American electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian has selected the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV as the recommended winter tyre for its R1T and R1S models in North America. This partnership marks a first for Nokian Tyres in the region, where the Finnish company markets a full range of all-season, all-weather and winter product. The non-studded tyre is now available for direct purchase through Rivian Gear Shop and can be installed at the brand’s service centres.

Designed specifically for large, powerful vehicles, this latest-generation tyre addresses the particular demands of electric vehicles, including increased weight and instant torque. It incorporates features such as Aramid-reinforced sidewalls for added durability and puncture resistance, alongside a low-rolling-resistance compound to help preserve driving range. The tread utilises Arctic Grip Crystals to enhance grip on ice, and the Green Trace compound integrates recycled and renewable materials.

The Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV carries important safety and suitability certifications. It bears the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake symbol and the Ice Grip Symbol, confirming its performance in severe winter conditions. Furthermore, it has received Nokian’s Electric Fit designation, indicating it was specially developed and tested for electric vehicles. Together, these elements provide Rivian owners with a winter tyre option engineered for optimised stability, load management and overall safety in cold weather.

Tyler Scott, Nokian Tyres Key Accounts Manager, said, “We are thrilled to partner with Rivian to offer our flagship non-studded winter tyre to drivers who demand the very best from their vehicles. Our groundbreaking tyre technology, rooted in our 90-year tradition of safety, will help Rivian drivers follow through on the company’s quest to Keep the World Adventurous, even in the toughest winter conditions."   

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The JK Tyre - WIAA Women's Car Rally to Valley 2026 took off on 28 March from NSCI, Mumbai, with a flag-off ceremony led by Western India Automobile Association (WIAA) Chairman Nitin Dossa and JK Tyre officials. Over 200 women participated, decorating their vehicles around themes like cancer awareness, gender equality and women’s empowerment before driving towards the Novotel Imagicaa hotel in Khopoli.

Families and supporters gathered at the start, creating a festival-like mood as participants wore themed attire. The rally follows a Time-Speed-Distance format, rewarding precision and teamwork over speed, with contestants navigating hilly roads for about 125 kilometres to the finish.

Organised by the 107-year-old non-profit Western India Automobile Association, which advocates for safe mobility, road safety, environmental sustainability and policy change, the event has become a platform celebrating womanhood and resilience. This year’s edition reinforced the global road safety messages of #CommitToLife and #BeSafeBeStrong.

JK Tyre has long supported women in motorsport through dedicated initiatives, and its continued partnership with the WIAA Women’s Car Rally reflects a belief that motorsport can drive meaningful change both on and off the road.

Srinivasu Allaphan, Director – Sales & Marketing, JK Tyre & Industries, said, “For over a decade, we have been committed to encouraging women’s participation in motorsport, and the JK Tyre–WIAA Women’s Car Rally to Valley stands as a testament to that vision. Now a marquee event, the rally celebrates the spirit of motorsport while championing important social causes. We are encouraged by the strong enthusiasm of the participants as we continue to build greater awareness around road safety.”

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Scandinavian Enviro Systems AB (publ) has announced that its representatives on the Board of Directors of the joint venture entity, Infiniteria Europe Sàrl, namely Ewa Björling and Fredrik Aaben, have made the decision to vacate their respective director positions. This move follows prior communications from Enviro regarding a broader strategic shift in its relationship with the joint venture.

Earlier, Enviro had already disclosed that it was initiating a corporate reorganisation process, which included the termination of the various agreements that had previously defined and governed the working relationship and collaborative framework between Enviro and Infiniteria. This fundamental restructuring of their partnership set the stage for further complications, as disagreements began to surface between Enviro’s board members and the other directors serving on the Infiniteria board.

Specifically, the differing viewpoints between these two groups centred on critical matters related to corporate governance standards and the internal functioning of the board itself. Due to the emergence of these unresolved conflicts, combined with the ongoing dissolution of their formal cooperation agreements, Björling and Aaben concluded that stepping down from Infiniteria’s board of directors was the necessary course of action, leading to their formal resignations.

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MESNAC played a central role at the 2026 China Rubber Annual Conference, held in Qingdao from 24 to 27 March by the China Rubber Industry Association. On March 24, the Enlarged Meeting of the Rubber Machinery and Molds Branch took place, gathering key figures such as Deputy Secretary-General Zhu Hong, Branch Secretary-General Jiang Xin and Branch Chairman Guan Bingzheng, who also serves as MESNAC’s Chairman and President. Representatives from leading enterprises and governing units discussed the industry’s 2025 performance, ongoing difficulties and 2026 trends. The session was hosted by Zhou Chuanhai, General Manager of MESNAC Union Technology Co., Ltd.

Bingzheng pointed out that the rubber machinery and moulds industry managed to achieve positive overall growth in 2025 despite facing numerous difficulties. Rubber machinery exports rose notably even under adverse conditions, while the mould sector continued its gradual upward climb. He also noted that the industry has moved away from simply pursuing larger scale and is now prioritising higher quality and better performance.

With 2026 marking the start of the 15th Five Year Plan period, which is crucial for turning China from a large rubber producer into a powerful rubber nation, he laid out three main directions. One is embracing green practices, smart technology and global market expansion. Another is keeping pace with tyre manufacturers moving overseas to enable shared global growth. The third is focusing on new energy tire needs and artificial intelligence upgrades to push the industry towards high end transformation.

On March 26, at a forum themed Digital Empowerment and Green Development, MESNAC Vice President Yang Huili demonstrated how artificial intelligence is deeply applied in rubber tyre making. She described an intelligent system that forms a continuous loop from sensing in real time and learning on its own to making smart decisions and carrying out closed loop actions. It applies industrial vision for accurate measurement with very few missed defects, uses MCC software to merge process data and correct within milliseconds and employs large models for maintenance that quickly locate faults with high precision to enable predictive repairs. Through both strategic leadership and hands on technical demonstration, MESNAC showed its dedication to advancing the industry under changing conditions.

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The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has officially launched its 2026 Goodyear Blimp Europe tour, returning the iconic airship to the skies above European motorsport events. This marks a highly anticipated comeback for one of aviation’s most famous aircraft, which will first appear during the opening FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) race of the season. Spectators at the track can expect a breathtaking sight as the blimp soars overhead, enhancing the atmosphere of race weekend.

For decades, the Goodyear Blimp has been closely linked with legendary sporting moments and stands as a proud emblem of Goodyear’s racing heritage. Its planned flights over FIA WEC races will allow both live attendees and global viewers to catch a glimpse of the airship capturing stunning aerial footage. This tour takes on added significance as Goodyear celebrates 75 years of operations in Luxembourg, a milestone year for the company in Europe. Beyond tyre production, Luxembourg hosts Goodyear’s only Innovation Centre outside United States, where cutting edge technologies and motorsport partnerships are developed.

Fans attending select FIA World Endurance Championship events across Europe throughout the 2026 season are encouraged to watch the skies for the blimp’s appearances. The tour not only highlights Goodyear’s deep roots in racing but also underscores its longstanding commitment to European innovation and manufacturing excellence.

Jan-Piet van Kesteren, Managing Director EMEA & Chief Sales Officer EMEA Consumer, said, “The Goodyear Blimp is one of the most iconic symbols in racing. Seeing it fly above in the skies of several main FIA WEC races is always a special moment for fans. We are excited to bring the Goodyear Blimp back to European skies and share that experience with racing audiences across the region.”

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