All roads led to Delhi-NCR as automakers, component suppliers and allied ecosystem players showcased their mettle and contributed to the success of the world’s second-largest automotive show – Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025.

The six-day megaevent beginning 17 January 2025, spread across three venues had focus on nine key aspects of mobility. This included The Auto Expo Motor Show 2025, India International Tyre Show 2025, India Cycle Show 2025, Bharat Battery Show, Steel Pavillion and Mobility Tech Pavillion at Bharat Mandapam, new Delhi. The Auto Components Show 2025 at Yashobhoomi, Dwarka, New Delhi; Bharat Construction Equipment Expo and Urban Mobility & Infrastructure Show at India Expo Centre & Mart, Greater Nodia, respectively. The Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025 had plenty of insights and updates for everyone.

In its second year, the Bharat Mobility Show 2025 was on the theme of ‘Beyond Boundaries: Co-creating Future Automotive Value Chain’. The idea was to foster collaboration and innovation across the automotive and mobility sector. For long, the Indian automotive market has been seen as a global trend follower, but now with the focus on manufacturing, technology and software-era, the country is becoming a globally major driving force.

The event spread across 100,000 square metres is said to have attracted around 983,522 visitors in the course of six days. It also hosted over 800 exhibitors, more than 500 delegates and conducted 20-plus conference with over 2,500 delegates in the span of six days. Interestingly, exhibitors had a total of 239 launches across all the concurrent shows, which is amongst the highest-ever recorded in India or probably the world.

What’s interesting to note is that, unlike most automotive global shows, the focus on different mobility ecosystem meant that exhibitors and visitors alike could have much more fruitful interactions, discussions thus leading to significant business opportunities.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who inaugurated the Expo on 17 January 2025, had said, “The entire mobility industry, the whole government and the whole nation have come together for this expo. Driven by the aspirations of the people and energy of the youth, India’s automobile sector is witnessing an unprecedented transformation.”

One of the key industries that has been working exhaustively behind the scenes to support the future of mobility is the tyre segment, as their products are the only point of contact between a vehicle and the road. And with the focus on sustainability at the forefront, tyre makers and allied players are increasingly stepping up their game to support the future of mobility.

INTERNATIONAL TYRE SHOW 2025

The Indian tyre industry is pegged at more than USD 11 billion (2022-23) with exports of around USD 2.9 billion (2022-23). The country is home to more than 28 tyre makers operating 62 plants, showcasing the robust domestic demand and also the manufacturing prowess.

It was no surprise that a dedicated event was planned, where more than 30 companies across tyre makers and suppliers presented their solutions and services to showcase their latest offerings. Some of the companies present at the event include Amazon Web Services India, Apollo Tyres, Automotive Tyre Manufacturers’ Association, Bansal Wire Industries, Bridgestone India, Ceat, Eco Crumbs & Reclaim, Emerald Tyre Manufacturers, Epsilon Carbon, Fabhind, Fornnax Technology, GoGreen Enterprises, Goodyear, GRP, Himadri Speciality Chemical, INDAG Rubber, Indo Green Enviro, IRMI, JK Tyre & Industries, L&T Rubber Processing Machinerv, Madura Industrial Textiles, Michelin India, MRF, Neo Wheels, Parker Lord, Rajratan Global Wire, Ralson (India), Rubber Board, Rubber King Pvt Tyres, Sai Commodities, Sanathana Analytics and Recruitment Services, SRF, Tata Chemicals, Test Industry, Triton Valves and Tyreloop Intermesh.

For tyre makers, besides displaying their popular products, a key focus was seen on showcasing their innovation to support the electrification trend in the country. In addition to using sustainable materials, electric vehicle (EV) tyres with foam-in tyre technology, which absorbs noise, was a key highlight at the event. On the other hand, the focus was on introduction of premium tyres; for instance, Apollo Tyres showcased the Vredestein tyre, which was being localised and supplied to a premium car maker in India.

Bridgestone India on its part showcased the ENLITEN technology-based tyres, which the company claims offer the ‘ultimate customisation’ that provides enhanced ride comfort, lower noise, superior wear life and improved fuel efficiency. The tyres are designed for both IC-vehicles, EVs and can support a variety of formfactors such as SUVs, CUVs, sedans and hatchbacks. The ENLITEN technology is claimed to reduce raw material consumption and lower carbon emissions at both production and usage.

RPG Group-owned Ceat showcased its all-terrain tyres, the CrossDrive range, EnergyRide built for electric scooters, Winload Series – premium tyres for truck and tyres for the farm, mining and off-road segment. JK Tyre & Industries launched two new tubeless truck & bus tyres, JDL XM & JUM XM, in the truck category.

Ralson Tyres took the opportunity to announce its entry in the Indian commercial vehicle segment with the introduction of its globally proven technology. It was in 2023 that the company inaugurated its Indore facility to mark its foray in the commercial vehicle tyre segment. The 60,000 MTPA plant is almost running at full capacity and serves the North America, Europe, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East market.

The event provided an opportunity not only for tyre manufacturers to introduce new products but also for key suppliers and partners to showcase their latest technologies. Michelin displayed its wide range of tyres from Lunar tyres and concept tyres to tyres made of recycled materials and high-performance commercial tyres.

Indag Rubber, a leading supplier of pre-cured tread rubber (PTR) solutions, introduced Win Master, which it claims is a revolutionary PTR brand that enables one of the highest 100,000-km mileage on radial tyres. This high on sustainability solution, it believes, will reduce operational costs and provide exceptional value to fleet owners.

Epsilon Carbon, a leading supplier of carbon black, launched Terrablack, its new product line, which is said to support tyre makers drive towards sustainability.

The company shared that Terrablack used recovered Carbon Black (rCB) and Tyre Derived Oil (TDO), which offers high-performance, eco-friendly solutions to meet the needs of both the tyre and non-tyre industries. It is said to have been extensively tested for 24 months. The Terrablack portfolio includes Terrablack 3310, engineered for heavy-duty applications like tyre treads, which provides superior wear resistance and durability, whereas Terrablack 6615 was designed for flexibility and resilience, ideal for tyre sidewalls, hoses, belts and sealing systems.

The company also announced its plans to establish a fully integrated tyre recycling plant in Karnataka, which is expected to go live by FY2026. This facility will recycle 30,000 tonnes of tyres annually and generate 9,500 tonnes of recovered carbon black and 12,000 tonnes of tyre-derived oil.

AUTO SHOW 2025

One of the most prominent highlights of the Bharat Mobility Auto Show 2025 was the Auto Expo, where legacy and new-age automakers wanted to showcase not only their newest offerings but also their global range and their imagination of what the future vehicles would look like.

It is interesting to note that a total of 90 vehicles were launched at The Auto Expo Motor Show 2025. A vast majority of them being electric and in some cases flex fuel and other alternative powertrains.

In the passenger vehicle segment, Maruti Suzuki India, the country’s largest carmaker, formally marked its entry in the EV segment with the e Vitara – a pure electric SUV with a claimed range of up to 500 km. Hyundai Motor India too introduced the Creta Electric SUV, its first EV offering on its most popular product in the country. VinFast, the Vietnam-headquartered auto maker, showcased its global product offerings across passenger vehicle and two-wheeler segment, which are expected to be introduced soon in the country.

The luxury segment saw the introduction of the BMW X1 Long Wheelbase All Electric; Mercedes EQS Maybach SUV 680 ‘Night Series’ and Maybach GLS 600; JSW MG Motor India unveiled its premium affordable brand ‘MG Select’ and the first of its two offerings, the MG Cyberster and MG M9. Porsche India unveiled two groundbreaking EVs, the all-new Macan SUV and the updated Taycan sports saloon.

Tata Motors launched the new Tata Sierra, while Kia brought the new EV6. Skoda Auto India showcased its global portfolio along with concept vehicles. Other key highlights included the Suzuki Motor India’s Access electric scooter, Gixxer SF 250 Flex Fuel; Hero MotoCorp’s Xtreme 250R & Xpulse 210 motorcycles and Xoom 125, Xoom 160 scooters and Vida V2 e-scooter; Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India revealed the prices of the Activa e: and the QC1 e-scooters and Vayve Mobility showcased Eva, a solar panel integrated micro car for urban commute.

In the commercial vehicle space, Tata Motors, VE Commercial Vehicles, Eka Mobility, Ashok Leyland, Switch Mobility, Cummins India, SML Isuzu, JBM Auto, TI Clean Mobility, Omega Seiki Mobility and Olectra Greentech showcased their product offerings across ICE and EV offerings.

COMPONENTS SHOW 2025

Right over at the recently opened Yashobhoomi, the Auto Components Show 2025 was home to over 1,000 exhibitors showcasing their products and solutions for supporting the automakers in their quest for sustainability.

Spread across 70,000 square metres, it attracted almost 100,000 visitors with 60 new product launches, interactive forums and engaging activities. Component makers across tier-1, tier-2, tier-3 and ancillary industries took the opportunity to not only showcase products for IC-vehicles and EVs but also presented live demonstrations for manufacturing and shopfloor activities.

This state-of-the-art exhibit featured transformative solutions shaping the future of transportation, from contributors like Bosch, HCLTech, Tata Elxsi, KPIT, QuestGlobal, and Capgemini, alongside other startups and mobility service providers.

The component makers proved their mettle by showcasing not just made-in-India but also designed-in-India products. Some of the key exhibition included DGMS-compliant safety technologies by Novus Hi-Tech to revolutionary Paint Protection Films by ALP Group, advanced EV solutions by BorgWarner and ParaSafe’s Jacket and Jeans designed specifically for motorcyclists, delivery personnel and high-risk users, representing a transformative leap in personal safety and mobility.

To conclude, the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025 offered a comprehensive glimpse into the future of mobility, from software-driven innovations to sustainable manufacturing practices. With its broad focus on passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, tyres and components, the event underscored India’s emergence as a global leader in the automotive sector.

As India continues to champion sustainability, technology and localisation, Bharat Mobility Global Expo is slated to play a pivotal role in shaping the global automotive landscape.

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Dow Inc. said its chief executive Jim Fitterling will become executive chair of the board from 1 July , 2026, with chief operating officer Karen S Carter appointed as chief executive.

Carter will also join the board on the same date, while Richard Davis will continue as independent lead director.

The company said the changes follow a multi-year succession planning process and are intended to ensure continuity as it advances its strategy as a materials science group.

“On behalf of the Board, I want to thank Jim for his exceptional leadership and continued contributions to Dow,” Davis said. “Jim has led the company through a period of significant transformation while strengthening Dow's strategy, culture and long-term positioning. We are equally pleased to congratulate Karen on her appointment as CEO. She is a disciplined, highly respected leader with a deep understanding of Dow's businesses and customers. This appointment reflects our confidence in her ability to lead Dow forward into its next chapter of growth and value creation for customers, employees and shareholders.”

Fitterling, who has been chief executive since 2018 and chair since 2020, oversaw the company’s separation from DowDuPont and led its repositioning towards higher-growth, consumer-led markets. He also guided the group through broader macroeconomic and geopolitical challenges, while advancing its sustainability ambitions and corporate culture.

“Serving as CEO of Dow has been the privilege of a lifetime,” Fitterling said. “Together with our employees and leadership team, we have transformed Dow into a stronger, more focused company with the right strategy, capabilities and culture for the future. I look forward to continuing to support Dow as Executive Chair and working closely with Karen to help ensure continuity and strong execution.”

As executive chair, Fitterling will continue to lead the board, focusing on long-term strategy, governance and external relationships.

Carter, who has spent more than three decades at Dow, currently oversees business and operational performance across the company as chief operating officer. She previously led the packaging and specialty plastics division, the group’s largest operating segment, where she focused on capacity expansion, asset upgrades and operational reliability, alongside efforts linked to circular economy initiatives.

“I am deeply honored to assume the role of CEO and lead Dow into our next chapter,” Carter said. “Dow has extraordinary people, world-class assets and leading positions in the markets we serve. Our focus remains unwavering: delivering reliable and innovative solutions for our customers, and long-term value for our employees and our shareholders, while accelerating our transformation to set a new competitive standard for best-in-class performance. I look forward to continuing my partnership with Jim in his new role as Executive Chair, and to working with the Board and all of Team Dow to advance our strategy and deliver on our priorities.”

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Nokian Tyres plc is expanding its partnership with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) to strengthen IT operations and support ongoing transformation.

The companies will focus their expanded partnership on maintaining and developing IT applications to meet Nokian Tyres’ future needs and to increase the efficiency of its IT operations.

TCS has already handled Nokian Tyres’ service desk support, end-user services like device deliveries, and network and data centre operations. Starting June 1, 2026, TCS will also take over maintenance and development of IT applications, as well as on-site support for internal processes.

This change is part of a larger restructuring of Nokian Tyres’ IT organisation to keep up with changing business needs.

“A more extensive partnership with TCS will enable Nokian Tyres to have a globally unified, agile, and efficient operating model that supports business needs. In addition, it creates a sustainable foundation for the increasing adoption of next-generation technologies such as automation, data-driven solutions and artificial intelligence,” said Timmy McLellan, vice-president, IT and processes, and chief information officer at Nokian Tyres.

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JK Tyre & Industries, one of the leading tyre manufacturers in the country, has appointed Mandar V Deo as President – India, effective immediately.

Based in Delhi, Deo will report to the Chairman and Managing Director, Dr Raghupati Singhania, and the Managing Director, Anshuman Singhania. He joins the tyre manufacturer with more than two decades of experience in senior leadership positions, having previously served at Exide Energy Solutions, Cummins India and Cummins Inc.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Pune University, alongside a Master’s degree and a PhD from Pennsylvania State University. He also holds an MBA from the Kelly School of Business at Indiana University.

Deo’s appointment comes as JK Tyre continues to expand its global footprint, which currently spans 105 countries and includes 11 manufacturing facilities in India and Mexico with an annual production capacity of 35 million tyres.

The company maintains a focus on technical innovation through its Raghupati Singhania Centre of Excellence in Mysore and was the first in India to introduce 'Smart Tyre' technology featuring integrated Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS). Additionally, JK Tyre has committed to the global RE100 initiative, aiming to transition to 100% renewable electricity by 2050.

Dr Raghupati Singhania, Chairman & Managing Director, JK Tyre, said, “I am confident that Mr. Deo will provide strong and adept leadership and steer JK Tyre on a new growth trajectory.”

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The research and development team of any tyre maker decides whether the final product will be a success or a failure. And it is prudent to say that a lot of research hours and developmental cash go into making one of the most critical components of the automobile sector. In an exclusive tete-a-tete with Tyre Trends, Vice President and Global Head of Research and Development at Omni United, Olli Seppala, shares insights into the demanding and complex world of tyre research illuminating how markets and other factors dictate team operations.

“Omni United has an experienced team and we understand the needs of different markets very well. We constantly track trends in each region because legislation and approval requirements change all the time. In Europe, for instance, there are evolving regulations and strong influence from testing. In United States, the market is also changing very quickly as it is no longer only about mileage and comfort. Performance has become equally important,” he stated.

The company sells extensively in North America and Europe as well as in countries like South Africa, Australia and several markets across Asia.

However, every market doesn’t necessarily have similar demands, and the onus falls on the research and development team to derive market-ready products.

“Every market is equally demanding in different ways. Europe requires extremely high-performance levels, but customers are also willing to pay for that performance. In Asian markets, however, you still need a certain level of performance, but you must also keep prices under control. That creates additional pressure on the research and development side,” noted Seppala.

In the tyre industry, research and development quietly determines whether a product succeeds or disappears from the market. Behind every tyre lies years of testing, complex material science and constant adaptation to changing global demands. In an exclusive interaction with Tyre Trends, Vice President and Global Head of Research and Development at Omni United, Olli Seppala, explains how the company’s development teams navigate shifting regulations, regional market expectations and sustainability pressures while striving to deliver premium performance tyres at accessible prices across diverse international markets.

He added that European developers sometimes struggle when developing tyres for US or Asian markets because they may still carry the old perception that the US market is only about comfort and mileage.

Currently, the US market is now strongly performance-oriented. Tyre makers must understand specific requirements such as wet grip, correct handling balance, rubber compound characteristics and special durability properties like resistance to cuts and chips.

Asian markets are also highly complex. Conditions can vary dramatically by region. For example, southern China is very different from northern China, so specialised approaches are necessary.

The Japanese market is another example, said Seppala, as Japanese winter tyres are a category of their own and one really has to understand the specific expectations there. In addition, tyres must be durable and resistant to environmental factors such as ozone and pollutants.

WORKING THE WORKS

“When we talk about all-season tyres with the snowflake symbol, European all-season or North American all-weather tyres pose a significant challenge,” noted Seppala.

“Such tyres must balance strong wet grip, stable dry handling in high temperatures and reliable performance in snow and cold conditions. The main challenge is developing a rubber compound that remains flexible in freezing temperatures while maintaining handling stability at around 30 degrees Celsius,” he added.

On the other hand, working with different manufacturing partners also raises certain concerns, which the executive describes as ‘complex situation’. “The process is complex and involves several challenges. When developing a new product, we carry out the design work internally including building the construction and conducting in-house testing. Most of the development work is completed within the company before moving forward to the production stage. However, the advantages generally outweigh the challenges,” noted Seppala.

The company develops its own tyre compounds in-house and is now entering a deeper phase of rubber compounding through a new materials development initiative focused specifically on compounding.

“The goal is to deliver premium tyre performance at accessible prices. Key research and development priorities include improving wet grip, increasing mileage and reducing rolling resistance to balance the tyre industry’s ‘magic triangle’. Sustainability is also becoming essential with growing work on recycled and bio-based materials. Currently, development efforts are focused mainly on passenger car and 4x4 tyres, although we also produce truck and commercial tyres,” he added.

Nonetheless, he noted that shorter development timelines are an everyday challenge for research and developmental teams. While Omni United already has one of the shortest development cycles in the industry, efforts are ongoing to make the process even faster.

However, Seppala averred that the approach depends on the situation. Completely new concepts can be developed quickly, but when replacing a product at the end of its lifecycle, it is often better to allow more time for testing and gradual improvements. In such cases, the focus is not just speed but improving the overall efficiency of the development process.

TECHNOLOGICAL ADVENT

Seppala noted that digital tools and artificial intelligence (AI) are expected to play a very significant role in tyre research and development, particularly in construction design and compound development.

Machine learning can help improve compound recipes by analysing large datasets generated from continuous testing. Using non-linear analysis and specialised software, the company processes accumulated testing data to refine and optimise compound formulations over time.

Seppala also noted that tyre development today must address broader environmental challenges, including noise pollution. With electric vehicles becoming quieter, tyre noise is becoming more noticeable.

At the same time, regulations such as Euro 7 are increasing attention on particle emissions. He explained that noise is an important factor in tyre design. While the European tyre label mainly measures external pass-by noise, the company also focuses on reducing noise inside the cabin to improve driver and passenger comfort, alongside minimising environmental noise pollution.

Over the next three years, one of the main priorities of the company will be taking materials development to the next level, making it a major focus for the research and development team.

Another key area will be expanding the company’s testing operations. While he did not disclose detailed strategic plans, he noted that testing capabilities will increase significantly, covering outdoor track testing, indoor tyre testing and laboratory testing of materials. All three areas will play an important role in future development.

Alluding to the areas pertaining to tyre performance that the company plans to focus on in the future, he said, “Tyre performance involves many factors, making it difficult to rank them strictly, but improving safety will remain a key focus in the coming years. While current products already perform at a high level, we aim to further enhance safety performance.”

Seppala also highlighted ongoing work on replacing 6PPD, noting that progress has been promising. The goal is to become the best-performing tyre brand in ozone resistance, addressing ozone cracking issues seen in many manufacturers globally, while developing a solution that is both sustainable and effective.

Commenting on key trends that will influence the company’s future, Seppala said, “Three major trends will shape the company’s research and development work going forward. First, market expectations in Europe and US are gradually converging. The US market is placing greater emphasis on safety and wet grip, while Europe is increasingly focusing on abrasion resistance and tyre mileage, creating pressure to improve durability. Secondly, sustainability will remain a constant industry priority. Thirdly, the key challenge will be developing tyres with advanced materials that deliver premium performance while keeping prices accessible for customers.”

For Omni United, the future of tyre development lies in balancing performance, durability and affordability amid tightening regulations and sustainability demands. As markets converge and technologies like AI reshape research and development, the company’s challenge will be clear as it harnesses advanced materials and faster development cycles to deliver safer, longer-lasting tyres without compromising accessibility.

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