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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Triangle Tyre was honoured with the ‘2026 Green Development Model Enterprise Award’ at the 5th International Green Zero-Carbon Festival & ESG Leadership Summit in Shanghai on 29 July. The accolade recognises the manufacturer's sustained environmental commitment, operational sustainability framework and mature governance capabilities, aligned with the summit's theme of advancing green development.

The summit convened hundreds of leading enterprises for discussions on zero-carbon factories, low-carbon transitions, ESG deployment and circular economies. The award evaluates performance across strategic planning, technological innovation, clean energy adoption, supply chain management and social responsibility.

Triangle Tyre has integrated carbon neutrality into corporate strategy, establishing emission reduction targets for 2030 and a roadmap to carbon neutrality by 2050. The company holds energy efficiency ‘Leader’ status from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and national ‘Green Factory’ recognition. Manufacturing initiatives have reduced carbon intensity per product unit, while a biomass boiler retrofit increased renewable energy share.

In R&D, the company expands sustainable materials like recycled rubber and bio-based feedstocks. Supply chain efforts include green supplier evaluations, raw material traceability and a ‘zero deforestation’ pledge, with ESG metrics integrated into supplier management. The company also supports occupational health systems and public welfare initiatives. This award reflects Triangle Tyre's enduring sustainability commitment and plans to deepen ESG implementation for industry-wide green transformation.

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Maxion has released its inaugural global Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), marking a unified evaluation of environmental performance across its major product categories and two dozen manufacturing sites worldwide. This comprehensive study shifts the company from fragmented individual assessments to a cohesive global framework that covers both aluminium and steel wheel production.

The assessment, adhering to ISO standards and the Environmental Footprint 3.1 methodology, analysed 16 impact categories based on 2024 operational data. A substantial reliance on primary information from essential production phases has bolstered the study's credibility and precision. The results emphasise that raw materials, especially aluminium and steel, are the primary drivers of the product carbon footprint, pointing to material sourcing and supplier collaboration as crucial areas for future mitigation strategies.

By establishing this consistent global benchmark, Maxion enhances transparency and facilitates more informed customer discussions. The standardised data not only improves comparability across its wheel portfolio but also aids in pinpointing new opportunities for environmental reduction, supporting the sustainability requirements of clients and stakeholders alike.

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Apollo Tyres Ltd has marked two decades of collaboration between its Vredestein brand and the Ennstal-Classic, following the conclusion of the 2026 edition of the prestigious European historic rally. The event, held from 22 to 25 July, reinforced a partnership that has endured since the brand’s acquisition by Apollo in 2009.

This year’s rally featured nearly 200 historic vehicles traversing a 1,000-kilometre Alpine route, attracting motoring enthusiasts from across the continent. A central feature of the ongoing affiliation is the Vredestein Youngster Trophy, a category designed to foster interest in classic cars among younger participants.

Beyond event sponsorship, Apollo Tyres continues to expand its Vredestein Classic tyre portfolio, introducing new sizes and advanced materials for contemporary safety and performance. The comprehensive range, including Sprint Classic, Sprint+, Grip Classic, Snow Classic, Transport Classic and Quatrac Classic, offers period-correct styling for a wide array of vintage passenger cars, sports cars, commercial vehicles and 4x4s.

Udyan Ghai, Group Head – Marketing, Apollo Tyres Ltd, said, “This event brings together some of Europe’s finest historic vehicles and gives us the opportunity to share our passion for automotive heritage. Through our support of the Vredestein Youngster Trophy and continued investment in our Classic tyre range, we are helping enthusiasts enjoy their classic vehicles safely in all conditions.”

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Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company reported lower second-quarter 2026 sales and earnings as weaker tyre volumes, higher tariffs and inflation weighed on performance, although the company said market conditions showed signs of stabilising and original equipment (OE) market share improved across all regions.

Net sales fell 4.8 percent year on year to USD 4.3 billion, while tyre unit volume declined 4.0 percent to 36.5 million units. On an organic basis, sales were down 1.4 percent, primarily due to lower volumes. The company said the decline improved from the 12 percent year-on-year volume drop recorded in the first quarter as destocking pressures eased.

Goodyear reported a net loss of USD 204m, compared with net income of USD 254 million, in the same period last year. Adjusted net loss widened to USD 177 million, from USD 48 million a year earlier.

Segment operating income declined to USD 36 million from USD 159 million in the second quarter of 2025. Excluding the impact of divestments, operating income fell by USD 79 million, reflecting lower volumes, higher tariffs and other costs, and inflation. These factors were partly offset by favourable price and product mix relative to raw material costs, together with USD 95 million of benefits from the company's Goodyear Forward programme.

"We delivered second quarter results in line with our expectations, reflecting continued improvement in Asia Pacific and EMEA," said Mark Stewart, Chief Executive Officer and President.

"We're taking actions to improve performance in a competitive environment by strengthening our product lineup, building on original equipment growth across regions, and optimising our manufacturing footprint. These actions are designed to strengthen our competitive position and deliver stronger profitability over time."

In the Americas, second-quarter sales declined 10.5 percent to USD 2.4 billion, while tyre unit volume fell 8.7 percent. Replacement volumes dropped 13.0 percent, although OE volumes increased 8.7 percent as the company gained market share. The Americas business reported a segment operating loss of USD 10 million, compared with operating income of USD 141 million a year earlier.

The company said its planned closure of the Fayetteville, North Carolina facility is expected to improve Americas segment operating income by about USD 90 million in 2027 and approximately USD 270 million annually from 2028 as part of its manufacturing footprint optimisation strategy.

In Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), sales increased 2.1 percent to USD 1.4 billion, supported by favourable pricing, product mix and currency, despite lower tyre volumes. Segment operating loss improved to USD 17 million from USD 25 million in the previous year.

The Asia Pacific business delivered the strongest regional performance, with sales rising 8.1 percent to USD 496 million and tyre unit volume increasing 5.3 percent. Segment operating income rose to USD 63 million, up from USD 43 million a year earlier, supported by stronger demand, favourable price and mix, and benefits from the Goodyear Forward programme.

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