Solutions service offering, our broad tyre portfolio and our individual consulting concept, we can optimally meet the complex requirements that Vos Logistics faces in the transport business. We work closely together and support our customers in developing their business sustainably.”