The European Parliament has approved the revision of tyre labelling regulations six years after it was introduced. ‘This now depends on extraordinary efforts from the institutions to develop the EPREL’s tyre application in a timely manner and industry to implement it effectively. We all want this regulation to succeed in improving the market uptake of those tyres performing at the highest safety and environmental standards,” Fazilet Cinaralp, Secretary General of the European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers Association (ETRMA), tells Tyre Trends

"The European tyre industry is fully committed to the Tyre Labelling Regulation and its success,” says Fazilet Cinaralp, Secretary General of the European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers Association (ETRMA). The revision, which is currently being done, comes six years after the initial regulation and collaboration between industry and the European Institutions. It promotes industry innovation and benefits consumers by increasing consumer awareness of the label and strengthening market surveillance and enforcement in the EU Member States.

To ensure its success, ETRMA supports the timely development and sufficient lead-time of all pieces of the revision, particularly the European Product Database for Energy Labelling (EPREL). The publicly available database registering tyre performance is important in strengthening the information chain between tyre manufacturers and authorities and improving market surveillance. However, the EPREL’s tyre application still needs to be developed.

“The industry has concerns that there might not be enough time to ensure a smooth transition to this new system amidst an already challenging environment that deals with these new requirements,” Fazilet Cinaralp told Tyre Trends.

The revision foresees the database to be completed before the final adoption of the proposal to allow for a smooth and orderly implementation of the regulation by 1 May 2021. Industry will need to upload information into the database about the tyres to be placed on the market.

“This now depends on extraordinary efforts from the institutions to develop the EPREL’s tyre application in a timely manner and industry to implement it effectively. We all want this regulation to succeed in improving the market uptake of those tyres performing at the highest safety and environmental standards,” she added.

Committed to emerging from the public health crisis even stronger than before, the industry stands ready to cooperate with EU Institutions to make this possible and looks forward to consumers using this updated tool to inform their choices towards tyres with the best safety and environmental performance.

The industry remains fully committed to work towards the European Green Deal, seeks to prioritize in partnership with the authorities the initiatives to achieve climate neutrality and digital transition, and requests a supportive and reasonable timing to the overall changing regulatory framework.

Shared commitment

This collaboration builds on a shared commitment to the European Green Deal, without compromising the important role tyres play in road safety and mobility, nor the tyre industry’s ability to innovate and remain competitive.
To this end, ETRMA calls for speeding up the regulatory work on smart mobility to enable new digital transportation services and tyre data solutions as an opportunity for economic recovery and sustainable development. A lack of timely, comprehensive regulation may cause market failures with regard to technology adoption, platform interoperability and unjustified barriers to competition.

ETRMA has been supporting tyre industry investments in sustainable consumption and production by fostering market demand for products aligned with EU environmental objectives and targets. This includes incentives for private consumers and public authorities to choose tyres and services with the best safety and environmental performance as indicated by the new tyre label regulation, or contributing to circular economy ambitions, as the truck and bus retreaded tyres do.

The association has also been supporting remanufacturing models and the development of secondary raw materials through harmonised EU end-of-waste criteria to include products derived from end-of-life tyres and also strengthening market surveillance and enforcement of EU trade agreements with third countries while supporting the role of Europe as an exporter by setting an ambitious trade agenda and championing fair and free trade.

ETRMA and its members look forward to cooperating in a constructive spirit with the future Chief Trade Enforcement Officer; Increasing research and innovation funding to decarbonise the transport sector through a holistic approach to climate-neutral road transport within the Horizon Europe framework, which ETRMA and its members believe will be a key contribution to the success of the European Green Deal.

“Over the last few months, ETRMA’s member companies joined the fight against the virus, taking all measures to protect their employees and communities by following government recommendations to prevent infections and providing safe working conditions. The industry also supported the organizations and people on the frontlines by supplying free tyres and personal protective equipment, “ said Cinaralp.

The European tyre industry ready to work side-by-side with the European Institutions on a COVID-19 policy response that ensures public health, minimises economic impact, and maintains focus on the overarching objectives of the time, decarbonising and digitalising the economy. The current crisis has created societal and economic impacts and due to the pandemic containment measures throughout Europe, operational delays in the current work on the regulatory framework, in the public and private sectors.

“We continue to work closely with authorities to further stimulate and support a successful economic recovery. But this is the biggest challenge our industry has ever faced and a full recovery is still far away. While we saw a slight upward trend in sales at the end of the second quarter as European countries eased their lockdowns, the coming months will show us whether this trend holds. The situation remains fragile and unpredictable.”

“Being a global industry, the recovery of the tyre sector is not just dependent on Europe’s situation but how other parts of the world and global trade routes continue to be impacted by and address the pandemic. For the moment, we can only hope the market stabilizes in the second half of the year but our outlook for 2020 remains bleak,” Cinaralp said.

END

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Gaurav Kumar has resigned as a whole-time director of Apollo Tyres, the Indian tyre manufacturer, after more than two decades with the company, though he will remain chief financial officer during a transition period.

The Gurugram-based company's board approved the resignation at a meeting on Thursday. Kumar steps down as a director, and consequently as a member of the risk management committee, with effect from the close of business the same day. The company said he had confirmed there was no material reason for his departure beyond that stated in his resignation letter.

Kumar will continue as chief financial officer for such period as is necessary to ensure a smooth transition, after which he will cease to be part of the company's senior management.

In his resignation letter, Kumar said: "It has been terrific to be part of the incredible journey at Apollo Tyres thus far. I have learned, and hopefully contributed in equal measure, and now seek to explore alternative and new challenges. I wish Apollo Tyres the very best for the journey ahead and will always be part of the Apollo Tyres Family." He added that he was grateful to Onkar Kanwar and Neeraj Kanwar for their support during his tenure of more than 22 years at the company.

Neeraj Kanwar, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director, said: "Gaurav deserves kudos for the critical role he has played in the growth of Apollo Tyres, both in India and overseas, in the last twenty years. While we do regret losing him, we are conscious of his personal aspirations and wish him the very best in his future endeavours."

The company said it was in the process of appointing a new chief financial officer.

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Shrader Tire & Oil (STO) has announced the appointment of Bob Feldbauer to the role of President, effective 1 August 2026. He will concurrently serve as Chief Operating Officer, while Joe Shrader maintains his position as Chief Executive Officer.

Feldbauer’s ascent follows his arrival at STO in early 2025 as Chief Operating Officer, a role built upon a robust industry resume. His prior engagements include a lengthy stint at the helm of Jack’s Tire & Oil in Utah and a substantial period with Michelin North America, where he handled sales and managerial assignments.

Under the new structure, Feldbauer’s purview widens to encompass both internal fleet management across 14 sites and outward-facing commercial development, including alliances and market expansion. With the founding family’s fourth generation now active within the firm, the succession plan reinforces the enduring principles established when the company opened in 1948.

Shrader said, “Bob has proven exactly what we hoped he would when we brought him on board – sharp operational instincts and a real drive to help this company grow. Putting him in the President seat lets us move faster on the growth plans we’ve been building towards.”

Feldbauer said, “It has been a fast year and a half at Shrader Tire & Oil. I have gained tremendous insight and valuable knowledge about our organisation’s structure, company culture and an understanding of our overall goals and commitments. One thing is clearly obvious – the commitment Shrader employees have to deliver the best customer experience each and every time. I appreciate this and look forward to supporting them as their President and COO.”

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Balkrishna Industries Ltd. (BKT) has unveiled a brand installation at the Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) T2 Elevated Road Underpass as the tyre manufacturer seeks to broaden its positioning beyond its traditional Off-Highway business and strengthen awareness of its expanding on-highway portfolio in India.

The 2,000 sq. ft. installation, inspired by the company's "Elevate Your Drive" philosophy, highlights BKT's portfolio across agriculture, construction, mining, earthmoving, commercial vehicles, two-wheelers and passenger vehicles. The activation comes as the company expands its presence in India's two-wheeler and commercial vehicle tyre segments.

Designed to move beyond conventional outdoor advertising, the installation features nine illuminated tyre-shaped displays, each 8 feet in diameter, using the tyre itself as the central storytelling element. It opens with a large-format visual featuring BKT brand ambassador Ranveer Singh, followed by a sequence of displays illustrating the company's expanding mobility portfolio. The installation will remain at the airport for 24 months.

Mumbai International Airport handled a record 55.5 million passengers in 2025, providing the company with sustained visibility among business travellers and consumers.

"For BKT, innovation goes beyond product engineering; it extends to how we tell our story. This installation reflects a simple yet powerful idea: our tyre itself becomes the medium through which travellers experience the breadth of BKT's world. As we expand our presence across India's mobility landscape, it is important that consumers see BKT not through a single product category, but as a brand that supports movement across diverse terrains, applications and journeys. Mumbai Airport provides an ideal stage for us to express that transformation in a memorable and distinctive way," said Satish Sharma, Senior President & Director – Business Development and Strategy, BKT.

The installation was conceptualised by Infectious Advertising and uses immersive design, sequential storytelling and its airport location to showcase the company's wider mobility portfolio. According to BKT, the activation is intended to connect its established Off-Highway business with its growing presence in India's on-highway mobility market.

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Mumbai-headquartered leading carbon black manufacturer Epsilon Carbon has reported a 10 percent reduction in carbon dioxide equivalent emissions across its upstream transportation operations during FY2025–26. The reduction was achieved through the deployment of an electric and liquefied natural gas freight fleet.

An independent third party certified the emissions data. The reductions achieved in transport logistics equate to carbon absorption figures associated with approximately 29,000 trees. The verified figures allow supply chain partners to include these reductions within Scope 3 emissions reporting frameworks and environmental disclosures.

Gaurav Mathur, Chief Executive Officer, Epsilon Carbon, said, “Decarbonising logistics is central to our climate strategy. What makes this milestone meaningful is that the results are independently verified with a 10 percent reduction in CO2e emissions within the upstream transportation category over a single financial year, driven by the adoption of electric and LNG fleets. These carbon reductions strengthen our own sustainability disclosures and those of our customers, and we intend to scale this model across our supply chain.”

Following Phase 1 operations, Epsilon Carbon intends to expand the number of electric and LNG vehicles in its transport fleet during FY 2026–27 to scale low-carbon freight transport across its supply chain network.

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