“We will be implementing all our learnings of the previous years into the operations. In choosing a plant location, we consider the distance between our customers and ensure that we can keep up our supply while maintaining sufficient inventory and work on a VMI model, as we do for all the major tyre makers in Thailand. We are working on designing the process lines which will be much better in terms of product quality, environmental standards and productivity. Overall, we aim to install a world-class facility which will make working more efficient and effective in all aspects,” said Yashovardhan Chordia, Director, Rajratan Thai Wire Co ,  a 100 percent subsidiary of Rajratan Global Wire

The company had completed its brownfield expansion in March 2020, post which the national lockdown was announced. However, manufacturing revived sharply when markets re-opened, enabling Rajratan Global Wire to support and meet its customer demands with enhanced capacities. “As explained before, the China + 1 supplier need of global players coupled with the expanding demand for tyre in local and export markets is quite encouraging. It has given us the necessary confidence to go for further expansion in Thailand and a new greenfield plant in India (Chennai, Tamil Nadu). Our Chennai plant will also enable us to meet the increasing export demand owing to its proximity to the port,” explained Chordia.

National lockdown in 2020 affected the company as it did to all industries. The company’s manufacturing activities were shut for more than a month in India and took a planned shutdown for 25 days in Thailand since the demand was relatively low. However, Covid did not create any structural changes to the company’s business. “Except for the first month of the initial lockdown, demand was robust for subsequent months. We have been witnessing good opportunities to sell much bigger volumes.

Also, due to Covid and the logistics turmoil, many customers are looking at a China + 1 supplier strategy for their international business. This has consequently led to a rise in our customer base within export markets. Domestically, we also see customers increasing their buying from local sources to reduce the risk of supply shortage hampering their production, , ” said Chordia.

Rajratan Global Wire now offers bead wire to its customers from both locations – Indore and Thailand, wherever feasible – to ensure regular supplies. It has shifted a few of its export customers to India to counter the poor container availability. “There has been a reduction in the (volume) import of raw materials from China for many years, which now has reduced even further. Covid challenges allowed us to develop other alternatives timely, and these have all been streamlined now,” added Chordia.

Logistic costs have surged to new highs, and the availability of containers and drivers have been challenging. “As I explained previously, we are offering products to our customers from both locations, wherever the logistics cost is cheaper. We have also made few agreements with the shipping lines and other related parties to improve reliability, especially if the price remains unchanged. I think the cost of logistics today is high everywhere, so we are all sailing in the same boat. Over the year, there have been instances where cost went up so much that eventually customers had to explore other sources. At the same time, there are many new markets and a growing list of customers is being added at a steady rate,” said Chordia.

India is an oligopoly market with four manufacturers followed by imports. Rajratan has the largest manufacturing capacity amongst the four. The size of the Indian market currently stands at approximately 110,000 to 120,000 tonnes, including cycle tyres. Rajratan Global Wire has expanded its capacity to meet the growing requirement of domestic tyre companies which are witnessing strong local and export demand. “The capacity expansions taken up by local tyre manufacturers have given the confidence to set up a new greenfield facility in Chennai (port-based) to target the growing domestic as well as export markets,” explained Chordia.

In Thailand, Rajratan Global Wire is expanding its capacity from 40,000 TPA to 60,000 TPA to meet the local demand, otherwise impacted by the lack of bead wire supplies from manufacturers outside Thailand. “This has also provided the necessary boost to our local Thailand sales figures as we are the only local bead wire manufacturer in Thailand,” said Chordia.

Many major Chinese tyre companies have established their base in the SEA countries to avoid US traffic, and this has brought further opportunities to Rajratan Global Wire. According to Chordia, post the pandemic and due to the current logistics issues, the opportunity has become more prominent as all the tyre manufacturers in the SEA region are looking to source more locally. “We have a good opportunity as suppliers since there are six big Chinese tyre companies in Thailand, a couple of them in Vietnam and a few upcoming ones in Indonesia. We are in a sweet spot to meet the requirements of local tyre manufacturers (including Chinese tyre companies) in Thailand as well as from local tyre manufacturers in India, the two biggest tyre manufacturing markets in Asia outside China,” said the company executive.

The company focuses on several key aspects like adhesive strength, rubber coverage, elongation and tensile strength to achieve the required quality. “These are areas we continuously keep working on to improve our offerings to our customers. We at Rajratan have developed that culture of improvement, and it has been our key to whatever success we have had in business today,” added Chordia.

Rajratan Global Wire is working on digitalising and automating its operations in line with Industry 4.0 and on the sustainability front. The company aims to reduce its water consumption by 70-80 percent and use more recycled raw material (steel) to make its product. Rajratan Global Wire has also improvised on its product packing and reduced the usage of paper, wood and plastic.

Bead wire forms nearly three percent of the cost of making a tyre but is a critical product as it is instrumental in holding the tyre to the wheel’s rim. Rajratan Global Wire’s product is a critical raw material in the tyre and affects the safety factor of the tyre. The company is putting significant efforts to improve the product quality continuously. “We are always in dialogue with our customers on identifying areas of improvement to grow our presence. We manufacture the widest range of bead wire (sizes) in India,” added Chordia.

Talking about the changing bead wire technology for EV tyres, Chordia said, “From whatever we know till now from our customers, there is no major change in the use of bead wire for the EV tyres. Yes, I think their focus will be to make lighter tyres for EV. There is a possibility that this might further change the bead wire sizes and strength of the wire. I have not come across any discussion about a substitute for the existing bead wire up until now.”

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The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. has been selected as the official tyre supplier for the groundbreaking FIA Extreme H World Cup, the world's first hydrogen-powered motorsport series. The company will supply its GEOLANDAR brand of tyres for the championship, which is scheduled to commence next month in Saudi Arabia. The company will also continue to supply GEOLANDAR tyres for the Extreme E off-road electric vehicle series, which holds its final event on 4–5 October in Saudi Arabia.

Central to both the Extreme H and Extreme E series is a shared mission to advance sustainability and equality. The championships serve as dynamic platforms to promote environmental awareness and demonstrate cutting-edge technologies while also enforcing a strict mandate for gender parity by requiring each team to field one male and one female driver. The Extreme H series will feature eight international teams operating the Pioneer 25, a cutting-edge hydrogen fuel cell vehicle capable of generating 550 horsepower and accelerating from 0 to 100 kmph in 4.5 seconds. The global significance of this new championship is expected to draw a worldwide television audience across multiple continents.

As the predecessor to Extreme H, the Extreme E series utilised the high-performance all-electric Odyssey 21 vehicle. All teams competing in the new hydrogen series will also participate in this final Extreme E event, marking the conclusion of the electric championship as it transitions towards a hydrogen future.

In alignment with the environmental principles of these series, Yokohama Rubber will provide a specially developed prototype tyre based on its GEOLANDAR X-AT model. This tyre has been engineered with a significantly increased ratio of sustainable materials, comprising 38 percent renewable and recycled content. It has also been fortified with enhanced durability characteristics to withstand the unique demands of heavy hydrogen-powered and electric off-road racing vehicles.

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Hankook Tire is advancing its future mobility leadership through strategic open innovation and collaborative design projects. This effort was showcased at the company’s recent Design Innovation Day 2025, held at its Pangyo Technoplex headquarters. The event serves as a platform to present new solutions integrating sustainability, innovation and design while reinforcing partnerships with global technology leaders.

A major focus was the unveiling of two key outcomes from Hankook’s ongoing Design Innovation Project. The first was ‘Sustainable Concept Tyre’, an embodiment of the company’s ESG vision. Developed using advanced 3D printing technology, it is constructed from renewable and recycled materials. Its distinctive organic design was realised in collaboration with Harvestance using specialised engineering software.

The second reveal was the WheelBot 2, a multi-directional mobility platform developed with robotics startup CALMANTECH. This advanced robotic wheel system, equipped with tri-axial spherical tyres, demonstrates new possibilities for movement. Its potential was illustrated through a live demonstration of the PathCruizer, a two-seater pod concept powered by the WheelBot technology.

Beyond product reveals, the event highlighted Hankook’s commitment to knowledge sharing, featuring a presentation on 3D printing advancements from LG Electronics. These collaborations are central to Hankook’s strategy of strengthening its technology leadership. Since 2012, the company has partnered with world-renowned design universities and technology firms, consistently earning prestigious international design awards and solidifying the premium stature of its global brand.

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Indian tyre maker to pass full benefit of tax cuts to customers from 22 September

CEAT Limited said on Thursday it would reduce prices across its entire tyre range following the Indian government’s decision to cut goods and services tax (GST) rates on tyres, with the full benefit being passed on to customers.

The Mumbai-based tyre manufacturer said new prices would take effect from 22 September, covering commercial, agricultural, passenger vehicle and two-wheeler segments.

India’s 56th GST Council meeting approved significant reductions in tax rates for the tyre industry. GST on new pneumatic tyres was cut to 18% from 28%, whilst tractor tyres and tubes will attract a reduced rate of 5%.

“We thank the Government of India and the GST Council for their timely and progressive decision to rationalise tax rates in the tyre sector,” said Arnab Banerjee, Managing Director & CEO of CEAT Limited.

“The reduced GST slabs will greatly benefit the tyre industry and consumers alike. Not only will it lower the cost of owning and operating a vehicle for customers across various segments, but by making tyres more affordable to replace, it will also make our roads safer.”

Banerjee added the move would “spur formalisation and greater compliance, while also fostering sustainable growth in the sector.”

The GST rate cuts represent a significant policy shift for India’s automotive sector, where high taxation has been a longstanding concern for manufacturers and consumers.

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The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. has been officially recognised as a DX Certified Business Operator by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). The designation, which was granted on 1 September 2025, identifies companies that are thoroughly prepared for digital transformation as outlined by the Digital Governance Code.

This certification acknowledges Yokohama Rubber's comprehensive strategy for digital transformation, which is built on three core objectives: advancing business strategy, contributing to sustainability and reinforcing its IT infrastructure. Central to this effort is the company's proprietary AI framework, HAICoLab (Humans and AI ColLaborate), which drives group-wide digital initiatives. These include improving productivity, innovating processes, developing digital talent and building a global cloud-based IT system. The certification confirms that the company's efforts not only meet METI's stringent criteria but also demonstrate appropriate disclosure of information to its stakeholders.

Moving forward, the company said it will continue to leverage data from its entire value chain to adapt to a dynamic business environment. The company aims to enhance customer value, pursue sustainable innovation and transform its corporate culture to strengthen its competitive position and ensure long-term growth.

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