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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Michelin reported lower first-quarter revenue after adverse currency movements offset stable underlying sales, while the tyre maker maintained its 2026 guidance amid growing geopolitical and supply chain uncertainty.

Group revenue for the three months to 31March fell 5.4 percent year on year to €6.2bn, compared with €6.5bn a year earlier. Michelin said the decline was entirely due to currency effects, primarily the appreciation of the euro against the US dollar and several other currencies. At constant exchange rates, revenue was stable.

Tire volumes declined 1.4 percent during the quarter, although replacement sales improved, supported by a 3 percent increase in MICHELIN-brand tire volumes. A favourable product mix, particularly in larger premium tires, partly offset weaker original equipment demand.

The Consumer segment recorded revenue of €3.4bn, down 4.4 percent on a reported basis. Michelin said replacement sales of passenger car and light truck tires remained resilient, while original equipment sales continued to be affected by weaker automotive markets, particularly in China. Sales of 18-inch and larger tires represented 69 percent of MICHELIN-brand sales during the quarter.

Revenue in the Transportation segment fell 11.3 percent to €1.4bn, reflecting weaker original equipment demand in North and South America and adverse exchange rates. Replacement sales increased in Europe but remained subdued in North America amid a softer road freight market.

The Specialties segment reported revenue of €1.1bn, down 3.3 percent. Michelin said mining and aircraft tire sales increased during the quarter, while beyond-road activities stabilised despite continued weakness in agricultural original equipment markets.

Polymer Composite Solutions revenue rose 5.1 percent to €326m, supported by the integration of Cooley Group and growth in sealing and coated fabric activities. Michelin said the segment would continue expanding through the integration of Flexitallic in April and the expected consolidation of TexTech later in 2026.

The company said uncertainty linked to the Middle East conflict continued to create risks around global demand, raw material supply and energy costs. Michelin nevertheless maintained its financial outlook for 2026, citing operational resilience, localised production and supply chain integration.

During the quarter, Michelin also completed the acquisitions of Cooley Group and Flexitallic as part of efforts to accelerate the growth of its Polymer Composite Solutions business.

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Hankook Tire, the exclusive tyre supplier for the FIA World Rally Championship, has concluded the fifth round of the 2026 season, Rally Islas Canarias, which took place from 23 to 26 April in Spain’s Canary Islands. For the demanding asphalt stages, Hankook provided its specialised Ventus Z215 and Ventus Z210 tarmac rally tyres, engineered to handle extreme conditions.

The event, first held in 1977, marked its 50th anniversary this year and its second edition as an official WRC round. Competitors tackled 18 special stages across Gran Canaria Island, centred around Las Palmas, covering approximately 322.61 kilometres. The course featured rough, high-abrasion volcanic asphalt with dramatic elevation changes, while dense fog and local rain above 1,000 metres made weather a decisive factor. The opening day’s Super Special Stage at the BP Ultimate Circuito Islas Canarias offered side-by-side racing, where small pace differences quickly altered positions.

Hankook’s tyres provided reliable grip and control at high speeds and through continuous cornering, helping drivers maintain stability on the technical routes. Sébastien Ogier of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing secured his first win of the season, leading a team podium sweep. In the Drivers’ Championship, Elfyn Evans leads with 101 points, followed closely by Takamoto Katsuta on 99.

The 2026 WRC season now moves to Round 6, Vodafone Rally de Portugal, from 7 to 10 May in northern Portugal, a demanding event mostly on unpaved surfaces. Hankook will operate a ‘Brand World’ booth in the service park there, using motorsport content and hands-on experiences to promote its premium image. As exclusive WRC tyre supplier since 2025, Hankook continues integrating data from over 70 global championships into R&D, advancing high-performance tyre technology and the Ventus brand’s global leadership.

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wdk, the German Rubber Industry Association, and the ADK, the German Rubber Industry Employers’ Association, hosted their annual Rubber Industry Day in Berlin on 28 April 2026. The event saw wdk President Michael Klein issue an urgent call for industrial policy measures, warning that pressure on Germany’s manufacturing base remains relentless. He argued that the country can no longer afford strategic delays, insisting that declarations of intent must be replaced by immediate action to reduce bureaucracy and energy costs for businesses.

Citing fresh member survey data, Klein reported that sales, revenue and production levels in Germany’s rubber industry are predominantly declining compared to the previous year. He described this downturn as a clear warning signal, noting that companies have exhausted their potential at domestic sites. Without political support, he added, only foreign markets remain viable alternatives, while Germany continues to lose industrial substance.

The wdk president stressed that the federal government’s failure to implement countermeasures risks permanent damage to the nation’s industrial base. He expressed bafflement that political decision-makers have long known what needs to be done yet have failed to act for an extended period. Klein concluded that proactive intervention is now essential, as the erosion of Germany as a production location must finally be stopped to preserve the manufacturing sector as the backbone of the economy and a guarantor of prosperity.

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Bridgestone Americas has concluded the first phase of a joint research initiative with Penske Transportation Solutions, known as the Decarbonisation Lab, which focused on identifying commercially ready methods for reducing carbon emissions in real-world commercial fleet operations. The partnership confirmed that both companies intend to continue their collaboration with a second phase of testing in 2026, building on the operational data gathered during the initial stage.

Working alongside Dynamon, a specialist in advanced data analytics, the Lab’s first phase involved logging more than 500,000 fleet miles to assess three specific operational areas. The use of low-rolling-resistance retreads, continuous tyre pressure monitoring and Bridgestone casings on Penske vehicles produced a measurable gain of 6.35 percent in fuel economy. In a separate track, the partners tested renewable diesel in Tennessee, a state outside the usual Low Carbon Fuel Standard markets, to study long-term maintenance needs and efficiency results.

A third work stream saw Penske and Bridgestone engineering teams jointly redesign aspects of Bridgestone’s automotive tyre retail distribution network, with the goal of cutting roughly 152,000 miles from that logistics system. Scaling that approach across the entire dedicated fleet operated by the two companies would correspond to a four to six percent drop in CO₂ emissions, according to the project’s projections.

The overall findings from the Decarbonisation Lab reinforce the idea that meaningful near-term sustainability gains require a combination of proven technologies, rigorous data collection and close industry cooperation rather than isolated efforts. Representatives from both organisations are scheduled to present the first-phase results at ACT Expo 2026 in Las Vegas on the afternoon of 4 May.

Erik Seidel, head of sustainability for Bridgestone in the Americas, Europe, Middle East and Africa, said, “Our Bridgestone team is proud to have partnered with Penske for more than a decade, from IndyCar racing to deploying millions of retreaded tyres across the Penske fleet. The Decarbonisation Lab is a testament to how sustainable transformation can be accelerated when we work together.”

Bill Combs, Senior Vice President, Partnership & Sustainability Strategy, Penske, said, “We are honoured to collaborate with Bridgestone to bring the Decarbonisation Lab to the marketplace. Our companies have enjoyed a successful history of uncovering great solutions that benefit our customers and the industry.”

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