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.

Titan International, a major global manufacturer of wheels and tyres for off-highway equipment, has secured expanded production rights for the Goodyear brand across multiple segments while renewing its existing farm tyre licensing agreement.

The deal extends Titan’s Goodyear brand manufacturing rights to include light construction, industrial, all-terrain vehicle (ATV), lawn and garden and golf tyre categories, significantly broadening the company's market reach.

The Illinois-based firm will continue to produce agricultural tyres under the Goodyear Farm Tyres brand, maintaining its presence in a sector where it manufactures products ranging from small implement tyres to the massive Goodyear Optitrac LSW1400/30R46, which features the company's proprietary Low Sidewall Technology.

"We are excited to expand our rights into new segments, as this positions us to serve our customers better and seize emerging market opportunities. Our research and product development teams are already working on new tyre designs incorporating innovative tyre technologies for the lawn and garden segment," said Paul Reitz, President & CEO of Titan International, Inc. "In addition to our newly acquired rights, we are reaffirming our commitment to the farm tyres segment, a vital part of our business."

Industry analysts note the expansion comes as demand for specialised off-highway tyres remains robust across construction, agriculture and recreational sectors despite broader economic headwinds.

Strategic growth initiative

The licensing expansion aligns with Titan's strategy to offer comprehensive wheel and tyre solutions across forestry, powersports, outdoor power equipment, agricultural, earthmoving, and light construction markets throughout the Americas, Europe, Africa and Oceania.

The company did not disclose the financial terms of the licensing agreement with Goodyear.

Titan International has manufactured Goodyear-branded farm tyres since 2005, when it acquired Goodyear's North American farm tyre business. It has gradually expanded these rights to other regions, including Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Russia, and Australia.

Targets International Expansion With Robust Fy25 Performance

CEAT Ltd, the RPG Group’s flagship tyre company, reported a capital outlay of INR 9–10 billion  for FY2025–26, keeping with its capacity expansion strategy and global integration. This follows a strong FY25 performance of record revenues and double-digit growth across segments despite headwinds in overseas markets.

The business ended FY25 with consolidated revenue of INR 132.18 billion, up 10.6 percent year on year, and Q4 revenue at INR34.21 billion, up 14.3 percent compared to the corresponding quarter previous year. The standalone full-year EBITDA was INR 15 billion, and the Q4 operating margins improved by more than 100 basis points sequentially at 11.5 percent.

"We incurred capex of INR 9.46 billion in FY25 and expect a similar investment of INR 9–1.0 billion in FY26," said Kumar Subbiah, Chief Financial Officer of CEAT. “Our focus will remain on expanding capacities, particularly at the Ambarnath and Chennai facilities, and funding the integration of the recently acquired Camso compact construction business.”

In FY25, CEAT depreciated assets amounting to INR11.40 billion. Much of its FY26 capex will also fund equipment modernisation and normal maintenance at its Sri Lankan operations under Camso, putting a cost estimate of INR1-1.25 billion a year over the next two years.

The Camso acquisition, which is effective from Q2 FY26, is likely to significantly enhance CEAT's global presence. "Integration work has started in full acceleration," said Arnab Banerjee, Managing Director and CEO. “Initial focus will be on customer retention and business continuity, with consolidation expected to double Camso’s current capacity utilisation over the medium term.”

Despite international uncertainties, CEAT renewed its medium-term global growth forecast. Exports are expected to form 25–26 percent of the revenue post-Camso integration. Turbulence still exists in Latin America and North America due to tariff policies and exchange rate weakness. CEAT, however, has reported consistent performance in Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.

CEAT also indicated a likely raw material cost stabilisation in Q1 FY26, potentially softening by Q2, to support its margin growth initiatives. The gross margin was 37.5 percent in Q4 FY25, and the target was above 40 percent in the near term.

Banerjee signaled ongoing activity in electrification, premiumisation, and digitalisation. "With our technology outlays and new product introductions, we are hopeful of sustaining 20–25 percent market share in electric vehicle segments," he asserted.

The debt levels of the company are under control. The gross debt as of 31 March 2025 was INR 19.28 billion with a debt-to-EBITDA ratio of 1.3x and debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44x. Subbiah added that CEAT's strong cash generation will allow it to finance both organic and inorganic growth without materially diluting leverage metrics.

Black Swan Graphene Inc. (Black Swan) has appointed Jobin George as Technical Sales Manager for the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region with immediate effect. This significant move, which supports Black Swan's worldwide commercial team as it promotes adoption of its graphene-enhanced products, follows Dan Roadcap’s appointment as Head of Technical Sales and Business Development.

George has an MBA from ICFAI University in India, a Post Graduate Diploma from the Central Institute of Petrochemical Engineering and Technology in India and a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Mahatma Gandhi University, India. He brings with him more than 20 years of global expertise in project management, business development and technical sales. George has had positions at Sands International Plastics and Sojitz Corporation in the United Arab Emirates, as well as Aquapak Polymers and H-Pack Global Ltd.

Simon Marcotte, President and Chief Executive Officer, Black Swan Graphene, said, “The addition of Jobin to our commercial team marks another important milestone in our global expansion strategy. His international experience, particularly in the EMEA region, and his proven ability to translate technical capability into commercial success make him an ideal fit as we continue scaling our graphene business.”

George said, “Black Swan is positioned at the forefront of advanced materials innovation. The opportunity to contribute to the adoption of such a transformative technology across the EMEA region is tremendously exciting. I look forward to engaging with our existing customers and partners, along with exploring opportunities for new clients as well, to showcase the performance and value of Black Swan’s graphene solutions.”

The Tire Recycling Foundation (TRF), a joint initiative led by the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) and the Tire Industry Association (TIA), has appointed Stephanie Mull as its Executive Director.

Mull will spearhead the organisation's initiatives to promote innovation and invest in the circular tyre economy, expand the market for end-of-life tyres and support studies to fill in the gaps in the sustainability and tyre recycling supply chain in her new role at TRF. Mull brings a wealth of experience in the sustainability field and a broad understanding of fleet management and decarbonisation, including converting fleets to electric and alternative fuel vehicles. In her role as PepsiCo's Sustainability Senior Manager, she oversaw major electrification projects, obtained grant money and spearheaded efforts to lower Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions throughout Pepsi and Frito-Lay's North American fleets. Mull oversaw the local government's efforts to upgrade municipal vehicles to greener technology and volunteered to help the Red Cross electrify its fleet.

Anne Forristall Luke, TRF Board President, said, “Stephanie Mull brings the passion, in-depth expertise and history of excellence that will drive TRF and its partners to achieve critical tyre recycling and reclamation milestones. We are thrilled to have her join the Foundation as we advance tyre sustainability while tackling the challenges and opportunities ahead.”

Mull said, “I’m honoured to join the Tire Recycling Foundation and support its sustainability mission to achieve 100 percent end-of-life tyre circularity. TRF is a vital nexus of expertise and leadership, and I look forward to working with all stakeholders in developing tyre recycling solutions that pave the way for a more sustainable future.” 

The Tire Recycling Foundation is dedicated to achieving 100 percent circularity for end-of-life tires by advancing innovation, building partnerships and supporting scalable recycling and reclamation solutions. Consisting of 15 global industry leaders with expertise in the manufacturing, recycling and transportation industries, TRF’s Board primarily focuses on the acceleration and adoption of emerging end-of-life tyre market technologies like rubber-modified asphalt (RMA).