Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman unveiled the Union Budget 2025-26 on February 1, outlining measures to bolster the manufacturing sector, a move set to benefit the automotive industry.

A new Clean Tech Manufacturing Support Programme aims to boost domestic value addition in solar PV cells, EV batteries, motors and controllers. The initiative also expands the exempted list to include 35 additional capital goods for EV battery production.

Beyond manufacturing, the budget prioritises the broader EV ecosystem with support for battery recycling and charging infrastructure. Special focus is placed on advancing high-capacity battery technology and fostering research in the sector.

Welcoming the move, tyre makers opined that the impetus lays a strong foundation for India's continued economic resilience and manufacturing excellence. Thrust on green energy transition, manufacturing and ease of doing business will propel the automotive and tyre industries forward.

Furthermore, the budget strengthens India's push for domestic manufacturing with tax incentives including a full exemption from Basic Customs Duty on key materials such as cobalt powder, lithium-ion battery waste and scrap, lead, zinc and 12 other critical minerals. 

To further drive cost efficiencies, the government is reducing import duties on essential battery production equipment, a move aimed at lowering EV battery costs and making electric vehicles more affordable. The resulting decline in operational expenses is expected to accelerate the expansion of India’s EV battery industry and boost domestic production capacity.

Commenting on the developments, JK Tyre Managing Director Raghupati Singhania averred,” The Union Budget 2025-26 lays a strong foundation for India's continued economic resilience and manufacturing excellence. Thrust on green energy transition, manufacturing and ease of doing business will propel the automotive and tyre industries forward. Emphasis on clean tech manufacturing, with incentives for EV components and advanced mobility solutions, aligns well with automotive sector’s vision for sustainability. Additionally, the measures to strengthen global supply chain integration and streamline trade regulations will bolster India’s global manufacturing competitiveness. We look forward to leveraging these opportunities to drive innovation and sustainable growth.”

Speaking on the same lines, Apollo Tyres Chairman Onkar Kanwar said, “The Union Budget 2025-26 is growth-centric, reinforcing the Government’s commitment to strengthening India’s manufacturing sector and driving the evolution to cleaner mobility solutions. The Government’s focus on clean technology manufacturing under the National Manufacturing Mission, will spur the domestic EV industry and make the EVs affordable. The budget places significant emphasis on building India’s innovation and R&D capabilities while enhancing youth employability. Enhanced credit availability and easier compliance requirements supports the MSMEs, which are supporting the auto sector. Above all, the Union Budget provides significant measures to boost consumer spending across sectors by leaving more disposable income in the hands of the middle class.”

CEAT Tyres Managing Director Arnab Banerjee iterated, “Budget of India comprehensively addresses all key areas of economy covering agriculture, rural development, education, health, tourism and infrastructure. It has  new initiatives to provide finance for agriculture , startups and MSMEs. There is good amount of emphasis on “ease of doing business “ particularly in direct and indirect tax related compliances. Relief for middle class through lowering of income tax would help in higher disposable income that would boost consumption and personal investment. It is heartening to see further drop in fiscal deficit to 4.4% next year, this should augur well in managing the health of the government and also in managing inflation. Overall a well balanced budget.”

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Bridgestone India has joined hands with Sagest (Society for Environment and Agricultural Sustainability) to launch the Nutritional Fruit Orchard Project in Sulawad Village, Madhya Pradesh. This women-led project improves nutrition, fosters livelihood possibilities and supports environmental sustainability. With the help of Bridgestone staff and locals, the orchard, which spans four acres, is home to more than 1,300 fruit trees of more than 15 species. It is grown using sustainable practices.

With a 96 percent survival rate in its first year, the project has enabled women to run a nursery with 1,000 saplings and turn garden waste into organic compost and insecticides, encouraging environmentally responsible farming and generating extra revenue. The ladies who are in charge of the orchard will have a reliable source of income once it is completely developed. By assisting households in growing 251 kitchen gardens, the programme also improves nutrition in Sulawad by guaranteeing that locals have access to fresh, homegrown produce. Frequent training sessions have improved environmental consciousness and community ownership.

This unique project demonstrates multi-stakeholder collaboration – Bridgestone and Sagest lead implementation, the local panchayat provided land, women manage daily operations and a nearby government school assists. By combining environmental conservation, rural development and women’s empowerment, the initiative serves as a replicable model for sustainable corporate-community partnerships.

Hiroshi Yoshizane, Managing Director, Bridgestone India, said, “True sustainability goes beyond business – it’s about empowering communities and protecting the planet. This project shows how women-led, community-driven action can create long-term impact on nutrition, livelihoods and the environment. It’s not just about planting trees; it’s about planting hope, resilience and a better future. This initiative beautifully demonstrates how community-driven, women-led environmental action can improve nutrition, generate income and protect the planet – all at the same time.”

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JK Tyre & Industries, one of the leading tyre manufacturers in the country, has announced the appointment of Sylvain Sagot as Director – Quality.

Sagot comes with over three decades of experience in quality assurance, process excellence and operational leadership in the automotive and tyre industry. A French national, he began his career as a Quality Engineer at Michelin Netherlands in 1991.

In 2004, he worked with Renault as a Supplier Development Consultant and went on to grow to the ranks of Supplier Performance Manager for the Renault Nissan Alliance. He also worked with Alstom and Gajah Tunggal, one of the biggest tyre manufacturers in Southeast Asia as QA General Manager & TBR Plant Head in Indonesia for over three years.

Sagot in his last role was the International Truck Trailer Quality & Product Safety Director at Carrier, where he spent over a decade.

JK Tyre & Industries believes that Sagot with deep expertise in supplier development, quality management systems, product safety, and OEM partnerships in large-scale manufacturing environments, will further strengthen its global operations.

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  - Jitendra Pancholi July 04, 2025 19:47 PM

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Nynas, with its strong commitment to innovation and product sustainability, recently commissioned an independent study to evaluate the environmental impact of its products across four key application areas: transformer oils, lubricating greases, tyres and bitumen binders. Conducted by Future Earth Analytics, LLC, the research revealed that many Nynas products deliver significant sustainability advantages, often surpassing industry performance benchmarks.

The study highlighted several environmental benefits across different applications. In transformer oils, certain Nynas products improve cooling efficiency and energy transmission, reducing energy losses during operation. For tyres, specific Nynas tyre oils contribute to lower rolling resistance, which helps decrease fuel consumption in vehicles. In lubricating greases, the use of naphthenic base oils reduces reliance on lithium – a resource-intensive material – while also cutting energy consumption during production. Additionally, Nynas’ strategic location near bitumen customers minimises transportation distances, thereby lowering associated emissions.

The findings underscore a substantial environmental impact: had customers opted for alternative products instead of Nynas’ offerings in 2023, an additional 740,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions would have been generated. This saving is equivalent to avoiding the consumption of five million barrels of oil.

To assess these benefits, researchers employed a dual analytical framework combining Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Net Energy Analysis (NEA). This approach allowed for a detailed comparison of energy savings and emissions reductions across different lifecycle phases, such as cradle-to-gate and use-phase impacts. By focusing on stages where variations occur, the study provided a quantitative evaluation of how choosing Nynas products can lead to measurable energy and emissions savings compared to market alternatives. The results reinforce Nynas’ leadership in delivering sustainable solutions that support a lower-carbon future. 

Marika Rangstedt, Sustainability Manager, said, “The beneficial effects are true not only for our recent circular or renewable products, but also for many of our traditional products. We are leading the way in sustainability and setting new standards for product related environmental responsibility within our industry.”

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Westlake Performance Tyres, a brand of ZC Rubber, has teamed up with German motorsport team Red Bull Driftbrothers as the new official supplier and tyre partner. The company will supply its Westlake Sport RS tyres for the team’s two 1,000 hp BMW M4s.

Munich marketing agency die agentour was the driving force behind the collaboration. The Red Bull Driftbrothers and ZC Rubber have a long-term cooperation that benefits both parties in many ways. Giving the team tyres will help with technical advancements based on driver Elias Hountondji's input, among other things. The collaboration will also help ZC Rubber spread the word about the Westlake brand throughout the European market. Demonstrating the products' and technologies' performance and quality in harsh environments is also a clear signal to the European OEM and replacement market.

This year's ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring marked the debut of the new collaboration. The Red Bull Driftbrothers created a stir among the record-breaking audience when they performed a display drift in their recently tyred BMW vehicles during the pre-race of the renowned race. The Westlake Sport RS tires were especially taxed by the high track temperatures.

Henry Shen, Deputy General Manager, Zhongce Rubber Group (ZC Rubber), said, “We’re proud to be the tyre partner of Red Bull Driftbrothers. Their trust in WESTLAKE, especially the performance of our SPORT RS on the demanding drift circuit, is a powerful endorsement. This partnership is built on a shared drive to push boundaries, and we’re excited to support their passion with our technology on the global stage.”

Elias Hountondji, driver and engineer of Red Bull Driftbrothers, said, “We are very excited about the partnership with Westlake Performance Tyres and ZC Rubber. Tyres are crucial for our sport. They have to withstand extreme abuse while providing a consistently high level of grip right to the end. The Westlake Sport RS is the perfect choice for this. It is extremely stable across the entire temperature range and the entire tread depth. Even with a very low tread pattern, you still have complete confidence as a driver.”

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