MRF continues to lead the tyre industry with a strong focus on quality, innovation and customer satisfaction. With a presence in over 70 countries, MRF’s dominance spans across categories including commercial vehicles, two-wheelers, electric vehicles (EVs) and aircraft tyres. As India’s economic growth drives increased demand for commercial vehicles, MRF capitalises on this shift towards larger trucks and the expanding EV market. Additionally, the company’s technological prowess is evident in its supply of defence aircraft tyres. Despite challenges like rising rubber prices, MRF’s commitment to development and sustainable practices ensures its continued growth and global expansion.

MRF Vice Chairman and Managing Director Arun Mammen opined that India’s economic prosperity is leading to a demand for original equipment, which in turn is driving the volumes for commercial vehicle tyres upwards. Speaking to Tyre Trends on the sidelines of the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025, Mammen noted, “The commercial vehicle tyre segment is primarily driven by OEM demand. India’s economic performance is increasing commercial activity, leading to a higher number of trucks being sold. A notable trend in this segment is the shift towards larger trucks. This shift is primarily due to improved road infrastructure. Additionally, these trends see tyre volumes grow even in the replacement market.”

He added, “Government policies over the last 5–6 years have also played a crucial role in shaping the industry. The transition from BS4 to BS6, changes in axle load norms and various other regulatory developments have influenced tyre design and performance requirements. We have remained ahead of these changes, ensuring our products fully comply with government guidelines.”

The company theme for this year at the expo was ‘Muscle in Motion’, which highlighted MRF’s leadership, technology, innovation and sustainability.

MRF has been a leader in the tyre industry for 37 years, covering all categories. The executive noted that while competition was close in some segments, the company continued to have a leading position in tractors, trucks, light commercial vehicles, commercial vehicles and three-wheeler tyre segments. Its market leadership was further reinforced by its financial performance in FY 2023-24 with turnover of over INR 250 billion.

The company is experiencing double-digit growth, particularly in the first half of CY25, while most of the industry had struggled to achieve similar momentum. “We have consistently grown across all tyre categories including infrastructure, farm, two-wheeler and truck tyres,” revealed Mammen.

“Our ability to maintain market dominance for nearly four decades is rooted in a simple yet powerful philosophy, which is quality, customer focus and continuous innovation. We prioritise understanding customer needs and delivering better-thanexpected performance. This relentless pursuit of excellence ensures that we provide the best value for money,” said the official.

EXPANDING PORTFOLIO

A recent media report mentioned that MRF is seeing significant progress in the EV tyre segment, covering both OEM supply and the replacement market.

Exuding confidence for its EV tyre portfolio with the evolving automobile space in India, Mammen noted, “We are actively innovating in this space and a great example is our new EV tyre, recently supplied to Mahindra for its latest EV launch. This tyre incorporates a unique foam technology that significantly reduces noise, offering a quieter and more comfortable driving experience. With the growing adoption of electric vehicles, such advancements are crucial as EVs inherently produce less mechanical noise, making tyre noise reduction even more essential.”

He added, “Our tyres are fitted on several OEM vehicles including that of Maruti, Toyota, Honda and Bajaj models. The EV space will continue to grow as charging infrastructure improves, making electric mobility more convenient for consumers. While passenger vehicles and two-wheelers are currently leading the shift, we expect commercial vehicles to gradually follow suit as fleet operators gain confidence in battery technology and cost efficiency.”

Moreover, the company exclusively supplies tyres for Indian defence aircraft and helicopters with plans to expand the portfolio. Commenting on the same lines, Mammen revealed, “MRF supplies aircraft tyres to India’s defence forces including the Air Force and Navy. The majority of defence aircraft flying today are equipped with MRF tyres. The Indian Government does not import aircraft tyres unless we do not manufacture a specific type, further reinforcing our dominant position in this critical sector.”

MARKET TALK

MRF set up a new plant in Gujarat recently and ongoing expansions across multiple facilities are in process. Mammen noted that factories were continually being upgraded to meet evolving market demands. The company’s export business contributes between 10 to 12 percent in its total revenue, said Mammen.

The company currently exports to 70 countries worldwide. When asked about exploring new regions, the executive highlighted, “We are always looking for new opportunities for growth. A key example is our dominance in rally racing. We have been European champions for two years, beating multinational competitors, and in Asia Pacific, we have been rally champions for nine consecutive years. These victories highlight our engineering excellence and performance capabilities, opening doors to further expand our brand presence.”

Another trend within the Indian tyre market is Tyre-as-a-Service. Commenting on whether MRF plans to foray in the segment, he said, “Tyre-as- a-Service currently accounts for less than a single-digit percentage of the overall business. The limited adoption is due to challenging operating conditions. While some companies initially ventured into this space, many later exited due to difficulties in scaling the model. We continue to monitor this segment and will assess its potential for expansion in the future.”

TALKING ROADBLOCKS

The official identified the rising prices of rubber as one of the largest problems facing the tyre industry. Mammen explained that raw material costs account for about 70 percent of tyre production costs. As crude oil prices increase, the cost of production also rises, which is further impacted by fluctuations in the rupeedollar exchange rate.

“The price of natural rubber has remained high for a while and this is a challenge for many tyre manufacturers including us. India does not produce enough natural rubber to meet domestic demand, so we rely on imports to supplement local supply. This dependency on imports means we are exposed to fluctuations in global rubber prices, which can impact our overall cost structure,” said Mammen.

Despite the challenges, the company’s near-term research and development focus will involve both recycling raw materials and exploring green energy solutions such as energy and water recycling while also controlling wastage.

The company had made a Capex of over INR 21 billion in the previous financial year and nearly INR 7 billion in the first six months of the current financial year. These investments are directed towards areas with growth opportunities in truck, passenger and two-wheeler markets.

When asked about retail expansion, Mammen noted that there is always room for growth, both in expanding the dealer and retailer network and in online retail.

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Hankook Tyre UK has expanded its Truck and Bus team with two key appointments. Jason Bloor has been appointed as National Account Manager, while Peter Hatton has been appointed as Regional Sales Manager for the combined Midlands and Northwest region.

Bloor, who will be overseeing national fleets activities, brings with him 34 years of experience in the tyre industry, while Hatton, who joined Hankook Tyre UK in May, has over three decades of expertise in the tyre and transport industry.

Chang-Yool Han, Managing Director, Hankook Tyre UK, said, “Following the opening of Hankook House, our new UK headquarters, we are pursuing ambitious growth plans for the UK market. We are delighted to welcome Jason Bloor and Peter Hatton to the team. Their extensive industry experience will undoubtedly make an immediate impact on the company’s continued success."

Bloor said, “I joined the tyre industry straight out of school in 1991 starting as a fitter where I discovered a passion for fleet management. Over the last 20 years, I have managed mileage contracts and key accounts, taking on responsibility in both sales and operations. I am excited to bring my decades of experience to Hankook and help drive brand awareness and strengthen customer relationships.”

Hatton said, “Having spent 30+ years working in the tyre and transport industry, I am privileged to be part of the Hankook UK team. The company offers an excellent range of tyre products across its premium Hankook brand and associate brand Laufenn. I look forward to applying my skills and experience in supporting both current and new customers while working alongside a brilliant team.”

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CAMSO Construction has appointed Steffen Sahl as Director of Sales for Europe. Sahl brings with him 25 years of experience in the European OTR mobility sector.

The company statement read: “With over 25 years of experience in the European OTR mobility sector, and a successful entrepreneurial journey in distribution, Steffen combines deep market insight with a customer-first mindset.”

“This is a tremendous opportunity, and I am filled with gratitude for everyone who has been part of my professional path so far. A huge thank you to my previous colleagues, mentors and teams – I carry your lessons and support with me. I am deeply honoured by the trust of the CEAT leadership, and am immensely looking forward to building on Camso's strong foundation, driving growth across European markets and collaborating with the talented team in the CEAT speciality family,” said Sahl on his appointment.

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JK Tyre & Industries Ltd, one of India's largest tyre manufacturers, has announced its partnership as co-presenting sponsor of the Men's Asia Cup 2025, as the cricket tournament begins its three-week run across venues in the United Arab Emirates.

The sponsorship deal with Sony Sports Network covers the Twenty20 International tournament running from September 9 to 28 across Dubai and Abu Dhabi, marking JK Tyre's expansion from its traditional motorsport sponsorship into cricket broadcasting.

The partnership positions JK Tyre to reach cricket audiences across India and Asia during prime-time broadcasts of the 19-match tournament, which features eight national teams competing for the continental title.

"At JK Tyre, we have always believed in the power of sport to unite, inspire, and drive passion. Having nurtured motorsport for over three decades, we are excited to bring the same spirit to cricket, a game that binds millions of fans across Asia," said Srinivasu Allaphan, Director-Sales & Marketing at JK Tyre & Industries Ltd.

"Our association with the Men's Asia Cup 2025 is a strategic step in strengthening our brand visibility across India and Asia and reinforcing our positioning as 'Desh Ka Tyre,' a brand that reflects the aspirations and passions of today's India."

JK Tyre, which has built its sporting credentials through decades of involvement in motorsport, is leveraging cricket's popularity to strengthen its market position across Asia's emerging economies.

The Asia Cup represents one of cricket's premier regional tournaments, with the current edition featuring teams including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan amongst others. The tournament serves as preparation for next year's T20 World Cup.

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InnoVent Technology LLC has appointed Jose Rodriguez as its new Chief Technology Officer. He brings three decades of extensive experience in industrial digital systems, automation and simulation platforms to the role.

Rodriguez was most recently the Global Technical Authority at Wood Group, a multi-billion-dollar engineering firm, and previously served as CTO of Ingenious Inc., prior to its acquisition by Wood. In his new position, he will direct a global team focused on advancing the company's InnoSIM digital twin platform.

His leadership will be central to integrating commercial AI and automation systems, significantly boosting predictive modelling capabilities and deploying digital twin projects on an international scale. The appointment underscores InnoVent's strategic commitment to leading the industry through cutting-edge technological innovation and advanced digital solutions.

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