At a critical juncture for India’s automotive sector, Arun Mammen, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director, MRF Ltd, takes over as Chairman of ATMA (Automotive Tyre Manufacturers’ Association) on its Golden Jubilee Year 2025. At a time when the Indian tyre industry is faced with stringent global challenges, Mammen, with experience of more than three decades, takes over to lead the association through a stage of change with technology revolution, sustainability and strategic expansion. In this one-to-one interview, he presents his thoughts on the industry scenario presently, the challenges in the future that lie ahead and what is India’s vision for the tyre manufacturing industry.

How did the Indian tyre industry fare in FY2025?

FY2025 has been a year of consolidation wherein Indian tyre industry showed much resilience. Despite global headwinds, the domestic market showed steady growth, buoyed by robust demand in the replacement segment and gradual recovery in OEM demand. Infrastructure and road development, focus areas in successive budgets, contributed positively to the industry’s performance. While raw material costs remained volatile, prudent cost management strategies helped the companies ride through a challenging year.

The Indian tyre industry has faced persistent challenges with raw material volatility. What concrete steps will ATMA take under your leadership to reduce dependency on imported natural rubber (NR)?

Reducing reliance on imported natural rubber is a key priority of the government as well as the industry. The planting under the INROAD project, a public private partnership aimed at new rubber plantations in 200,000 hectares in North East for enhancing domestic NR production, has entered well into the fifth year. The original target of planting 200,000 hectares of land with rubber will be completed by next year. Plantations supported by INROAD will start yielding from 2027 onwards, which will substantially reduce the production consumption gap of NR in India. Once these trees enter the yielding phase, the domestic NR output will certainly help in reducing NR imports. Meanwhile, ATMA will continue to work closely with the Rubber Board to enhance domestic production through means such as scientific farming practices. We are also working with Rubber Board through INROAD to identify the untapped rubber plantations in the country with an objective to find a way to start tapping them.

In spite of government efforts, the demand-supply gap of domestic natural rubber persists. How do you envision bridging this underlying supply hurdle?

Bridging the demand-supply gap requires a multipronged approach. First, improving productivity through agri-extension services and quality planting materials. We are promoting climate-resistant and high-yield clones through the INROAD project. Second, increasing farmer income by improving NR quality to make rubber farming viable. With iSPEED, a project of INROAD to improve quality of rubber produced in the country, we aim at significantly improving the quality of rubber produced in the country within next five years, which will substantially improve the income generation of the rubber farmers. Third, a long-term roadmap involving plantation expansion is essential. ATMA will continue to advocate for policy reforms and a long-term vision to build domestic industry and farmer confidence.

Indian export front has witnessed a peak in exports of tyres in recent years. Still, most export markets are fighting hard now. What will happen to export trends in coming months?

Global uncertainty may temper growth in the short term, but the structural competitiveness of Indian tyre manufacturers – cost efficiency, quality and compliance with international benchmarks – remains intact. While exports may stabilise in traditional markets, we expect opportunities to emerge in new geographies, particularly in Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia. ATMA is actively engaging with the government to improve export competitiveness and bilateral trade facilitation.

There have been no tyres from China in the last two years. How has that benefitted the Indian tyre industry?

The restriction of Chinese tyres has helped provide a level playing field for domestic players, especially in the truck and bus radial (TBR) segment and also helped in stopping import of poor quality, cheap truck bias tyres which were unsafe to operate under heavy loading conditions in India, compared to the Indian bias tyres which are designed to meet the domestic service conditions. It has accelerated capacity utilisation, encouraged fresh investments and enabled Indian brands to increase their footprint in both replacement and OEM markets. More importantly, it has strengthened the ecosystem for local innovation and quality standards.

Now BIS certification is compulsory for tyre machines being sold in India. How will it help the industry? Also, there are numerous foreign tyre machine manufacturers who are finding it difficult to register and get the certification. As the apex body of the Indian tyre industry, will you assist them in this regard?

BIS certification ensures consistency in machine quality and enhances safety, efficiency and reliability in manufacturing. As tyre production gathers momentum, more avenues will open for machine manufacturers. ATMA, with the support of Department of Heavy Industry (DHI) has facilitated knowledge sharing sessions and interaction between the policy makers and machinery manufacturers, both domestic and international suppliers.

Global leading tyre manufacturers are shifting away from large-scale production of small-size tyres (14” to 18”) towards larger tyres or establishing a stronger presence in premium segments. Is there a sweet spot for Asian tyre companies, particularly Indian, in the global market?

With our cost advantage, strong engineering base and growing R&D capabilities, Indian companies are well positioned to become reliable suppliers in the volume segment, even as we continuously scale up in the premium niches. End-of-life tyre disposal is still not organised in India, even with regulations. Why has the industry failed to develop efficient recycling infrastructure, and what’s your strategy to deal with this environmental risk? The EPR regulations are a step in the right direction, but the ecosystem is still evolving in the country. ATMA is working on creating an industry-wide platform for end-of-life tyre traceability, supporting sustainable disposal technologies and partnering with recyclers to build a viable circular economy model. We are liaisoning with the authorities to create pollution-free ELT disposal by the recyclers. ATMA member companies are helping the pollution control department through auditing the process of recyclers to speed up setting checks and balance in this sector. ATMA is also following up with the government to ban import of used tyres, for the purpose of pyrolysis, into the country.

Increasing logistics costs are tightening industry margins. What are the infrastructural bottlenecks that most deeply affect the tyre industry, and how are you approaching government stakeholders to resolve them?

High road freight costs, port congestion and insufficient rail-freight linkages are key concerns. We are in discussions with the government to improve multimodal transport connectivity, optimise freight corridors and simplify port logistics. Faster clearances and digital infrastructure can significantly lower turnaround time and costs. ATMA continues to be an active participant for policy formulation in this domain.

Some of the world’s major tyre makers have become carbon neutral in their businesses. Why are Indian companies not following suit, and how will ATMA propel sustainability?

Sustainability is a top priority, and many Indian tyre majors have already made significant strides in renewable energy usage, water recycling and carbon reduction. While carbon neutrality takes time and scale, we’re moving in that direction. ATMA is working on a sustainability roadmap to support industry players with benchmarks, best practices and technology collaboration to accelerate green transitions.

What could be the major challenge for the tyre industry in the near future and how do you plan to overcome it?

We need to look at the challenges for tyre industry along with that of the auto industry. With sustainability gaining traction and Euro 7 and BS7 standards likely to kick off in 2026/27, auto industry may have to work overtime to meet the proposed deadlines. Transition to non-fossil fuel combustion engine, hybrid engine and EV will gain traction. There could also be some standards on tread road wear particle emission (TRWPE) although there is no clear statistics to establish the current quantity of TRWP emission. In this regard, we should be careful not to copy / paste any European legislation without considering India specific challenges. For example, India is still a major bias tyre market and there are a large number of loyal customers for this product. Instead of replacing bias tyre entirely by radial tyre, we should focus on specific interventions to make bias tyre bridge the gap with radial tyre.As far as TRWP is concerned, we will have to admit that Indian road surface as well as road terrain is totally different from Europe. So this subject need a much larger study. To begin with we need to establish a proper data base to understand and work on the problem. We are sure that we will soon find a solution for all the above problems.

How do you see FY2026?

FY26 is expected to be a growth year, supported by robust infrastructure spending and sustained vehicle demand. While global macro challenges remain, the Indian tyre industry’s fundamentals are strong. Digitisation, innovation and sustainability will be our key focus areas as we aim to position India as a global hub for quality tyre manufacturing.

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Italian premium tyre manufacturer Pirelli has equipped the new McLaren W1 supercar with three bespoke tyre fitments made from more than 50 percent bio-based and recycled materials. This figure has been certified by the independent body Bureau Veritas.

Pirelli is the sole tyre supplier for the new model, which features a hybrid powertrain capable of delivering up to 1,275 PS and 1,340 Nm. The W1 has acceleration of zero to 300 kmph in less than 12.7 seconds and a top speed limited to 350 kmph.

The three new tyres – P Zero R, P Zero Trofeo RS and P Zero Winter 2 – were developed in collaboration with McLaren's R&D teams, starting in a virtual environment with driving simulation technology before progressing to physical tests. Testing locations included the Nardo circuit in southern Italy and the Idiada track in Spain.

The fitments cover every aspect of the supercar's use:

• P Zero R: Designed for daily driving.
• P Zero Trofeo RS: A track-biased tyre delivering high performance.
• P Zero Winter 2: Handles colder seasons.

All three tyres for the W1 will be produced at Pirelli’s plant in Settimo Torinese, Italy.

These bespoke P Zero tyres are the first supercar tyres to be made with over 50 percent bio-based and recycled materials. This is part of Pirelli’s industrial plan, which aims to launch the first tyres containing 80 percent of these materials by 2030. The company’s P Zero E, launched in 2023, was the first tyre on the market to contain more than 55 percent bio-based and recycled materials.

A logo identifies all Pirelli products containing at least 50 percent sustainable materials.

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Italian engineering firm Comerio Ercole S.p.A. said its participation at K2025 in Düsseldorf exceeded expectations, underscoring its reputation as a global leader in technological innovation and sustainable industrial development.

During the week-long plastics and rubber trade fair, Comerio Ercole’s booth became a major hub for international engagement, welcoming delegations from across Europe, Asia and the Americas. The company said visitors expressed “genuine and concrete interest” in its advanced technologies and long-term sustainability vision.

“The quantity and quality of specific requests received from clients and new contacts alike were truly remarkable,” Comerio Ercole said in a statement, adding that many inquiries related to “ambitious, tailor-made projects” that its R&D team has already begun studying.

The company also celebrated its 140th anniversary at the fair on 11 October , with organisers surprising the team with a commemorative cake — a gesture reserved for exhibitors marking milestone anniversaries.

“K2025 was a success: we return home inspired, proud and motivated to continue innovating for a more sustainable and dynamic industrial future,” the company said.

Separately, Comerio Ercole announced it had been recognised for the fifth consecutive year among Italy’s top-performing companies in sustainability, ranking in the Top 75 for Integrated Finance and the Top 100 for Sustainability Excellence 2025.

The Sustainability Award, presented recently at Borsa Italiana in Milan, honours companies that integrate ESG principles into their business strategies while turning environmental and social challenges into opportunities for innovation.

Representing the company at the ceremony were Olga Comerio, Board Member of Comerio 1885 Holding Società Benefit, and Riccardo Comerio, CEO of Comerio Ercole.

“We know there is still much to do, but we are committed every day to improving, with a strong focus on environmental sustainability, responsible resource management and innovation for a greener future,” said Riccardo Comerio.

The event, attended by institutional and industry leaders, featured key partners including Kon Group, Elite Euronext Group, Altis Advisory, Università Cattolica, Open-es, Eni, BCG, Google Cloud, RepRisk, Azimut Italia and Forbes Italia.

Founded in 1885 and headquartered in Busto Arsizio, Italy, Comerio Ercole specialises in high-precision engineering solutions for the rubber and plastics industries, combining technological excellence with a strong commitment to sustainable industrial development.

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In a significant leadership transition, PCBL Chemical, a part of the RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group, has appointed Nilesh Koul as its Managing Director for a five-year term, effective immediately. The company's Board confirmed this appointment during its meeting on 3 November 2025 subject to final ratification by shareholders through a postal ballot. This change was prompted by the resignation of the former Managing Director, Kaushik Roy, who stepped down for personal reasons, effective from the same date. The Board emphasised that selecting Koul is a strategic step aimed at ensuring leadership continuity and driving the company's future growth.

Koul is an experienced leader with a career spanning 28 years across diverse sectors including metals, oil and gas, construction materials and FMCG. His professional background includes senior executive roles at prominent organisations such as Hindalco Industries, British Petroleum, Castrol India, LafargeHolcim and Pidilite Industries, where he managed international operations. His most recent position was Senior President and CEO of the Aluminium Downstream business at Hindalco Industries. Academically, he is a graduate of G B Pant University and an alumnus of IIM-Ahmedabad, and he also serves on the Board of the Aerospace India Association.

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Tire Rack is celebrating the induction of its co-founder and longtime CEO, Mike Joines, into the Tire Industry Hall of Fame. The company credits Joines' automotive passion as the foundational spark for its mission to transform the tyre industry. Under his leadership, Tire Rack pioneered one of the first e-commerce platforms for tyre retailing, fundamentally changing how consumers research and purchase tyres.

The company’s philosophy, established by Joines, centred on empowering customers through comprehensive information rather than just completing a sale. This customer-first approach was built upon providing detailed product reviews, performance testing data, side-by-side comparisons and expert guidance.

Tire Rack also acknowledges that Joines understood the critical role of its team, noting that the ingenuity and integrity of its employees have been the true driving force behind decades of innovation and sustained customer trust. The company honours Joines as an enthusiast, innovator and leader whose devotion remains a source of inspiration.

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