Yokohama Rubber Posts Record Profits

Yokohama Rubber Posts Record Profits

Yokohama Rubber posted record-high business and financial results for the first nine months of fiscal 2024, driven by substantial revenue and profitability growth across its key business segments.

The company reported a 13.1 percent increase in sales revenue from the same period last year, reaching USD 5022 million. Business profit rose 69.6 percent to USD 535 million, operating profit increased 63.8 percent to USD 551 million, and profit attributable to the parent company’s owners climbed 36.5 percent to USD 390 million.

The Group’s business profit margin also reached 10.7 percent, its highest level ever for this time frame.

Yokohama Rubber attributed this robust growth to efforts to expand sales volume, implement product price increases and optimise the product mix. A full-year contribution from Y-TWS and the positive impact of yen depreciation further supported the performance.

Segment Results

Tyre Business: Sales in the tyre segment reached USD 4498 million, a significant increase from USD 3931 million in the same period last year. Business profit for the segment surged to USD 505 million, up from USD 287 million. Growth was driven by higher sales volume, favourable product mix and effective price increases in response to raw material costs.

Yokohama Off-Highway Tires (YOHT: YOHT recorded sales of USD 684 million, up from USD 632 million in 2023, while business profit rose to USD 81.45 million, compared to USD 76.3 million the previous year. The segment benefited from strong demand in the agricultural and industrial tyre markets, particularly in overseas markets.

Yokohama Tire & Wheel Solutions (Y-TWS): Sales in Y-TWS totaled USD 737 million, a substantial increase from USD 432 million in 2023. Business profit came in at USD 46.81 million, reversing a loss of USD 7.05 in the prior year. The improvement reflects strong sales of speciality tyres and positive impacts from structural changes and efficiency improvements.

Yokohama Rubber’s CEO emphasised the company’s ongoing focus on strategic growth initiatives, including high-margin products and global market expansion. The results underscore Yokohama Rubber’s resilience and adaptability in a challenging economic environment.

Citira Bolsters Western Sweden Network With Gummiverkstan i Torsby Acquisition

Citira Bolsters Western Sweden Network With Gummiverkstan i Torsby Acquisition

Citira, a Sweden-based company specialising in circular tyre management, has announced the acquisition of Gummiverkstan i Torsby, a well-established service point located in west-central Sweden. The transaction strategically bolsters Citira’s presence along the vital E45 and E16 transport corridors through the Värmland region, adding a key facility to its growing network.

Under the leadership of Karl-Johan Axelsson, Gummiverkstan has built a solid reputation over the years for reliably servicing both heavy vehicles and passenger cars within the Torsby area. The business experienced consistent growth, driven by a steadfast commitment to its loyal local clientele and a focus on dedicated automotive care.

As part of the agreement, Gummiverkstan will maintain its current operations, retaining all staff and continuing at its existing premises while gaining access to Citira’s broader resources to facilitate further expansion. Axelsson will transition into a new role as a co-owner of Citira, ensuring continuity and strategic alignment for the future.

Urban Tibbelin, Head of Sweden at Citira, said, "Gummiverkstan i Torsby is an important addition to our presence in Värmland. Karl-Johan and his team have earned a standing in Torsby that only comes from doing the job well, year after year, and that local trust is exactly the foundation we want to build on. We're glad to have them with us.”

Axelsson said, "It has been a privilege to look after Torsby's vehicles for as long as I have, and joining Citira means me and my team get to keep doing exactly that. With the addition of their backing to serve our customers well for many years to come, I'm confident we will only get better as part of the group.”

Webfleet Earns Three Industry Awards Across Italy And Poland

Webfleet Earns Three Industry Awards Across Italy And Poland

Webfleet, the fleet management division of Bridgestone, has secured three industry accolades in Italy and Poland, underscoring its advancements in artificial intelligence and road safety technology. The recognition highlights the company’s growing influence across European transportation sectors.

During the sixth IoMobility Awards 2026 in Italy, held alongside the Next Mobility Exhibition and Transpotec Logitec, Webfleet placed among the top three in the Fleet Management Software & Services category. An additional AI NOW Award was bestowed by Digital Voice for the firm’s application of artificial intelligence within logistics. Industry judges praised the organisation as a European frontrunner in digital fleet transformation, citing its integration of innovation with environmental accountability.

In Poland, Webfleet Video clinched the Technologies Enhancing Road Safety category at Fleet Derby 2026, marking its third victory in that segment and extending a six-year streak of awards for the brand. This nationwide online poll sees fleet professionals vote for leading sector solutions. The winning system utilises connected cameras and AI to identify imminent driving hazards, delivering real-time alerts to drivers while providing operators with critical data to promote safer fleet operations.

Jan Maarten de Vries, President – Fleet Management Solutions, Bridgestone, said, “These awards demonstrate how connected data and AI empower fleet managers and drivers to operate more safely and make better decisions every day. Recognition in Italy and Poland reflects the strength of our teams and underlines Webfleet’s commitment to acting as a trusted advisor to fleets, making complex technology easy to use, and enabling fleets to take informed decisions for safer, more efficient and sustainable operations across Europe.”

Hankook Tire Earns Gold At A' Design Award 2026 For Upcycling Innovation

Hankook Tire Earns Gold At A' Design Award 2026 For Upcycling Innovation

Hankook Tire has secured the Gold Award at the ‘A' Design Award & Competition’ 2026, one of the world's most recognised international design contests. The competition draws tens of thousands of submissions annually from over 100 countries across categories such as product design, architecture, fashion and graphic design. Hankook's entry, the Bladder Upcycling Series, earned a place in the top three percent of all participants, a distinction reserved exclusively for Gold Award recipients.

The winning collection is part of Hankook Tire's flagship ESG upcycling initiative, re:move, which repurposes bladders – inflatable moulds used during tyre curing – into valuable new resources through creative upcycling methods. By collaborating with partners across diverse industries, the project explores novel pathways for resource circulation while deepening expertise in material science and sustainable design.

Developed in partnership with Seoul National University's DISCO Lab (Design Innovation for Sustainable Circularity Lab), the Bladder Upcycling Series includes 3D-printed furniture that emphasises the bladder's distinctive layered texture, upcycled bricks that employ recycled tyre moulds to produce dynamic kinetic wall installations and handcrafted keyrings designed as lifestyle accessories. The collection debuted at the Seoul Design Festival 2025 and has drawn considerable praise from judges for its inventive approach to circular design and resource conservation.

This marks Hankook Tire's first-ever entry into the A' Design Award, resulting in a Gold Award on its initial attempt. The winning works will be permanently housed at the Museo del Design in Como, Italy. The re:move project has previously earned a Red Dot Design Award 2024 in Singapore and a 2025 Green GOOD DESIGN Sustainability Award in United States. Looking ahead, Hankook Tire intends to broaden its reuse and recycling efforts for various unused materials, reinforcing its position as a global brand shaping the future of mobility.

Continental Unveils Next-Gen ContiTread HDL 5 EP Retread For Long-Haul Fleets

Continental Unveils Next-Gen ContiTread HDL 5 EP Retread For Long-Haul Fleets

Continental has expanded its ContiTread product line by introducing the HDL 5 EP, a new long-haul drive retread engineered to meet the rigorous demands of modern fleet operations. This next-generation offering is designed to deliver consistent performance while simultaneously improving fuel economy and reducing the overall cost per kilometre for commercial carriers.

The retread incorporates a five-rib tread architecture that ensures reliable traction across extended highway routes. Its specially optimised contact patch, working in conjunction with V-shaped grooves, promotes uniform rubber wear, thereby prolonging the service life of the tread and enhancing the return on investment for each retreading cycle. The tyre is currently produced in sizes 220, 230 and 240, all featuring a uniform tread depth of 21/32.

By focusing on increased durability and operational uptime, Continental positions the HDL 5 EP as a sustainable and intelligent choice within its broader ContiTread portfolio. The tyre aims to provide a practical solution for fleets seeking to balance high performance with long-term efficiency in challenging over-the-road environments.