Yokohama Rubber Co. (YRC), one of the leading tyre manufacturers in the world, is shutting down its Hadera factory in Israel, effective 31 December, 2024.

The company says over the past several years, tyre makers have been setting up their manufacturing facilities in South Asia, which provided local raw materials sourcing as well as competitive labour costs. This has led to Israel loosing its competitive advantage, along with the high transport costs on busy routes for exporting tyres from Israel.

Then there is also the environmental and structural shift in the tyre manufacturing industry, wherein YRC is focussing on attaining “sustainable profitability to secure its future.”

The Hadera plant is one of the over 30 facilities in YRC's global network. It has been operations for more than 70 years. As of August 2024, the Hadera facility had around 474 employees.

The closure of the facility is part of YRC's consolidation plans to align its production footprint with market conditions. The tyre maker said that the closure of the Israel plant is a difficult but necessary step to ensure the long-term sustainability of YRC.

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Zeon Corporation has announced a strategic investment to expand production capacity for dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) at its GPI plant, located within the Mizushima Plant in Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture. The initiative will raise DCPD output by roughly 20 percent from current levels. DCPD serves as the primary raw material for Cyclo-Olefin Polymers and COP optical film, which are central to the company’s C5 business and its growth trajectory. The new facility will secure a stable DCPD supply without boosting production of piperylene or other commodity chemical materials while also utilising previously unused components to help reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Construction is set to begin in the second half of fiscal 2026, with completion scheduled for September 2028.

The Mizushima Plant, Zeon’s flagship facility, commenced operations in 1969 and is known for the GPI process (Geon Process of Isoprene), the company’s proprietary extractive distillation technology that isolates high-purity active components from C5 fractions in naphtha. Products from this process include isoprene, DCPD, piperylene and 2-butyne, which are used in synthetic rubbers, COP, petroleum resin and synthetic aroma chemicals.

Under the company’s STAGE30 medium-term business plan, Zeon has positioned COP and COP optical film as key growth drivers, anticipating steadily expanding demand. DCPD is also a raw material for other high-profit products such as RIM compounds. To meet rising demand without procuring additional C5 fractions, Zeon developed a technology that enables the use of previously unused feedstock components. This new process is expected to cut CO2 emissions more effectively than conventional extraction methods, supporting carbon neutrality goals.

Through STAGE30, Zeon is restructuring its portfolio via selection and concentration, and this latest investment aims to boost competitiveness while further expanding the C5 business. The company continues to address market needs and societal expectations, striving to contribute to more comfortable living standards worldwide.

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Apollo Tyres Ltd has launched its first Apollo Rural Mobile Store, a new initiative aimed at improving last-mile connectivity and tyre access in rural India. The fully equipped mobile van was flagged off by company Vice President Rajesh Dahiya at a special event.

The customised vehicle travels to villages, allowing customers to explore and purchase tyres without long journeys. Stocked with a curated product range and staffed by trained representatives, the mobile store offers on‑the‑spot guidance on tyre selection, usage and maintenance. The first unit began operating in Pandavapura village, Mandya, Karnataka, with plans to deploy 25 such stores nationwide over the next 18 to 24 months.

The launch event also included a free health check‑up camp organised with the Apollo Tyres Foundation, underscoring the company’s community commitment. By combining convenience with expert support, the mobile store aims to empower rural customers to make informed decisions for safe and efficient vehicle operation.

Rajesh Dahiya, Vice President – Commercial, Apollo Tyres Ltd, said, “This initiative reflects our commitment to bridging access gaps in rural markets. By bringing our products and expertise directly to the customers’ doorstep, we aim to simplify the buying journey and ensure that even the most remote communities have access to the right mobility solutions.”

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Michelin has introduced a universal tyre digital twin, a software-driven innovation that converts real-time in-vehicle data into actionable recommendations for the vehicle or its driver. The system draws on 130 years of tyre physics expertise, combined with advanced mathematical modelling, artificial intelligence and data science algorithms. Its primary goal is to enhance road safety by enabling vehicles to anticipate their own behaviour and improve performance without relying on physical tyre sensors.

This digital twin functions as a dynamic virtual replica of any tyre, regardless of brand. It continuously analyses and predicts tyre conditions including pressure, wear, load, grip and driving environment by comparing them with live vehicle data. Rather than simply feeding information to the driver, the system directly interacts with embedded vehicle systems to optimise performance. It helps prevent aquaplaning, predict maximum grip, boost the effectiveness of ADAS functions such as ABS, monitor tyre pressure and detect overloading, allowing the vehicle to adapt braking distances by several metres and improve stability.

Drivers remain unaware of the system working behind the scenes, yet it delivers tangible benefits on every journey without requiring changes to driving habits. By supplying a continuous stream of reliable data, the digital twin also facilitates predictive maintenance, thereby extending tyre lifespan. Keeping tyres in optimal condition for longer reduces material use and mitigates the environmental impact associated with tyre lifecycles.

The Michelin solution is entirely software-enabled and uses existing in-vehicle data, requiring no additional tyre-mounted sensors. It is compatible with all tyre brands and models and can be fitted to passenger cars, trucks and self-driving shuttles. The digital twin acts as an embedded brain adapted to Software Defined Vehicle architectures, representing over 10 years of research and development secured by multiple patents and validated by millions of kilometres of testing.

With the SDV market valued at USD 213.5 billion in 2024 and projected to reach nearly USD 1,240 billion by 2030, Michelin is positioning itself as a pioneer and key partner for manufacturers transitioning to software-enabled vehicles. Major collaborations with Brembo, Hyundai, QNX, ETAS and Sonatus span fundamental research to industrial-scale integration. A recent partnership with Brembo demonstrated tangible benefits: integrating real-time tyre data into braking algorithms improved ABS performance, shortening braking distances by up to four metres and enhancing stability during hard braking.

Through its embedded digital twin, Michelin turns tyres into an invaluable data source to shape tomorrow’s mobility from within the vehicle’s data ecosystem. This breakthrough reinforces the Group’s longstanding commitment to road safety and is set to make Michelin a market leader in tyre digital twins, supporting the continuous enhancement of vehicle performance, features and user experience throughout the vehicle’s lifetime.

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Kumho Tire USA has introduced the all-new Road Venture HT, an advanced all-season highway-terrain tyre designed for light trucks and SUVs. Engineered with innovative technology, this latest offering caters to drivers seeking dependable everyday performance. The tyre provides enhanced wet and snow traction, extended tread life, a smooth and quiet ride and is also compatible with electric vehicles.

Developed as a next-generation all-season product, the Road Venture HT features an optimised structural design and a new polymer compound with High Dispersible Micro Silica to boost wear resistance. This results in a 10 percent improvement in tread life over its predecessor. Additional technologies including 3D chamfers, integrated tie-bar noise reduction and reinforced polyester body plies help ensure a quiet ride, improved sidewall stiffness and better cornering stability.

For wet-road confidence, the tyre incorporates a high-grip resin and four wide circumferential grooves to evacuate water efficiently. Wider lateral shoulder grooves, multi-angle sipes and independent tread blocks with enhanced biting edges deliver superior traction and stability. A zigzag tread design and waved 3D interlocking sipes provide strong snow traction, earning the tyre Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake certification. This sets a new benchmark as most all-season tyres lack true winter rating, making the Road Venture HT a uniquely versatile all-weather solution.

Kumho Tire USA conducted independent third-party testing against leading competitors, with results showing the Road Venture HT outperformed rivals in ride comfort, wet handling and dry and wet braking. Available starting in June in over 40 sizes from 15 to 22 inches, the tyre comes with a 75,000-mile (approximately 120,700 km) limited treadwear warranty for P-metric sizes and 50,000 miles (approximately 80,467 km) for LT-metric sizes. A road hazard warranty and a 30-day satisfaction guarantee are also included.

Shawn Denlein, President – Sales and Marketing, Kumho Tire U.S.A., said, "With significant enhancements in structure, design and materials, the Road Venture HT delivers exceptional performance, durability and comfort so light truck and SUV vehicle owners can drive with confidence year-round. The HT is another example of KUMHO's commitment to performance without compromise, delivering premium-level products at a price point that offers outstanding value."

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