Premium tyre manufacturer Hankook Tire’s associate brand Laufenn is celebrating 10-year milestone of the brand’s presence in Europe.

The brand started with passenger car tyres since 2015 and added commercial vehicle treads to its portfolio five years later. Laufenn today boasts market presence in over 100 countries, offering passenger car tyres in 341 sizes along with a commercial vehicle portfolio of 18 sizes. Hankook intends to boost marketing expenditures in order to raise awareness of its Laufenn brand. In addition, a new generation of passenger car treads for the summer and winter will soon be introduced. Laufenn will increase its market share and supply original equipment tyres to a European automaker in 2025, in addition to its current offering in the passenger car replacement market. Laufenn has also been an official sponsor of the UEFA Europa Conference League since the 2021/22 season, further emphasising its position in strategically important sales markets.

Laufenn first made its foray into the market with performance and touring summer tyres for passenger automobiles. The X Fit Van summer tyre for SUVs and passenger vehicles, as well as the i Fit, the first winter tyre for SUVs and passenger cars in Western and Central Europe, came next. The i Fit ICE, a studded winter tyre for passenger automobiles and SUVs, marked Laufenn's entry into the Northern and Eastern European markets over the ensuing time frame. All-season tyres are now part of the range in addition to summer and winter tyres. Laufenn unveiled the improved summer tyres S FIT EQ+ and G FIT EQ+ in 2020. Laufenn's total market share in Europe has increased fourfold since its launch.

Laufenn is also commemorating a significant milestone in the commercial vehicle tyre industry: the company has been providing truck, bus, and trailer treads throughout Europe for five years. In 2025, the 18 sizes that are now available in the commercial vehicle portfolio will be expanded to include additional sizes, beginning with the trailer tyres LF95 and LR02, which are 265/70 R19.5.

In an effort to further innovate the truck market, Laufenn is this year launching ‘Laufenn365’, a new digital platform that will make it easier to resolve unintentional damage claims for the company's commercial vehicle tyres and provide clients with additional insurance against unforeseen expenses. Initially, this platform will be available in the United Kingdom. Laufenn intends to reach further European markets with its smart product and tyre warranty. The launch of another affiliate brand, Optimo, is a recent illustration of Hankook's strategic brand growth. Optimo serves a market niche with increasing demand for passenger automobiles and enhances Hankook's sibling and premium brands.

Jongho Park, President and Chief Operating Officer, Hankook Tire Europe, said, “With our associate brand Laufenn, we offer tyres that deliver excellent value for money without compromising on safety, reliability and quality. Customers benefit from the many years of experience of the Hankook brand and get a product that meets the highest standards. This allows us to create a win-win situation in every respect.”

Jang Hyuk Moon, Vice President – Marketing Department, Hankook Tire Europe, said, “Laufenn has established itself as a strong associate brand to Hankook with a steadily expanding portfolio and growing international presence. The brand will continue to focus on quality and customer relationships in order to further build on its success.”

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Tyres Europe has released its latest quarterly market update, prepared by the independent intelligence firm Astutus Research, which tracks tyre industry trends, mobility patterns and recovery and recycling efforts. The report provides fresh data on import shifts and used tyre generation across the EU27 plus United Kingdom.

Passenger car and light truck tyre imports into the region dropped by nearly 22 percent in January and February of 2026, a sharp reversal from the 26 percent increase seen in the first quarter of 2025. The total volume fell by 5.6 million units, driven largely by an 8.7-million-unit decline in Chinese shipments, which cut China’s market share from 74 to 52 percent. An ongoing European Union anti‑dumping investigation, with the potential for backdated duties, had encouraged heavy pre‑buying of Chinese tyres in 2025, peaking that September before accelerating into 2026. In response, ASEAN‑origin tyres, many from Chinese‑owned factories, tripled their share to 21 percent, led by Thailand and Vietnam, while Cambodia added nearly half a million units from a near‑zero base.

Truck and bus tyre imports from non‑European markets rose 24 percent over the same period. Thailand and Vietnam together increased shipments by 39 percent, lifting their combined share above 63 percent. Meanwhile, China’s position weakened as its volumes stagnated, and India emerged as the fourth largest source with a share exceeding five percent, pushing Egypt to fifth place ahead of Korea.

On sustainability, preliminary estimates from Astutus Research indicate that Europe generated approximately 4.4 million tonnes of used tyres in 2025, a figure essentially unchanged from the previous year. This overall stability hides divergent regional trends, with faster growth in Southern European markets such as Spain, Portugal and Greece, while larger Northern markets including the United Kingdom, Germany and France showed little or no increase. Replacement tyres account for more than 90 percent of used tyre tonnage, with the remainder coming from end‑of‑life vehicles.

Of the 4.4 million tonnes generated, around 0.6 million tonnes were reused as part‑worn tyres or retreaded. The term used tyres refers to all tyres removed from vehicles, while end‑of‑life tyres exclude those reused or retreaded. A decline in retreading has increased the share classified as end‑of‑life tyres, adding to volumes that require recovery or recycling.

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Maxxis’ automotive division has earned the Excellence in Quality and Delivery Award from Honda for 2025. This recognition was presented during a ceremony held on 22 April in Columbus, Ohio, where Honda honoured 37 suppliers out of a total pool of more than 700 mass production parts providers across North America.

Maxxis supplies spare tyres for several Honda and Acura models, including the Honda Accord and Acura Integra assembled at Honda’s Maryville plant, as well as the Honda Civic Si produced at the Honda of Canada facility in Alliston, Ontario. The award highlights Maxxis’ consistent performance in meeting stringent quality standards and delivery schedules, reinforcing the division’s role as a trusted partner within Honda’s North American production network.

Andy Lee, Maxxis International – USA President, said, “On behalf of everyone at Maxxis, I want to thank Honda for this tremendous honour. We’re very pleased to have met their high standards for excellence. All of us at Maxxis are very grateful for this recognition and are equally grateful for our partnership with Honda. I also want to thank our automotive OE division for their hard work and dedication, which made this award possible.”

Paul Dentinger, Senior Vice President of the Purchasing & Supply Chain Center at Honda Development & Manufacturing of America, LLC, said, “As we focus our automobile business on maximising hybrid and gas-powered models, Honda continues to invest in our North American supplier network, collaborating with our supplier partners to turn innovative technology into value for our customers. In this rapidly changing business environment, we must work closely with our suppliers to find new ways to improve cost competitiveness, speed up development time and enhance product appeal that ensures Honda is the brand of choice for customers. Congratulations to all of our award-winning service parts and mass production suppliers who earned this distinguished honour.”

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German chemical group Wacker is moving forward aggressively with its PACE programme, a global initiative to cut costs and improve efficiency that was launched in October 2025. The overarching goal is to permanently secure the company’s competitive standing by slashing annual expenses by more than EUR 300 million, a target that has already been announced alongside plans for worldwide workforce reductions.

A key development in Germany involves a new agreement between management and employee representatives to handle the planned loss of roughly 1,600 jobs through socially responsible means. Instead of forced dismissals, the company will rely on voluntary measures such as attractive phased early retirement and severance packages. To create the financial breathing room for this approach, all German employees will accept a temporary solidarity contribution until 2028, taking the form of a four percent cut to both their hours and pay. All structural changes under the PACE umbrella are expected to be finalised by the end of 2027.

The distribution of job reductions will see the heaviest impact at the Burghausen site, Wacker’s largest globally, where 1,300 positions will be eliminated. The Nünchritz facility will lose 200 jobs, the Munich headquarters will reduce its headcount by 60 and a collective 50 positions will be cut from other Wacker locations across Germany. The implementation plan, which includes consolidating production facilities, adjusting shift system flexibility and shifting roles to international service hubs, has been fully agreed upon by both employer and employee representatives.

Christian Hartel, CEO, WACKER, said, "With the agreement we have now concluded, we have reached an important milestone in driving forward the necessary transformation in Germany and strengthening our competitiveness. We have already implemented numerous measures at our international sites that make us more flexible, more efficient and faster. Now, the implementation phase will start in Germany as well.”

Angela Wörl, Personnel Director, WACKER, said, "Together with the employee representatives, we have come up with good solutions to implement the necessary structural measures in Germany not only quickly, but, above all, in a socially responsible manner. This will strengthen the position of our German sites in the face of international competition and lay the foundation for future profitable growth."

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Bridgestone Taiwan Co., Ltd. (Bridgestone) has completed a major business transformation, having ceased manufacturing operations at its Hsinchu plant on 11 May 2026 and concluded all related production activities. The decision was based on adjustments to its global operational strategy and long-term market development considerations. Under this plan, Bridgestone continues to deepen its presence in the Taiwan market, having transitioned into a sales and service-focused business model.

The company, which has operated in Taiwan since 1982, stated that the Hsinchu facility has played a key role in supporting the Bridgestone Group’s operations and product supply over the years, building a solid foundation for the brand locally. Bridgestone pledged to follow local regulations in providing affected employees with comprehensive support, including career transition services and other assistance measures.

Going forward, Bridgestone will strengthen its sales and service capabilities by enhancing channel development, refining sales systems and deepening collaboration with local distributors. The company also plans to broaden its product portfolio to meet diverse market demands and improve overall service levels. Guided by its mission of serving society with superior quality, Bridgestone aims to leverage its global manufacturing network to ensure stable supply and greater product competitiveness in Taiwan.

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