JK Tyre & Industries, one of the leading tyre manufacturers in the country, has kicked off its annual JK Tyre-WIAA Women’s Rally to the Valley 2025 from the National Sports Club of India (NSCI) in Worli, Mumbai.

The annual event presented by JK Tyre is organised by the Western India Automobile Association (WIAA). This year's event saw participation from more than 300 women in around 100 cars. It is organised in the TSD (Time-Speed-Distance) format and offers an exciting motorsport experience that unites women from diverse backgrounds.

This year’s event was flagged off by Pooja Batra, acclaimed Indian actress and model, Praveen Gupta, Chief Marketing Officer, JK Tyre & Industries and Nitin Dossa, Executive Chairman, WIAA.

Sanjay Sharma, Head – Corporate Communication & Motorsport, JK Tyre, said, "For over a decade, JK Tyre has been committed to breaking barriers and making motorsport more inclusive for women. The JK Tyre – WIAA Women’s Rally to Valley has grown into a marquee event that not only celebrates the spirit of motorsports but also amplifies important social causes. We are thrilled to see the enthusiasm among participants and look forward to concluding this rally in total control.”

The JK Tyre-WIAA Women’s Rally to the Valley 2025 saw participants raise awareness around various social causes such as road safety, women’s empowerment, sustainability, honouring women traffic police and the 'Save the Soil' movement.

Nitin Dossa, said, “The goal of the annual women’s rally is to advocate legislation and policies for women’ empowerment and for their working rights. We push for girl child education and fight against sexual harassment. Today’s woman is no longer a dependant soul. She is independent, self-reliant, and capable of achieving anything she sets her mind to. These rallies have gained tremendous popularity and are now a matter of pride and keen interest for all automobile owners.”

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Hankook Tire has secured a new role as the Official Control Tyre Supplier for the 2026–2027 season of the Australian Production Car Endurance Series (APCES), following a partnership with the Australian Racing Drivers’ Club (ARDC). The APCES is a newly launched endurance championship created by the ARDC and Motorsport Australia, designed to continue the country’s legacy of production car racing. The series will feature production-based vehicles competing across eight performance-based classes, labelled X, A1, A2, B1, B2, C, D and E.

Hankook will exclusively supply its Ventus TD (Z221) R-Spec tyres to all participating teams, working alongside official trackside supplier Gary’s Motorsport Tyres. The control tyre format, which equips every competing vehicle with identical tyre specifications and performance, is intended to provide consistent racing conditions throughout the championship. The semi-slick tyres feature an optimised tread pattern and advanced compound technologies, delivering strong dry grip, stable cornering, excellent braking and superior heat resistance even under prolonged high-speed driving.

The championship will begin its opening round at Sydney Motorsport Park on 30 and 31 May, with additional races scheduled at Sandown International Raceway in August and Queensland Raceway in September. The final round is set for March 2027 at Mount Panorama Circuit in Bathurst, New South Wales, as part of the iconic Bathurst 6 Hour endurance race. The overall series champion will be determined at that concluding event.

Hankook has already built a strong reputation in Australian endurance racing as the official tyre supplier for the Bathurst 6 Hour, and it continues to sponsor other local events including the First Focus Radical Cup Australia Series, the Precision National Sports Sedan Series and the Hyper Racer Hankook Australian Drivers’ Championship. Moving forward, the company plans to strengthen its global premium brand position by using racing data from extreme motorsports conditions, combined with its global innovation R&D infrastructure, to develop ultra-high-performance tyre technologies.

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Bridgestone Corporation has extended its legacy of excellence with General Motors by securing a 2025 Supplier of the Year award, marking the company’s 11th consecutive win and 24th overall. The honour was announced during GM’s 34th annual awards ceremony in Austin, Texas. Out of a vast network exceeding 20,000 suppliers, Bridgestone emerged as one of only 103 companies across 14 countries to receive this distinction.

A global cross-functional team at General Motors determines the winners based on performance across key categories such as safety, innovation and resilience. The evaluation process considered each organisation’s results throughout 2025 alongside their alignment with GM’s fundamental values and ambitious future objectives. This rigorous selection method highlights the importance of consistent execution and shared strategic vision.

The recognition directly supports Bridgestone’s internal E8 Commitment, an ethos built around eight values beginning with the letter E, including Ecology and Extension. By crafting innovative tire solutions for GM, the Japanese company effectively advances its pledges on both ecological responsibility and technological extension. This synergy between corporate values and customer recognition reinforces Bridgestone’s position as a reliable partner.

David Colletti, President of Consumer Original Equipment Tires, North America, Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, said, “This recognition reflects the strong relationship between Bridgestone and GM. Together, our shared dedication to innovation, quality and performance continues to fuel long-term success.”

Shilpan Amin, Senior Vice President, Global Chief Procurement and Supply Chain Officer, General Motors, said, “Supplier of the Year is one of those key moments our whole team looks forward to every year because it highlights the partnerships behind every vehicle we build. The results our suppliers deliver throughout the entire product development cycle are central to our ability to deliver world-class vehicles to our customers. When our suppliers, such as Bridgestone, lean in with us on new technology and flawless execution, we can move faster, compete harder and unlock more value across the entire supply chain.”

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Tyres Europe has joined a broad alliance of European industry associations urging the European Union to strengthen its trade defence policy. The coalition warns that unfair trade practices, combined with structural overcapacity and state-led market distortions worldwide, are intensifying pressure on local manufacturers. European producers must contend with high energy costs, strict environmental rules and complex regulations, placing them at a clear disadvantage compared to rivals benefiting from less transparent conditions.

The signatories have made clear that they do not seek protection from competition itself, only fairer conditions under which to compete. They argue that a truly global level playing field is essential to protect Europe’s industrial base, sustain competitiveness and allow EU companies to continue investing, producing and preserving jobs within the continent. Without such balance, the long-term viability of key sectors remains at risk.

As an immediate step, the coalition calls on the European Commission to assign more staff to the trade defence units within DG Trade. According to the statement, these services are severely understaffed in absolute numbers and relative to the EU’s main global partners. This shortage undermines Europe’s ability to respond effectively to foreign trade distortions in a timely manner.

Reinforcing DG Trade’s investigative capacity is therefore presented as a crucial short-term priority. Tyres Europe and the other associations contend that targeted staffing increases would significantly enhance the EU’s resilience against global market imbalances. Such a move, they believe, would help safeguard fair competition without erecting unnecessary barriers to international trade.

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Hankook Tire was conferred with the ‘Excellence in Quality and Delivery’ award during Japanese automaker Honda Motor Co., Ltd.’s ‘2025 Supplier Excellence Award’ ceremony, which took place in Columbus, Ohio, this past April.

Honda annually evaluates suppliers across North America based on criteria such as quality, delivery, value and innovation. Out of 56 honourees this year, Hankook Tire stood out due to its systematic quality management, stable supply capabilities and advanced product development competitiveness.

This latest accolade marks Hankook Tire’s fifth recognition from Honda, following previous wins for ‘Excellence in Value’ in 2016 and 2020, and ‘Excellence in Delivery/Value’ in 2018 and 2023. Since establishing a partnership with Honda in 2013, Hankook Tire supplies original equipment tyres for key SUV models including the CR-V, HR-V, Pilot and Passport, as well as global sedans like the Accord and Civic.

Building on this recognition, the tyre manufacturer aims to deepen its collaboration with Honda and expand its presence as a premier global brand in North America. Leveraging its integrated quality and technology system – supported by the Technoplex headquarters, Hankook Technodome R&D center and Hankook Technoring test track – the company continues to serve over 50 global automakers and plans to further enhance its AI-driven quality management through sustained R&D investment.

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