Mumbai-based Balkrishna Industries (BKT), a major player in the global Off-Highway Tyre (OHT) market, is making a significant move to expand its footprint in the on-road vehicle tyre segment with the inauguration of a new ‘Vehicle Dynamics & Testing’ (VD&T) base at the National Automotive Test Tracks (NATRAX) facility in Indore.

The new base leverages India's premier automotive testing grounds – Asia's second-largest and longest – to enhance BKT’s product development, particularly across the two-wheeler, passenger car radial (PCR) and commercial vehicle radial segments.

BKT's strategic decision to establish the VD&T base, inaugurated by Satish Sharma, Sr President & Director - Business Development and Strategy, marks a major step in the company's commitment to enter new segments.

By tapping into NATRAX's state-of-the-art infrastructure, BKT aims to accelerate new product development, enhance performance & reliability and address evolving needs by utilising real-world testing scenarios to cater to the specific demands of Indian and international consumers.

The facility is equipped with advanced machinery and an expert R&D team, providing a critical hub for high-quality, innovative tyre development across all mobility segments.

Access to NATRAX will enable BKT to test its tyres across a comprehensive range of real-world driving conditions and parameters, including – ride & handling, comfort, braking performance, durability and off-road terrain simulation.

These robust testing capabilities are crucial for meeting the requirements of both Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and the replacement market. The goal is to ensure that every tyre offers world-class quality and gives everyday consumers confidence in its performance.

By investing in dedicated R&D at NATRAX, BKT is not only reinforcing its position in the global tyre industry but is also signalling its serious intent to become a formidable competitor in the rapidly growing on-road vehicle tyre market.

Satish Sharma, said, “At BKT, we are leveraging our decades of expertise in off-highway tyres as we expand into on-road vehicle segment. Our entry into the consumer space is guided by a clear commitment: developing tyres that users can trust for safety, comfort, mileage and reliability on every journey. The establishment of dedicated VD&T base at NATRAX marks a pivotal step in our journey to deliver world-class tyres across segments. This facility empowers us to simulate real-world conditions and rigorously test our products for performance, safety and durability. By addressing key consumer pain point, be it ride comfort, braking efficiency, or terrain adaptability; we are committed to engineering solutions that truly elevate the driving experience.”

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Epsilon Carbon Pvt. Ltd. has announced the appointment of Munish Kumar Rathi as its new President and Business Head for Carbon Black.

With more than 25 years of extensive global leadership experience, Rathi brings a strong background in profit and loss management, multi-site manufacturing leadership, strategic planning and business transformation. His career is marked by a demonstrated ability to drive operational excellence and foster sustainable growth across various international markets.

The company is anticipating that his leadership will play a key role as Epsilon Carbon continues to expand its global footprint and accelerate innovation within the carbon black business segment. The organisation has formally welcomed Rathi to the team, expressing confidence in his capacity to guide future strategic initiatives. This move underscores Epsilon Carbon’s commitment to strengthening its leadership team in pursuit of long-term global competitiveness.

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TVS Srichakra has approved capital investment of up to INR 2.2 billion to expand production capacity at its manufacturing facilities in Vellaripatti, Madurai.

The expansion will cover the company’s two-wheeler tyre and off-highway tyre plants, with investment of up to INR 1.1 billion allocated to each facility.

TVS Srichakra said the two-wheeler tyre plant currently has capacity of about 21 million to 23.5  million tyres a year and operates at utilisation levels of around 80 to 85 percent. The company plans to add about 5 percent capacity, with completion targeted in the first half of FY2028-29.

The off-highway tyre plant has existing capacity of about 75 to 85 metric tonnes a year and operates at utilisation levels of 75 to 80 percent. TVS Srichakra plans to increase capacity at the plant by about 25 percent, with the addition scheduled for the first half of FY2027-28.

The company said the investment would be financed through a combination of internal accruals and debt.

TVS Srichakra said the expansion is intended to meet growing demand for its two- and three-wheeler tyres and off-highway tyre products.

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JK Tyre & Industries reported record consolidated revenue of INR 163.84 billion for FY26, registering an 11 percent year-on-year increase, supported by strong domestic demand and volume growth across key tyre segments.

The company’s consolidated EBITDA rose 25 percent to INR 20.89 billion, with EBITDA margin improving to 12.8 percent.

Profit before tax increased 46 percent to INR 10.43 billion, while profit after tax climbed 52 percent to INR 8.60 billion during FY26.

For the fourth quarter, consolidated revenue rose 12 percent year-on-year to INR 42.33 billion.

Quarterly EBITDA surged 42 percent to INR 5.46 billion, with margin at 12.9 percent, while Q4 PAT nearly doubled, rising 94 percent to INR 1.99 billion.

Chairman and Managing Director Dr Raghupati Singhania described FY26 as a year of robust performance, highlighting record volumes in both truck and bus radial and passenger car radial categories.

Domestic sales volumes during Q4 grew 21 percent overall. Truck and bus radial replacement volumes increased 53 per cent, while OEM demand in the segment rose 23 percent. Passenger car radial replacement volumes were up 26 percent and OEM demand increased 10 percent.

The company said growth momentum was expected to continue into FY27, supported by new vehicle launches, infrastructure development and sustained replacement demand.

JK Tyre also highlighted strong traction in electric mobility. More than 70 per cent of electric buses operating in India currently run on its tyres, while the company supplies EV tyres to nearly eight two-wheeler OEMs and has secured orders for electric passenger vehicle models including Renault Duster EV, Hyundai Creta EV and Tata Motors’ Nexon and Punch EV variants.

Its Mexico business, operated through JK Tornel, contributed nearly 20 per cent of consolidated revenue and is expected to maintain growth across Mexican, Latin American and US markets.

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The U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) has elected David Cichocki, Managing Director, Americas, and chief sales officer, Americas Consumer, at The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, to its board of directors.

“I’m pleased to welcome David to our Board. His extensive experience and expertise across the tire and consumer goods industries will be invaluable as we navigate today’s complex industry,” said Anne Forristall Luke, USTMA president and chief executive. “His proven leadership will strengthen our ability to seize emerging opportunities.”

Cichocki joined Goodyear in early 2026 and is responsible for overseeing the Americas region and leading the company’s Americas Consumer sales business.

He brings more than 30 years of leadership experience across industrial and consumer goods companies to the USTMA board.

Before joining Goodyear, Cichocki served as senior vice-president of US sales at Whirlpool, where he managed a portfolio valued at more than $10bn across retail and direct-to-consumer channels.

He also spent more than 20 years at Kraft Foods and Nabisco in a range of senior leadership roles.

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