Mickey Thompson Tires and Wheels, a subsidiary of The Goodyear Tyre & Rubber Company, has opened its first-ever retail store in Shanghai, China. This major milestone comes on the back of the launch of the company’s latest product lines in China last year.

The newly opened Mickey Thompson store will serve as a gathering place for Chinese off-road aficionados in addition to being a place to shop. Additionally, Mickey Thompson's involvement in China's off-road community is strengthened by providing off-road fans with access to exclusive events, local races and expert-led workshops. Since 1963, Mickey Thompson has established a solid reputation for manufacturing off-road tires with exceptional performance that are tailored for harsh environments and ardent enthusiasts. Four of the brand's most recent, iconic product lines were formally unveiled to the Greater China market in September.

Nathaniel Madarang, Goodyear Asia Pacific President, said, "The opening of Mickey Thompson's first retail store marks a key milestone in realising our vision to make Goodyear #1 in tyres and service in Luxury, SUV and EV across Asia Pacific. Goodyear and Mickey Thompson have each played a monumental role in the history of tyres for the off-road and 4x4 markets. Now, with over a century of combined expertise, we are excited to build on this momentum, driving innovation and delivering an exceptional off-road experience to enthusiasts across the region."

Justin Foley, Managing Director of Goodyear Greater China, said, "China's SUV market is poised for rapid expansion in the coming years, fuelled by an increasing number of off-road enthusiasts eager to explore the country's diverse terrains, ranging from deserts to high-altitude regions. We will continue to expand our product offerings, providing a comprehensive range of off-road tyre solutions, to meet the diverse needs of consumers."

John Bodart, President of Mickey Thompson, said, "We are incredibly proud to bring Mickey Thompson's legacy of premium quality, durability and traction to China. Our new store in Shanghai represents more than just a retail space; it's a testament to our commitment to excellence and innovation. We are thrilled to empower even more enthusiasts to break away from the ordinary and pave their own trails with our top-of-the-line tyres and wheels. This expansion allows us to connect with the vibrant off-road community in China and provide them with the exceptional products and experiences they deserve."

Pirelli has announced the development of specific P Zero tyres for the new hybrid Porsche 911 GTS. This marks the latest collaboration between the tyre manufacturer and the German automaker, extending the availability of P Zero tyres across the entire 911 range.

The tyre maker states that it has engineered a unique version of the P Zero R as the primary fitment for the sports car. This tyre aims to balance performance with daily usability. A new compound provides grip across varied surfaces and weather, with an emphasis on wet conditions. The tread pattern reduces noise and low rolling resistance supports efficiency.

A dedicated P Zero Winter 2 tyre was also created for Porsche 911 owners seeking winter performance. This tyre features a directional tread pattern to improve wet and snow grip, while enhancing braking and handling on dry surfaces.

The tyre development process utilised Pirelli’s Virtual Development Center (VDC) in Breuberg, Germany. This facility employs virtual design and testing, leading to increased precision, a 30 percent reduction in development time and a 30 percent decrease in physical prototypes. The VDC facilitated the optimisation of tyre characteristics for the Porsche 911.

This joint effort represents the latest in a long-standing partnership between Pirelli and Porsche. Pirelli has achieved 338 homologations for all Porsche models, including SUVs, sedans and sports cars with internal combustion, hybrid and electric powertrains. Previous collaborations include the P Zero Trofeo RS for the 911 GT3 RS and the Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus for the 911 Dakar. The P Zero R will be the main tyre for the Porsche 911 GTS.

Continental and Danish transport company DFDS are strongly committed to the development of sustainable logistics. With Europe's biggest fleet of heavy-duty electric trucks, the company uses Conti Eco Gen 5 tyres with optimised rolling resistance and high mileage, as well as the ContiConnect digital tyre management system for continuous monitoring. Both the companies have been collaborating effectively since the beginning of 2023.

With its well-balanced mix of high mileage and improved rolling resistance, the Conti Eco Gen 5 tyre series, which is a specialist for long-distance and regional transportation, powers DFDS' fleet of electric trucks. A quarter of the DFDS fleet is expected to be electrified by 2030. The ContiConnect digital tyre management system guarantees that DFDS monitors all of the fleet's tyres. Additionally, the fleet's range is extended by the digital tyre management system.

One of Denmark's oldest organisations, Det Forenede Dampskibs-Selskab (The United Steamship Company, DFDS) is made up of the business segments DFDS Ferry for maritime transportation, DFDS Logistics for road and rail transportation and DFDS Container Transport. The firm has a large fleet consisting of 70 maritime boats, 3,200 vehicles, and 15,200 trailers. The company has its own shore power infrastructure and charging stations in addition to a sizeable fleet of electric trucks.

Niklas Andersson, Executive Vice President and Head of Logistics, DFDS, said, “We are currently replacing our diesel trucks with electric trucks. We want to drive the transition to more sustainable road transportation and show that zero-emission transport is already a viable solution today. The expansion of our e-truck fleet helps to support more companies in decarbonising their supply chains and underlines our commitment to lead this development.”

Hinnerk Kaiser, Head of Product Development EMEA, Continental, said, “Sustainability and cost efficiency are attracting increasing interest on the market. The optimised rolling resistance and high mileage of Conti Eco tyres ensure that the energy efficiency of the truck increases and CO2 emissions are reduced.”

Carl-Johan Ejserholm, Fleet Manager, DFDS, said, “Thanks to the tyre sensors and the software, we have tyre inflation pressure, temperature and mileage permanently under control, avoid punctures and can carry out tyre changes according to plan. Efficient maintenance helps us to reduce operating costs. This is a benefit for us and a benefit for our customers, a benefit for everyone. By optimally managing journeys, we can minimise downtime for charging on route. More and more of our customers want us to drive battery-electric vehicles for them to further improve their environmental footprint. Digital tyre monitoring contributes to the efficient and more sustainable operation of our vehicles, which has a positive impact on our emission values.”

The German rubber industry has urged for an immediate implementation of the economic turnaround.

Addressing around 250 representatives of member companies of the employers' association of the German rubber industry (ADK) and the wdk at the ‘Day of the Rubber Industry’ event in Berlin, Michael Klein, President, wdk, said, “The economic turnaround manoeuvre must begin immediately. It is incomprehensible that the small key industries, which are so important for the German location, are not mentioned at all in the coalition agreement. The medium-sized companies are unsettled and urgently need planning security. This means an ambitious reduction of documentation and reporting obligations and the fastest possible relief in energy costs.”

According to the association, the regulatory procedures are particularly difficult for small and family-run businesses to comprehend. The German rubber industry is strong and resilient in decision-making, and it brings together major tyre manufacturers and producers of other rubber goods to form a formidable industry. However, it can only fully utilise its potential if the framework conditions are improved, which is the responsibility of the incoming federal government, stressed the wdk President.

Apollo Tyres has strengthened its renewable energy portfolio by acquiring an additional 3.43 percent stake in Green Infra Wind Power Projects Limited (GIWPPL), a wind power producer operating in Tamil Nadu.

In regulatory filings with the Bombay Stock Exchange and National Stock Exchange, the tyre manufacturer disclosed that its shareholding in GIWPPL will increase to 21.27 percent following the purchase of 60,000 equity shares at INR 10 per share, totalling INR 600,000.

The acquisition represents Apollo's growing commitment to green energy as part of its sustainability initiatives. Before this transaction, Apollo held a 17.84 percent stake in GIWPPL, comprising 312,000 equity shares.

GIWPPL, incorporated in July 2011, operates a 24-megawatt wind power project in Tamil Nadu and is a Sembcorp Green Infra Private Limited subsidiary. The company reported a turnover of INR 235.25 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, up from INR 208.81 million in the previous year.

This investment aligns with Apollo Tyres’ broader strategy to increase its renewable energy sourcing while potentially reducing its carbon footprint and energy costs across its manufacturing operations. Apollo Tyres stated the objective of the acquisition is for “procurement of wind power.”