The global tyre industry’s top manufacturers and technology suppliers met at the Tire Technology Expo 2025 in Hannover on 4-6 March to unveil technologies focused on driving sustainability, digitalisation and road safety. At the Deutsche Messe, the exhibition featured advances in tyre engineering, materials science and manufacturing technologies that will define mobility in the future.

In opening the event, expo founder Tony Robinson called on manufacturers to close the knowledge gap with consumers, highlighting how most drivers undervalue the importance of tyres in ensuring a vehicle’s safety. He mentioned that safety rests on the four small ‘footprints’ of rubber linking a car to the road, which tends to be undervalued by the general driver.

Looking to the future, Robinson saw a day when tyres contain sensors that share real-time information with other cars and roadside infrastructure. These sensors could warn drivers of dangerous road conditions like flooding or new potholes, making roads safer and avoiding crashes. He predicted that information from tyres could also feed into weather forecasting services, providing useful real-time information on road conditions.

The exhibition floor showcased innovation and high-performance solutions from more than 240 exhibitors, with Bekaert, Rockwell Automation, VMI Group, HF Group, ARP Technologies, Synthos, Nynas, Schill+Seilacher “Struktol” GmbH, Kordsa, Black Donuts and others.

SUSTAINABILITY AND MATERIAL INNOVATION TAKE CENTRE STAGE

The expo also reflected the tyre industry’s growing focus on sustainability, with manufacturers launching new materials and processes to lower environmental impact. Bekaert launched its Mega Tensile reinforcement technology, a major innovation in its Elyta range. The technology enables tyre manufacturers to produce up to 20 percent less steel and 10 percent less rubber compound in belt plies, achieving a 2-4 percent drop in rolling resistance and a huge 15-20 percent reduction in CO₂ emissions per tyre.

Kordsa introduced its REV Technologies, which are specifically tailored to electric vehicle tyres. The company’s innovations include recycled PET (rPET) cord fabric and RFID tyre tags, enabling improved lifecycle monitoring and data collection. Kordsa expects to enhance sustainability and recycling practices by combining digital identification with tyre production.

Teijin Aramid featured its Twaron para-aramid reinforcement, a material that can manufacture lighter tyres with reduced rolling resistance and eventually lower emissions.

EV AND DIGITAL INNOVATION LEAD DISCUSSIONS

As the electric vehicle (EV) market grows, tyre makers focus on creating solutions specific to the special needs of EVs and autonomous vehicles. Continental Tires unveiled an overall sustainability strategy, emphasising the environmental impact of tyres throughout their life cycle. The firm detailed plans to incorporate more sustainable raw materials, minimise waste during production and enhance tyre durability.

Michelin’s Director of Standards and Regulations for Connected Mobility, Claire Fioretti, outlined the company’s efforts around Digital Product Passports (DPP), a major initiative within the (ESPR). The regulation, enacted in 2024, aims to increase supply chain transparency by mandating that products carry a permanent, readable identifier usable throughout their life cycle. Michelin is already testing the programme in various industries, such as textiles, electronics and automotive components, with the cooperation of French, German and Swedish stakeholders.

The ESPR system, Fioretti characterised as an ‘ambitious information system’, will enable the maker, the recycler and the buyer to make environmentally informed decisions. She stressed that the movement is not so much about compliance as a transition towards the principles of the circular economy. By 2027, by the time broad adoption of the ESPR sets in, product design may improve, recycling efficiency will be elevated and buyers’ confidence will be boosted in second-hand markets.

MANUFACTURING INNOVATION AND AI TECHNOLOGY

The event showcased the latest digital manufacturing solutions to enhance efficiency, lower waste and better quality control. Rockwell Automation launched AI-driven tools to optimise tyre production, including digital thread technologies for tracking data without interruption through various manufacturing processes.

Black Donuts launched its Digital Twin Tyre Plant Simulation, a cutting-edge real-time virtual modelling tool that aids manufacturers in minimising downtime and optimising production. The company’s methodology involves end-to-end finite element analysis, enabling accurate tyre performance simulations before production.

HF dominated the manufacturing technology market with its state-of-the-art electric tyre curing presses. The company illustrated how its new electric curing technology could be applied to new and retrofit installations to minimise energy consumption and enhance process efficiency. Fischer TireTech exhibited computerised cord-cutting lines and premium extrusion technologies aimed at increasing accuracy in tyre production.

Uzer Makina launched a high-end electric tyre curing press focused on energy efficiency and precision production. ARP Technologies showcased its Electromagnetic Heating (EMH) curing system, a more energy-efficient curing process, alongside an artificial intelligence-based inspection machine that can spot tiny defects with great accuracy.

KraussMaffei featured its multiplex extrusion technology, which enhances first-time production quality and eliminates material bleeding during tyre formation. The company showed a new head clamping technology that maximises channel cleaning effectiveness, further expanding the limits of green manufacturing.

REGULATORY DEVELOPMENTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS

Regulatory matters were on the agenda at the expo, with leading experts discussing the changing scene for tyre production and green compliance. Adam McCarthy, Secretary General of the European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers’ Association (ETRMA), gave a definitive overview of recent European Commission regulatory interventions impacting the sector.

A specific session on Tyre and Road Wear Particles (TRWP) collaborated with industry experts from Bridgestone, Continental and Michelin, as well as leading research institutions, to address the implications of future Euro 7 regulations. It was centred around reducing tyre wear’s environmental footprint without compromising performance levels.

FUTURE OUTLOOK AND INDUSTRY COLLABORATION

During the three-day conference, experts worldwide exchanged information, delved into future technologies and worked on crafting the mobility of the future. The event highlighted reducing carbon footprint, improving safety and customising solutions for future electric and self-driving cars.

The next edition will be held on 3 and 4 March 2026.

TIRE TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL AWARDS FOR INNOVATION AND EXCELLENCE

A key highlight of the event was the prestigious Tire Technology International Awards for Innovation and Excellence 2025. Recognising achievements across 12 categories, the awards celebrate the latest advancements in tyre technology, progress towards a more sustainable industry and the outstanding contributions of individuals driving innovation. This year’s winners are as follows:

Goodyear bagged Environmental Achievement of the Year – Tire Design for its ElectricDrive Sustainable- Material (EDS) tyre.

Continental was awarded the Environmental Achievement of the Year – Manufacturing award for its CO2-neutral tyre production at the Lousado plant in Portugal.

Nokian Tyres won the Environmental Achievement – Industry Contribution award for its inauguration of the world’s first full-scale tyre factory with zero CO₂ emissions in Oradea, Romania.

Bekaert received the Materials Innovation of the Year award for its next-generation reinforcement solution, Mega Tensile.

Sumitomo Rubber Industries won the R&D Breakthrough of the Year award for its Active Tread technology.

VMI was awarded for Tire Manufacturing Innovation of the Year award for its integrated quality monitoring for the MAXX and MILEXX platforms.

ARP Technologies was selected as Industry Supplier of the Year for its many innovations in the tyre curing sector.

Bridgestone bagged Tire Concept of the Year for its Lunar concept tyre.

Michelin was awarded Tire of the Year for its Primacy 5 tyre.

Continental won the Tire Manufacturer of the Year award for the fourth time, acknowledging the scale and breadth of the company’s achievements over the last year.

Two further awards were also given for individual achievements in the industry:

Katerina Filzer, a PhD student at Twente University in the Netherlands, was awarded the 2025 Young Scientist Award for her presentation, ‘An Innovative  Method to Incorporate a Devulcanization Aid into Rubber’.

Anke Blume, head of elastomer technology and engineering at the University of Twente, received the Lifetime Achievement Award for her outstanding contributions to the tyre industry.

Balkrishna Industries Ltd. (BKT) has expanded its commercial vehicle tyre distribution network in central India with the opening of a warehouse in Indore, as it seeks to build its presence in the commercial vehicle radial (CVR) segment.

The facility, inaugurated recently, is intended to strengthen product availability and improve regional access in Madhya Pradesh, a state the company identifies as a key growth market.

Indore’s position as a freight and passenger transport hub, coupled with its proximity to the Pithampur industrial belt, underpins the company’s decision to locate the warehouse in the city. The facility will be operated by authorised distributor Shivam Track Impex Pvt. Ltd., supporting closer engagement with dealers, transporters and fleet operators.

The inauguration was attended by senior executives including Rajiv Poddar, Joint Managing Director, Satish Sharma, Senior President and Director of Business Development and Strategy, and Amitkumar Agarwal, National Sales Head for Commercial Vehicle Radial Tyres. Representatives from the regional transport sector were also present.

Agarwal said: “Madhya Pradesh represents an important opportunity for BKT as we build our presence in India’s Commercial Vehicle Radial segment. The expansion in the state reflects our confidence in the opportunity and our commitment to building the right ecosystem, in partnership with our authorised distributors to serve customers effectively. Indore provides a strategic base for us to strengthen our market access and engage more closely with fleet operators and channel partners.

“The new warehouse is an important part of this approach, as it will help us improve product availability and create greater responsiveness across the market. We want to build long-term relationships with transporters, fleet owners and our channel partners and as we expand our CVR business in Madhya Pradesh, our objective is to create sustainable value for the entire ecosystem and grow together with our partners.”

The move follows the launch of the company’s commercial vehicle tyre portfolio in the first quarter of the 2026–27 financial year, including the BKT m.Loadxpert (11.00R20) and BKT Milexpert RG (295/90R20). BKT said it is seeing early traction and is focusing on expanding its reach across key markets through its distribution network.

Magna Tyres Group has bolstered its executive team with the appointment of Arnold van Woerkum to the position of Chief Financial Officer. This strategic appointment is designed to reinforce the company’s leadership structure as it gears up for an aggressive phase of international expansion and pursues new acquisition opportunities on the horizon.

Van Woerkum initially joined the organisation in 2025, taking on a senior financial leadership role prior to this official elevation. He arrives with considerable industry experience, having previously dedicated over a decade to the Van Mossel Automotive Group in a corporate control capacity. His ascent to CFO coincides with a pivotal moment for the tyre manufacturer, which, following its recent integration of Forrez, is projecting a turnover of roughly EUR 275 million for 2026. The firm has laid out an ambitious long-term strategy, targeting a significant increase to EUR 650 million in annual revenue by 2029.

In his new capacity, Van Woerkum is tasked with fortifying the financial infrastructure and guiding critical strategic choices, especially concerning fiscal oversight and future mergers. To support this trajectory, the company is actively recruiting for several new finance roles within his department, creating opportunities for professionals eager to contribute to the next wave of global growth.

Michael de Ruijter, President, Magna Tyres Group, said, “Our ambitions require a strong financial organisation. We want to continue growing internationally, both organically and through acquisitions. Arnold brings more than 10 years of group finance experience and already knows Magna Tyres and our organisation well. His appointment as CFO is an important step in preparing the company for its next phase of growth.”

Van Woerkum said, “Magna Tyres has clear international growth ambitions. After a year within the company, I am excited to take on this role and contribute to that next phase. My focus will be on building the financial structure needed to support sustainable growth and future acquisitions.”

The Indian tyre industry continues to demonstrate robust momentum, underpinned by strong automotive demand, significant capacity expansions and a growing global footprint. In an exclusive interview with Tyre Trends, Arun Mammen, Chairman, Automotive Tyre Manufacturers’ Association (ATMA) and Vice-Chairman & MD, MRF, discusses the current landscape, raw material dynamics, replacement market trends and the outlook for the sector over the next few years.

How do you assess the current situation in the Indian tyre industry?

The Indian tyre industry has maintained consistent growth over the years and has now reached a market size of approximately INR 1,100 billion. It is expanding at a healthy 10–12 percent year-on-year, which represents a significant and sustainable pace for a mature sector.

In the last few years, the industry has invested over INR 270 billion in capacity augmentation, strengthening its ability to meet both domestic and international demand. Exports have also emerged as a key pillar, with the sector shipping tyres worth nearly INR 250 billion annually to over 170 countries worldwide. Having evolved over the past 70 years, the Indian tyre industry is now well-positioned for phenomenal long-term growth.

What is your view on Indian automotive sales growing at a record pace?

Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) across segments are performing exceptionally well. Whether it is tractors, two-wheelers or passenger vehicles, strong sales momentum is clearly visible. When OEMs thrive, the tyre industry naturally benefits through higher OE fitments. We expect this positive trend to continue, driving further expansion in both the automotive and tyre sectors in the coming years.

What is the situation on the supply of raw materials, especially natural rubber? Is that something to watch out for in the coming months?

India currently produces only about 60 percent of the natural rubber required by its tyre industry, with the remaining 40 percent met through imports. As domestic demand grows, the volume of imported natural rubber is expected to rise further, potentially creating supply tightness.

To address this strategic vulnerability, a consortium of four major Indian tyre manufacturers has invested over INR 10 billion in rubber plantations in Northeast India over the last four to five years. While these plantations will take additional years to reach full production, they represent a meaningful step towards improving domestic supply security. Though it will not fully resolve the gap, this initiative will certainly help mitigate future shortages.

Replacement demand is also giving a significant boost to overall volumes. How do you see this evolving?

Absolutely. Strong OE sales today lay the foundation for healthy replacement demand in the future as vehicles age and enter the aftermarket. We remain optimistic that both OE and replacement segments will experience steady growth, providing a balanced and resilient demand base for the tyre industry.

Looking ahead to the next three to five years, what will be the key challenges and opportunities for the Indian tyre industry?

Like any dynamic industry, challenges will persist. Geopolitical developments, such as the ongoing Middle East crisis, have already led to rising raw material costs, elevated logistics expenses and higher shipping rates. These external pressures are part of the business cycle and will continue to test industry resilience.

Yokohama Rubber Company’s decision to establish Mexico as the manufacturing hub for its Americas OTR operations signals more than a capacity expansion. It reflects a strategic overhaul of its global industrial footprint. As geopolitical uncertainties, tariff risks and supply-chain disruptions reshape manufacturing priorities, the company’s ‘local for local’ model seeks to position production closer to customers while strengthening resilience. The move also underlines its broader ambition to emerge as the world’s second-largest supplier of specialised mining and construction tyres.

Yokomaha Rubber Company is seeing Mexico as its gateway for Americas, especially its OTR tyre business. Mexico will serve as the production hub for Yokohama and Goodyear Off-the-Road branded products under its ‘local for local’ manufacturing strategy.

Yokohama Rubber will invest USD 115 million to build a mining and construction machinery tyre plant in Mexico as part of the second phase of expansion at its site, where a passenger car tyre plant is already under construction. The brownfield facility will have an annual production capacity of 10,650 tonnes (rubber weight), with construction due to begin in the third quarter of 2026 and production expected to start in the second quarter of 2028.

The company is also establishing a greenfield OTR tyre plant in Odisha, India, with an annual production capacity of 9,150 tonnes and a planned investment of USD 130 million. Production at the Indian facility is scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2028.

The facility will supply OTR tyres across North and South America, complementing plants in Romania, India, Japan and the Czech Republic, while maintaining global quality standards supported by research and development centres in Japan and US.

Speaking to Tyre Trends¸ Yokohama OTR President Loic Ravasio said, “Mexico becomes the anchor of our Americas production, part of a broader move towards a ‘local for local’ model in which we manufacture OTR tyres in every major region, closer to the customers who use them. It joins a growing worldwide footprint that already includes Romania, India, Japan and the Czech Republic – every site held to the same quality benchmark backed by our research and development centres in Japan and US. For manufacturing specifically, Mexico’s role is to serve North and South America from one central site, putting product closer to mining, construction and infrastructure customers throughout the Americas.”

The plants in India and Mexico are sized and positioned for the regions they serve. These new facilities are part of the company’s transition from Goodyear-operated production to Yokohama-owned sites while also growing its total worldwide OTR capacity. Japan remains one of the company’s core production sites throughout, added Ravasio.

“Mexico’s plant and India’s greenfield plant will more than replace Goodyear plants capacity, allowing us to continue supplying our existing customers, supporting their growth, and also winning new customers with the additional capacity,” he added.

As for production responsibilities, the company’s goal is to produce tyres closest to the customers that need them. OTR plants are flexible and able to adapt to regional needs. “We’re not locking in specifics yet. We want to listen to customers and show them what the combined portfolio can do first and let that shape where things get built,” Ravasio said.

The Mexico manufacturing facility is being developed in Saltillo, Coahuila. Its centralised location for production and distribution across the entire Americas region will allow Yokohama to produce OTR tyres closer to its customers, shortening the lead time and improving responsiveness to customer requests.

“We’re building the Saltillo site to be state-of-the-art from day one including the technology and quality standards because we’re not planning only for today’s market, we’re planning for where our customers and this industry are heading,” said Ravasio.

MARKET ADVANTAGES

The acquisition of Goodyear’s OTR business has created optimum synergies for Yokohama Rubber Company as it is now leveraging the strengths of two complementary product portfolios, which lets it offer one of the most complete product ranges available and better meet the needs of its customers.

“Manufacturing, logistics, research and development synergies have all played their part, bringing procurement, production planning and engineering together from both organisations rather than running them in parallel. Together, that’s meant retaining the great majority of longstanding accounts from both sides and winning new customers we hadn’t worked with before,” said Ravasio.

He added, “What’s really exceeded our initial expectations is the pace. We said we wanted to move quickly on capacity and within about a year of closing we’d already committed to three new or expanded plants across three continents. The two research and development centres working together have increased our capabilities to launch quicker new products and new technologies into the market. That pace shows real commitment to the OTR industry.”

Commenting on the advantages that Mexico offers the business, he noted that Mexico has a skilled, experienced manufacturing workforce and an established industrial supplier base. Its real advantage is geography as a single site here can efficiently reach customers across North America, Central America and South America, which is central to the company’s local-for-local approach.

Yokohama Rubber Company is also able to build on existing local relationships in the country, giving it a head start on talent and operational know-how as it brings the OTR plant online.

GROWTH DRIVERS

According to Ravasio, global infrastructure development in roads, rail and housing along with continued mining and construction activity continues to drive demand for OTR tyres across the Americas.

Mexico’s centralised location allows for shorter supply lines and tyres built closer to the mines and job sites that use them rather than shipped across oceans, which means less equipment downtime waiting on tyres.

“In a market where total cost of ownership (TCO) and not just tyre price drives the buying decision, minimising that downtime is one of the ways we compete,” he noted.

The Mexico plant is designed first and foremost to serve regional demand across the Americas. Nonetheless, the company’s global network is built for flexibility and the plant’s output can support other markets as needed to balance capacity across our worldwide footprint, said Ravasio.

The primary beneficiaries will be mining and construction operators across the Americas along with the infrastructure projects that depend on them. Yokohama Rubber Company’s priority is to better serve its customers, global or local, and to ensure business continuity.

Moreover, as competition toughens in the global OTR market, Yokohama Rubber Company seeks to secure the second spot in the list of world’s largest suppliers. Alluding to this, Ravasio said, “Our ambition is clear. We want to become the world’s second-largest supplier of specialised mining and construction tyres and the right manufacturing footprint is one part of how we get there alongside the same high-quality standards we’re building into every new site including Mexico.”

“Product quality and performance matter just as much and our research and development centres in Japan and US design tyres built specifically for this segment backed by services like tyre pressure management systems TPMS and EMTrack that give customers real-time visibility into tyre health and performance,” he added.

The target behind all of it is straightforward, which is to lower Yokohama customers’ TCO and help them run more competitive operations. Total cost of ownership matters more to OTR customers than any other measure and Yokohama Rubber Company is building everything including research and development, service tools and manufacturing around living up to its TCO leadership position in the market.

FIGHTING CHALLENGES

The plant is being built around modern, energy- and water-efficient lines with the digital process controls needed to hold consistent quality at scale. Producing closer to its customers also means less long-distance transportation of finished tyres and fewer transport-related emissions as a result.

Workforce training will be built around Yokohama Rubber Company’s current manufacturing standards and the plant’s operations will be measured against the environmental targets in its medium-term management plan.

Furthermore, this project is as much about people as it is about capacity. The company is leaning on local expertise and know-how in the region to build the Mexico manufacturing team paired with quality training grounded in its manufacturing experience from other parts of the world.

Hence, the site benefits from both perspectives from day one and creates meaningful skilled employment, directly at the plant and through the broader supplier network around it.

“It’s the same approach we’ve used successfully as we’ve expanded elsewhere. We invest in local talent, train heavily and hold everyone to the same standards we apply globally. Wherever we build, the people on the floor get the same training and hold the same standards as any other Yokohama site. That’s non-negotiable,” Ravasio said.

Alluding to tackling supply chain setbacks, the executive noted that producing closer to the customer is the clearest way to build resilience too as it reduces the company’s exposure to long cross-continental shipping routes and the risks that come with them, plus it helps mitigate the impacts of tariffs.

“Our plant in Mexico makes our overall industrial footprint stronger, which is what helps us weather supply-side setbacks rather than depending on any single site or transit lane. It also lets us react faster to swings in product trends and other unforeseen events because the people and the production capacity making that call are closer to where the need actually is. That kind of diversified, local-for-local footprint is deliberately designed to avoid the kind of supply shocks the industry has seen in recent years,” he added. And over the next five years, Mexico becomes one of the clearest proof points for the company’s local-for-local approach. “We expect continued growth from infrastructure and mining activity and customers pushing equipment harder, which raises the bar for durability and service as much as tyre technology. Regional manufacturing, closer partnerships with customers and the network we’ve built over the past year are how we intend to become the world’s second-largest supplier in the OTR industry,” Ravasio said.

Mexico’s emergence as the company’s Americas manufacturing hub represents a calculated investment in regionalisation rather than simple capacity addition. Whether this strategy translates into sustained market share gains will depend on execution, customer adoption and competitive pressures, but it firmly positions the company to respond faster to an increasingly demanding global OTR market.