The Rubber Board has announced its intention to start an electronic trade platform to improve the marketing efficacy of participants in the supply chain of natural rubber.
Satish Sharma, Chairman of the Automobile Tyre Manufacturers Association, will launch the logo ‘mRube’ prepared as part of this e-market on 28 April through a virtual meeting at Rubber Board, Kottayam, the board said in a statement. Representatives from all rubber stakeholder groups have been scheduled to attend the meeting. 'e-market' is expected to go live in the second week of May 2022.
India's natural Rubber trade possesses an innate advantage of high-level marketing efficiency owing to its coherent supply chain. The rubber market ecosystem has changed significantly over the years with changing patterns of demand in terms of quality and quantity from the consuming sector.
Though price realisation is relatively good for producers of quality rubber, large volumes of ungraded rubber traded are in the country, the release said.
These producers are losing their opportunity for want of proper market awareness. There are also cases where growers and co-operatives find it difficult to sell rubber as per quality grades to the final consumer, which often dissuades them from producing quality material. The size of the dealer fraternity is also seen shrinking. In 2000, there were 10,512 active rubber dealers in the country, which came down to 9741 in 2010. In 2020, the count shrunk to 7135, which is quite alarming, the board pointed out.
Considering the scenario, the board proposes to set up an electronic trading platform to improve the efficacy of the domestic supply chain for natural rubber. The electronic trading platform is contemplated to complement the existing trade system by bringing in more transparency and market visibility. It is expected that e-trade could bring more business to the existing rubber dealers, processors and manufacturers by reaching out to new sellers/ buyers, even in far-off places.
The e-trade platform is branded as “mRube’ and i- Sourcing Technologies Pvt. Ltd. Ahmedabad is the technology partner for developing this electronic trade platform. The software development for this electronic market is over, and final testing is in progress, the board said.
The electronic market follows a simple one-time registration for users. Users shall input their Rubber Board license number, and the system will fetch the rest of their details from the Rubber Board licensing portal, and an OTP based validation will complete the registration.
‘mRube’ attempts to figure out certain impending issues in the current rubber marketing system. Despite being used in the manufacture of products with critical importance like automobile tyres and tubes, surgical and pharmaceutical products etc., there is no systematic arrangement for certifying the quality of rubber traded in the country. In the proposed electronic market, the Rubber Board has a system for assaying the quality of rubber, which will be a game-changer in the domestic NR trade. Besides this, Rubber Board has joined hands with Federal Bank Ltd and ICICI Bank Ltd. to operate the payment gateway and escrow account, which will nullify the payment risk of buyers and sellers involved in trade through this portal.
It said for the first time in the history of commodity trade, either online or offline, banks had agreed to finance “zero interest rate” advances to sellers. The board also made arrangements with two partnering banks to extend zero interest rate facility to rubber sellers trading through this e-market. Also, ‘mRube’ allows users to filter out buyers and sellers according to their geographical location, quantity, grade of rubber, customer ratings etc. The buyers and sellers can upload their offers, and there is a provision for quoting counter-offers before confirming the trade. Personalised trade pages are available for those buyers whose purchases are from their empanelled vendors. A unique feature built into the system is the generation of legalised trade contacts signed using DSC. The Android and ios versions of e-market mobile applications are also ready for use, the release added. (TT)
Pirelli Signs Partnership With Univrses To Integrate AI Vision Into Cyber Tyre System
- By TT News
- May 01, 2026
Pirelli has entered into a strategic agreement with Swedish technology firm Univrses to integrate artificial intelligence-based computer vision systems into its Cyber Tyre platform. As part of the deal, Pirelli has acquired a 30 percent stake in Univrses, with an option to increase that share to a majority holding. The collaboration will embed Univrses’ 3DAI technologies into Pirelli’s existing Cyber Tyre solutions, creating a unified system aimed at producing safer and higher performing vehicles.
The combined technology has potential applications in advanced driver-assistance systems and autonomous driving. It also generates timely, actionable data for road management, helping authorities make better decisions and deploy resources more efficiently. This could lead to fewer road accidents and saved lives. The system uses onboard cameras and tyres to collect feedback on road conditions. Pirelli’s Cyber Tyre, the first integrated hardware and software system of its kind, gathers data from tyre sensors, processes it with proprietary algorithms and communicates in real time with vehicle electronics and the cloud.
Univrses originally developed its technology to help cars understand their surroundings, but it has since been adapted to turn vehicles into AI-powered road monitoring agents. The Swedish company’s 3DAI Engine provides autonomous vehicles with perception capabilities including 3D positioning, mapping and spatial deep learning. Its 3DAI system digitises roadside infrastructure using data from vehicle-mounted sensors like cameras.
A pilot project is already active in Italy. In 2025, Pirelli and the Puglia Region launched a road network monitoring system to create an updated map of infrastructure conditions. The system analyses data from tyres via the Cyber Tyre platform alongside visual data from cameras interpreted by Univrses’ technology.
Andrea Casaluci, CEO, Pirelli, said, “The agreement with Univrses further enhances our Cyber Tyre™ platform, thanks to advanced AI‑based artificial vision technologies. The collaboration between Pirelli and Univrses will make a significant contribution to the ongoing transformation of cars into true software‑defined vehicles.”
Jonathan Selbie, CEO, Univrses, said, “Continuous monitoring and data are becoming the new foundation for infrastructure asset management, and Univrses technology is able to provide powerful analytical capabilities based on reliable and frequently updated data. In this context, we are pleased to welcome Pirelli as an investor and to take our partnership to the next level: we will join forces to deliver increasingly advanced services and products.”
ZC Rubber To Spotlight WESTLAKE And GOODRIDE Tyres At THE TIRE COLOGNE 2026
- By TT News
- April 30, 2026
ZC Rubber is preparing a major European-focused showcase at THE TIRE COLOGNE, scheduled to run from 9 to 11 June 2026. The tyre manufacturer will occupy Booth C050g in Hall 8.1, highlighting its WESTLAKE and GOODRIDE brands with a clear emphasis on products tailored specifically for regional market demands.
The display will blend imminent and future innovations. Products destined for a European launch in the latter half of 2026 will appear alongside the company’s current truck and bus radial lineup. Selected previews of developments planned for 2027 will also be on view. A featured attraction is the Westlake Sport RS2, a drift-proven ultra-high-performance tyre praised for its grip, precision and 180 treadwear rating. A renewed rubber compound, developed through work with the Red Bull Driftbrothers, now delivers steadier traction under severe driving conditions. Appearing at the stand, Red Bull Driftbrothers driver and engineer Elias Hountondji will illustrate how motorsport data directly refines ZC Rubber’s product engineering.
Additional new passenger car radial models for Europe in the second half of 2026 include the Westlake ZuperFlex Z-137, Goodride RideMax G-147, the all-season Westlake Zuper4S Z-411 and the off-road focused Westlake Terra Legend SL399 and Goodride Mud Legend SL388. On the truck and bus side, already available tyres such as the Westlake WSL2, Westlake WDL2+ and Goodride S2, D3 and D4 will be exhibited, covering steer and drive axle needs for long-haul and heavy-duty transport.
A sneak peek at 2027 offerings will feature the Westlake Z-301 commercial van tyre, Goodride All Season G-721, Goodride SnowComfort G-518 and new TBR models including the Westlake WTL2, Westlake WTR OEM and Goodride M2. ZC Rubber’s team will remain on-site throughout the event, welcoming visitors and partners to the booth for meetings and professional discussions.
Leo Liao, General Manager, ZC Rubber Europe, said, “This year’s showcase reflects a much broader and more complete portfolio for Europe. From UHP and all-season tyres to all-terrain, mud-terrain and TBR solutions, we are bringing new developments across almost every major segment. This reflects how seriously we take the European market: we are listening to local needs, investing in the right products and building a portfolio that better matches the needs of our European partners.”
Magna Tyres Unveils MA801 TR Solid Tyre For Recycling And Heavy Industrial Applications
- By TT News
- April 30, 2026
Magna Tyres has launched the MA801 TR, a new solid tyre engineered for extreme operating conditions in recycling facilities and heavy industrial settings. Designed to maximise equipment uptime while supporting high load capacities, the tyre is built to deliver dependable performance in harsh environments. The official debut of the MA801 TR will take place at IFAT 2026 in Munich, scheduled from 4 to 7 May 2026.
The new model is intended for compact wheel loaders and telescopic handlers, featuring a flat-free solid construction. Its extra-deep non‑directional tread is reinforced by a triangular structural design, which enhances traction and stability on surfaces littered with sharp debris. Available in sizes 13.00‑24 and 14.00‑24, the tyre prioritises puncture resistance and reduced maintenance needs.
Thanks to its robust architecture and deep tread profile, the MA801 TR offers an extended service life and consistent performance across demanding work cycles. By eliminating the risk of flats, Magna Tyres positions the tyre as a reliable solution for recycling and industrial operations where continuous heavy loads are standard.
Yokohama Rubber Secures SBTi Validation For 2035 GHG Reduction Targets
- By TT News
- April 30, 2026
The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. has secured validation from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), a prominent corporate climate-action organisation, for its greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets set for 2035. This endorsement confirms that the company’s goals are scientifically aligned with the standards established under the Paris Agreement. The validated targets are measured relative to the company’s 2024 emission levels.
Under the approved framework, Yokohama Rubber aims for a 63.0 percent reduction in combined Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, which cover direct emissions from its business activities as well as indirect emissions from purchased energy. Additionally, the company commits to a 37.5 percent cut in Scope 3 emissions, specifically targeting indirect supply chain emissions from purchased products and services, along with fuel and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2. To achieve these reductions, Yokohama Rubber has been expanding solar power generation and renewable energy electricity at its global plants, while also disclosing indirect emissions from product distribution, use and disposal since 2013.
The company obtained SBTi validation to accelerate supply-chain-wide emission cuts in response to intensifying climate challenges. Operating under its sustainability management slogan, ‘Caring for the Future’, Yokohama Rubber continues to create shared value by tackling social issues directly through its business operations.
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