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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Bridgestone has announced executive leadership changes for its West region (Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa), effective 1 May 2026. Scott Damon continues as West CEO, Robert Johnson has been appointed Group President of North America and Wade Sempkowski succeeds Johnson as West Chief Financial Officer.

The company is decoupling the roles of West CEO and Group President of North America to provide clearer scope and focus for its business goals. In his new position, Johnson will assume leadership of North America Core Tire and hold end-to-end ownership and accountability for the full North America profit and loss.

Johnson joined Bridgestone in 2016 as Executive Director of Finance for Bridgestone Retail Operations and later became Vice President of Finance for the Americas Tire Group and Vice President of Stores for Bridgestone Retail Operations. He was named West CFO in May 2024. Before Bridgestone, he held senior finance and operations roles at Advance Auto Parts, Best Buy and Lifepoint Health, earning a finance degree from Belmont University and an MBA from the University of St. Thomas.

Wade Sempkowski

Sempkowski started at Bridgestone Americas in 2019 as Director of FP&A, later becoming Vice President of Finance in 2022 while also serving on the TireHub Board of Directors. His prior experience includes sales analytics and finance roles at Mars Petcare and Southern Land Company, and he holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee and an MBA from Vanderbilt University.

Scott Damon, Bridgestone West CEO, said, “Robert and Wade are experienced leaders with a strong understanding of our business, our customers and the priorities ahead. Robert brings a powerful combination of financial, operational and customer-facing leadership to the North America region, and Wade brings deep finance expertise to the West CFO role.”

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Japanese tyre and rubber major Yokohama Rubber Co, has announced plans to construct two new manufacturing facilities for mining and construction machinery tyres in India and Mexico.

These plants will facilitate the transfer of off-the-road (OTR) tyre production acquired from The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company in February 2025. The company also intends to install equipment at these sites to increase production capacity for ultra-large OTR tyres.

Yokohama Rubber will build a greenfield plant in Odisha, India, representing a capital investment of USD130 million. The facility is designed for an annual production capacity of 9,150 tonnes. Construction is set to commence in Q3 of CY2026, with production expected to start by Q3 of CY2028. This site will assume production currently outsourced to Goodyear facilities in Europe and the United States.

A new brownfield plant will be established in Mexico as a Phase 2 expansion of an existing passenger car tyre plant site. This facility will require a capital expenditure of USD 115 million and will have an annual capacity of 10,650 tonnes. Construction is scheduled for Q3 of CY2026, and production is planned to begin in Q2 of CY2028.

The company is also transferring OTR tyre production from Goodyear plants to a site in Romania acquired in May 2025, as well as to existing factories in Japan, the Czech Republic, and India.

These investments are central to the ‘Yokohama Transformation 2026’ (YX2026) management plan, which aims for significant growth through strategic acquisitions and production network enhancements. By expanding its capacity across all off-highway tyre (OHT) categories, Yokohama Rubber seeks to improve its global market position and corporate value.

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CAMSO Construction has announced the appointment of Andreas Lüllau as Area Sales Manager for the DACH region. His career in industrial and construction tyres began in 2007 at Industriereifen Kontor Lüdtke, where he developed extensive industry experience. The company stated that his strong background adds valuable expertise and a solid understanding of the DACH market. CAMSO Construction looks forward to his contributions in strengthening the company’s regional presence and partnerships.

The company statement read: “His career in industrial and construction tires began in 2007 at Industriereifen Kontor Lüdtke, and since then, he has built extensive experience across the industry. This strong background adds valuable depth to the expertise he brings to the team, along with a solid understanding of the DACH region. We look forward to the contribution he will make in strengthening our presence and partnerships in the market. Welcome to CAMSO Construction, Andreas!”

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Radar Tires has named Anthony Sbona as Territory Sales Manager for its Radar brand in North America. Entering the tyre industry in 2018, Sbona quickly established a strong foundation in sales and customer relationship management, later expanding his expertise across distribution channels and gaining a deep market understanding. His career progression reflects consistent growth and adaptability in a competitive sector.

Known for building relationships and driving results, Sbona now brings a fresh perspective and solid industry experience to the team. His new role focuses on expanding the Radar brand’s reach, strengthening distributor partnerships and accelerating growth across his assigned territory, positioning the company for sustained regional success.

Rob Montasser, Vice President for Radar Tires North America, said, “We’re excited to welcome Anthony to the Radar Tires team. Anthony’s experience gives him a strong understanding of the market and his region, and we’re confident he will play a key role in continuing to grow our presence across North America.”

Sbona said, “I’m excited to be part of the rapidly expanding Radar Tires team. I look forward to building strong partnerships, growing the brand, and contributing to the continued success of Radar Tires.”

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