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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Sri Lanka has secured a pivotal USD 171 million investment from CEAT OHT Lanka, marking a major advancement for its manufacturing and export sector. This substantial commitment, formalised through an agreement with the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka, stands as one of the most significant recent Indian investments in the country and is set to position Sri Lanka as a premier global hub for off-highway tyre (OHT) production.

A cornerstone of the agreement is a tripartite commitment to workforce stability. A memorandum of understanding between CEAT OHT Lanka, Michelin Lanka and the Inter-Company Employees Union guarantees job security for all 1,483 existing employees. This ensures the full retention of their seniority, salaries and benefits, explicitly ruling out any retrenchments and providing seamless continuity throughout the operational transition.

The project follows CEAT's strategic acquisition of Michelin's Construction Compact Line Business, which includes key manufacturing plants in Midigama and Kotugoda. This move grants CEAT complete global ownership of the Camso brand, cementing its role as a leading international player in this high-value industrial segment.

Arjuna Herath, Chairman, BOI, said, “We welcome CEAT’s significant investment into Sri Lanka, which is among the largest investments from India in recent times. This approval underlines our confidence in CEAT’s vision and will further elevate Sri Lanka’s position as a global manufacturing and export hub.”

Amit Tolani, Chief Executive, CEAT Specialty, said, “BOI’s approval for CEAT OHT Lanka marks a new chapter in our partnership with Sri Lanka. With CEAT’s vision of expanding our global off-highway tyre business, we have great plans for this country. This investment will bring exciting new opportunities for Sri Lanka while playing a central role in our future growth.”

Kumar Subbiah, Chief Financial Officer, CEAT Ltd, said, “Our immediate priority is ensuring a seamless transition while safeguarding jobs and strengthening our operations in Sri Lanka. This investment reaffirms CEAT’s long-term commitment to our employees and to building Sri Lanka as a world-class hub for OHT manufacturing and exports.”

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In a move to promote rubber cultivation, the Rubber Board of India has announced a new financial aid scheme for 2025. Growers in non-traditional regions are now eligible to apply for subsidies supporting both new planting and re-planting initiatives. The application process is exclusively online through the ‘service plus’ portal on the Board’s official website, with a submission deadline of 31 October 2025.

To complete their application, growers must provide digital copies of essential documents. These include land ownership certificates, a rough sketch of the planted area, a copy of their Aadhaar-linked bank passbook and proof of purchasing planting materials from recognised nurseries. Successful applicants will receive financial assistance of INR 50,000 per hectare. For additional information, growers are advised to consult the Rubber Board’s website or contact their nearest regional office, field station, or the Board’s call centre.

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The global tyre recycling market is forecast to grow to USD 8.92 billion by 2029 from USD 7.44 billion in 2024, driven by mounting volumes of end-of-life tyres (ELTs), tighter environmental regulations and rising demand for sustainable materials, according to research firm MarketsandMarkets.

The market is projected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.7 percent over the period, the report said.

According to the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, one passenger tyre per person is discarded annually in the developed world, contributing to about 1 billion ELTs globally each year. A 2022 study in ScienceDirect estimated some 4 billion ELTs are already stockpiled worldwide, a figure expected to reach 5 billion by 2030.

“The mass piling of 1 billion ELTs per year to be expected to reach 5 billion by 2030 calls for an ever-increasing process of recycling tyes in a more sustainable means of waste management,” the report noted.

MarketsandMarkets said demand is being spurred by both environmental concerns and industry adoption of new recycling technologies aimed at reducing landfill volumes while maximising material reuse.

Rubber is set to remain the most dominant recycled by-product, with applications in crumb rubber, rubberised asphalt, playground surfaces and sports fields. Mechanical shredding, described as the most cost-effective and scalable method, will continue to lead recycling processes due to its wide applicability in construction, energy and automotive sectors.

Construction is expected to be the largest end-use industry, as recycled materials such as crumb rubber are increasingly used in road building and green infrastructure projects.

Asia-Pacific is projected to remain the biggest consumer of recycled tye products during the forecast period.

Key players in the sector include Liberty Tye Recycling (US), GENAN HOLDING A/S (Denmark), ResourceCo (Australia), GRP Ltd (India), Lehigh Technologies (US), Entech Inc (US), Emanuel Tye (US), BDS Tye Recycling (US), Contec (Poland) and CRM (US).

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The global market for Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS) is projected to grow modestly over the next five years, with volumes rising from an estimated 68.9 million units in 2025 to 71.4 million units by 2030, according to a report published.

The “Sector Innovation Report: Tyres and Wheels Q2 2025”, released by Research and Markets, forecasts a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 0.7 percent for the TPMS market.

The study synthesises data from multiple sources and provides an overview of the tyres and wheels sector, highlighting recent developments, patent activity, job trends and regional growth prospects.

The report identifies opportunities for auto manufacturers and suppliers to refine sales and marketing strategies, noting growing demand for detailed, region-specific data.

Key sections include an analysis of patent filings by region and country, sector forecasts across five geographies – Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, North America and South America – as well as profiles of leading component suppliers.

The report also tracks job listings and advertising activity in the sector, broken down by geography, occupational category and level of seniority.

Companies covered in the report include Bridgestone, Continental, Goodyear, Michelin and Hankook.

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