KENDA Europe has announced plans to expand its speciality business operations across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland (DACH region), with implementation set to begin in June 2025.

Following its recent strategic realignment revealed at The Tire Cologne 2024, the company will establish a dedicated stock facility near Hamburg to supply specialty products directly to regional distributors.

“This is a natural and strategic development driven by our commitment to being closer to our customers. In a partnership, being there matters, and our goal is to be present, accessible, and supportive of our customers. Strengthening our presence in the DACH region is about more than logistics; it’s about empowering our distributors and creating the conditions for long-term mutual growth,” said Christian de Wit, Sales Director of KENDA Europe Specialty.

The initiative will initially focus on specialty products, including trailer tyres, turf, small industrial and agricultural vehicles, ATV and UTVS, and forklifts. The company plans to eventually transform KENDA GmbH into a central European warehouse for specialty products, with potential future expansion to include additional product lines such as powersports.

The company indicated it would share further details with partners as the June launch approaches.

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With Europe now a core growth market and production stretched to the limit worldwide, Kumho Tire is investing heavily in local manufacturing and a focused truck-and-bus strategy built on measurable performance rather than brand glamour.

South Korean tyre major Kumho Tire, positioned as a value-driven brand, is now reigniting its plans to expand in Europe. In an exclusive interview with Tyre Trends, Ilhan Kurban, Marketing Manager at Kumho Tire Europe, outlines a company that has already delivered consistent expansion and is now repositioning for the next phase.

“We had an average about 13.3 percent YoY growth every year globally for the last several years. So, you can see, from having a turnover of USD 1.8 billion in 2020, we are now around USD 3.3 billion in 2025,” he said.

Last year the manufacturer sold 58.1 million tyres, with Europe becoming a central part of that momentum. The European replacement business alone generated around EUR 772 million and almost 15 million tyres, making the region increasingly important.

“That’s why our importance for Europe is really high at the moment and we are thinking to invest more and more in Europe because it’s getting like a core business for us,” shared Kurban.

LOCAL PRODUCTION TO UNLOCK FURTHER GROWTH

Until now, Kumho has relied on factories in Korea, China and Vietnam for expanding its sales in the global market. Vietnam in particular has completed its ramp-up and is shipping substantial volumes to Europe and the United States. Capacity across the network is at full stretch.

“We are already at maximum capacity utilisation at Kumho production facilities, be it in China, Korea or Vietnam. We need to have more production capacity for both TBR (truck and bus radial) and PCR (passenger car radial),” revealed Kurban.

Kumho Tire’s response, in early 2026, was a new plant in Opole, Poland, where groundbreaking has already begun. The project represents an investment of about USD 600 million. “The plant will have a production capacity to produce six million tyres initially and the production is expected to start by Q3 of 2028. We are planning to manufacture both PCR and TBR tyres,” said Kurban.

Interestingly, as per industry reports, Kumho Tire is committing an additional USD 45 million (KRW 59.6 billion) to accelerate the construction of its manufacturing facility in Opole. The capital allocation follows an investment of USD 54 million (KRW 73.3 billion) directed towards the new European plant last year.

In the long-run, the facility is expected to exceed manufacturing capacity of 10 million units by around 2030. Poland’s location within the European Union and its proximity to the German and central European markets make it a natural hub free of customs barriers. The plant is designed as a smart factory incorporating AI technology, automatic logistics and rigorous quality control – essential for meeting the demanding approvals of European customers, including premium vehicle manufacturers.

A second new factory is simultaneously under construction in Korea to replace the Gwangju site where a major fire incident in May 2025 led to extensive damage, bringing the latest automated processes on stream. Together the investments signal Kumho’s determination to support further volume growth while improving supply-chain resilience for European fleets.

REBUILDING TBR STRENGTH

Passenger-car radial remains Kumho’s primary business, yet the company has deliberately intensified its truck-and-bus radial efforts over the past two years. New long-haul and regional series covering all-position, trailer and drive-axle applications have been introduced with the latest Kumho technologies.

The tyre maker is already performing strongly in Italy, Poland and Scandinavia and is now targeting a deeper presence in Germany, where it previously struggled because of limited focus.

“Since the past two years, we had really focused on that to develop a new business opportunity for us and also get back into German market; that’s why we are also really working hard to introduce new products for German or for Central European market demands,” shared Kurban.

He acknowledges that reaching fleet customers requires a different approach from passenger-car marketing. Motorsport sponsorships and lifestyle campaigns have limited influence for the CV customer.

“It is most important to have qualified technical sales personnel in Germany, so we have onboarded special TBR sales managers. They visit customers and are providing test tyres to measure the mileage, check the performance and closely track the results,” explained Kurban.

An equally critical part of the growth strategy is the partner network. “The most important part for us is to have reliable retail partners, because we are a tyre manufacturer. At the end, it is not possible to bring the support fleet everywhere (for aftersales support),” averred Kurban.

For this reason, the company is strengthening its partnership in Germany and across Europe as the core part of its business. Logistics for large commercial tyres are complex, so distributors and service partners remain essential for delivery, technical support and ongoing customer relationships. Establishing a stronger aftersales and assistance network is a long-term objective, though for now, Kumho continues to rely on those partners.

The company also maintains a second brand, Marshal, positioned as a budget alternative for pure replacement demand.

In the organisation’s strategy, Kumho remains the halo brand focusing on quality-conscious customers as well as Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). On the other hand, Marshal is not targeted at OE business and serves mainly conventional sizes where price is the dominant consideration.

THE CASE FOR PRODUCT SIMPLICITY

Kurban expects electrification to form part of a mixed technology landscape rather than a complete replacement of conventional powertrains in either passenger or commercial vehicles.

“Our expectation is that, at the moment, be it passenger vehicle or commercial vehicle segment, electrification will be an alternative to Internal Combustion Engine (ICE). But it cannot completely replace ICE vehicles; it will be a mixture of different technologies,” he said.

The challenge for a tyre maker is to avoid an explosion of specialised products that confuses dealers and complicates logistics. Kumho’s strategy is therefore deliberate simplicity.

“Our target and product strategy is to ‘keep it simple’, which means produce tyres that are suitable for both conventional and electric vehicles. We are introducing all new products as EV ready products optimised for rolling resistance, mileage and wet grip, among others, so all customer requirements are met by the same tyre,” he said.

That approach contrasts with brands that offer numerous near-identical sizes, creating stock-holding and selection difficulties. By designing tyres that serve both conventional and electric vehicles without performance compromise, Kumho aims to keep ranges manageable while still meeting the higher torque, weight and efficiency demands of modern commercial vehicles.

On the related question of smart or connected tyres, Kurban observes limited immediate demand from fleets. Most operators already track vehicles via GPS systems and calculate tyre efficiency from fuel consumption, mileage and operating hours. In-tyre sensors that deliver additional data remain uncommon in his experience.

SUSTAINABILITY THAT PAYS FOR ITSELF

It is no secret that for fleet operators, the topic of sustainability is becoming quite crucial, yet they are rarely prepared to pay a premium for it.

“The fleets are not ready to pay any surcharge on sustainable tyres, but they’re requesting everything about sustainability. It has to be economical and meet their sustainable targets, but they’re not willing to pay any additional money for it. To be honest, this part (sustainability) has to be taken care of by the tyre maker always,” he shared.

What they do measure rigorously is cost per kilometre. High mileage and low rolling resistance translate directly into lower fuel consumption and longer intervals between replacements – benefits that appear on the balance sheet.

Kumho therefore treats sustainability as inseparable from performance. He explained that manufacturers must deliver more durable, lower-resistance products without raising prices or sacrificing capability.

Replacement cycles themselves vary too widely for simple averages. Road conditions, driver behaviour and maintenance practices can produce differences of several hundred thousand kilometres.

“You can see a really big difference if you are driving on the German motorway or the autobahn, where you can achieve better mileage if the truck and the tyre pressure is well maintained. In contrast, to anyone in Turkey who’s only driving on roads with potholes and never checking the tyre will have a different replacement cycle,” he said, illustrating an example of how road conditions and maintenance habits affect tyre life.

Kurban is confident in Kumho’s overarching ambition of a 5 percent global market share and recognition as a premium quality brand, with Europe now central to that goal.

The upcoming Polish plant will supply both passenger and commercial tyres closer to customers. New TBR patterns are already reaching key markets, and the product philosophy continues to prioritise simplicity and measurable economy.

As Kurban puts it, Kumho’s strategy for fleet operators is to keep its value proposition straightforward – tyres that work across powertrain types, last longer, roll more efficiently and arrive through a reliable partner network – without demanding a sustainability surcharge.

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Continental has named Ashok Vedanayagam as Head of Commercial Specialty Tires Americas, a move underscoring the company's dedication to growth and customer service across its speciality tyre operations. In this capacity, Vedanayagam will manage the Earthmoving, Material Handling and Port Operations segments throughout North and South America.

He will direct every facet of the CST business in the region, advancing Continental's push to provide inventive tyre solutions and superior value to customers working in the challenging material handling, earthmoving and port settings.

With over 20 years of experience, Vedanayagam has served in numerous leadership roles spanning both the Commercial Truck Tire and Passenger and Light Truck Tire divisions, where he has consistently propelled growth, reinforced customer relationships and promoted market-driven approaches across various regions. The appointment reflects Continental's resolve to serve Americas customers through innovative products, sector knowledge and a sharp emphasis on operational excellence.

Renato Sarzano, Senior Vice President, Commercial Tires Americas, Continental, said, “Ashok’s extensive experience in sales, marketing and international business leadership makes him exceptionally well qualified for this role. His proven ability to build strong customer relationships, develop high-performing teams and deliver results across both consumer and commercial markets will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen our Commercial Specialty Tires business throughout the Americas.”

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SI Group has named Marcello Boldrini as its new Chief Executive Officer, with the appointment taking effect on 19 October 2026. He will take over from David Bradley, who has held the President and Chief Executive Officer role since 2019. The company is a global developer and manufacturer of performance additives, process solutions and chemical intermediates.

Boldrini arrives with over 30 years of leadership experience in speciality chemicals and materials, having worked across Europe, Asia and the Americas. He most recently served as Chief Executive Officer and a Director of Kraton Corporation, a Houston-based global speciality chemicals company. At Kraton, he drove growth and transformation efforts, including establishing a Transformation Office that delivered more than USD 100 million in annual EBITDA improvements. His earlier career included senior leadership positions at Houghton International, Momentive/Hexion and Ashland.

Based at SI Group's headquarters in The Woodlands, Texas, Boldrini resides in the Houston area. The leadership team will collaborate closely with him to sustain a strong emphasis on safety, operational performance and customer commitments. Customers, suppliers and other business partners are expected to continue working through their existing SI Group contacts.

Daryl Roberts, member of the SI Group Board of Directors, said, “We are pleased to welcome Marcello Boldrini as SI Group’s next CEO. Marcello brings significant experience in the global speciality chemicals industry and a strong track record of leading growth, transformation and operational improvement. His experience and perspective will serve SI Group well as we continue to strengthen our performance, serve our customers and execute our priorities.”

Boldrini said, “I am honoured to join SI Group as CEO and look forward to working with our employees, customers and partners. My initial focus will be on listening and learning, spending time with our teams and customers and collaborating with the leadership team to build on SI Group’s strengths and set clear priorities for the business. Safe and reliable operations, disciplined execution and delivering value for our customers will remain at the centre of our work.”

Shawn Abrams, member of SI Group’s Board of Directors, said, “On behalf of the Board, I want to thank David Bradley for his leadership and many contributions to SI Group. David led SI Group through significant change and some of the most challenging conditions our industry has faced. During his tenure, the company successfully completed its 2025 recapitalisation, strengthening SI Group’s financial position and providing greater flexibility for the future. We are grateful for David’s commitment to SI Group and its people, and we wish him continued success.”

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As Europe’s commercial vehicle industry moves towards electrification, alternative fuels and tighter sustainability requirements, Hankook Tire is pinning its growth strategy on being closer to the customers.

The South Korean tyre maker is beginning Truck & Bus Radial (TBR) production in Europe while developing longer-lasting products and flexible fleet services as it seeks further growth in the region.

In an exclusive interaction with Tyre Trends on the sidelines of IAA Transportation 2026, Richard Bezzant, Marketing Director – Truck & Bus at Hankook Tire Europe, said the company is not merely reacting to market shifts but actively pursuing growth.

He described a strategy centred on matching product development with the evolving requirements of transport fleets, including lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), digital solutions, regulatory compliance and higher fuel efficiency. For this, the Korean tyre maker is starting production closer to customers and offer services designed to support higher vehicle uptime.

According to Bezzant, Europe already accounts for around 45 percent of Hankook’s global revenue, making the region an important growth market rather than simply a mature market to defend.

LOCALISING PRODUCTION

One of the clearest expressions of this strategy is Hankook’s TBR tyre production in Europe. The company is investing about EUR 540 million in TBR line at its Rácalmás facility in Hungary, which currently produces PCR tyres. The first set of commercial products is expected to begin production from October.

“Our response to that trend in Europe specifically is the new production line that we are opening at the beginning of October to start producing TBR tyres in Europe. It is about bringing products closer to our customers, reducing supply chain delays and making it more sustainable because the less distance travelled in logistics, the better it is for our customers,” Bezzant explained.

With the new line, the company will have a production capacity of more than 800,000 units of TBR per year, according to Bezzant. The production is significant for Hankook as it seeks to increase its presence in Europe’s commercial vehicle tyre market while making greater use of locally produced tyres.

To begin with, it will focus on 22.5-inch tyres for trucks and buses. The plan is to increase capacity and add further specifications as they are approved.

The strategy also reflects the changing requirements of commercial vehicle manufacturers and fleets. As powertrain technologies evolve, tyre manufacturers need to respond to different vehicle characteristics, including changes in weight, axle loads, torque delivery and efficiency requirements.

DESIGNING FOR THE CHANGING TRUCK

Electrification and alternative fuels were among the most visible themes at IAA Transportation 2026, according to Bezzant. While battery-electric vehicles are gaining ground in several applications, the transition is not following a single path across all commercial vehicle segments or markets.

“At IAA, the most visible trend you see is electrification and alternative fuel. That’s the first thing you notice in trucks and buses, among others. It is important for us to follow the trend and make sure we produce the right products to meet the needs of those vehicles and customers,” he said.

The powertrain mix will ultimately be shaped by vehicle manufacturers and the operating requirements of individual applications. Bezzant said Hankook’s role is to support those developments through tyre technology.

“Those things are going to be led by the OEMs. Our role as a tyre manufacturer is to support what those vehicles need and to support the way that power is going to be delivered to the road, the additional weight and loads that they might need to carry. We will follow those OEM partners in the direction to support them in where they need,” he averred.

The transition is already more visible in some bus applications, particularly where municipal procurement is accelerating the adoption of electric buses. Truck applications, meanwhile, continue to involve a broader mix of powertrain technologies.

For tyre manufacturers, this creates a requirement to balance durability, load-carrying capability, rolling resistance and overall efficiency as vehicle architectures evolve.

That balance is also becoming increasingly important as fleets face greater pressure to reduce operating costs and environmental impact. For Hankook, longer tyre life remains a central part of that proposition.

“The fundamental first part is about the longer the tyre stays on the vehicle, the better for the environment. And that is a core piece of Hankook’s value proposition to our customer. We pride ourselves on very strong performance in mileage,” Bezzant said.

The company is also developing products aimed at improving rolling resistance without compromising mileage performance. For fleets, the objective is to combine tyre longevity with vehicle efficiency and lower total cost of ownership.

SMART FLEX COMPLETES REGIONAL-TRANSPORT LINEUP

The company used IAA Transportation to present the world premiere of its Smart Flex TH51 trailer tyre, completing its Smart Flex tyre line for regional-distance transport alongside the Smart Flex AH51 for the steering axle and Smart Flex DH51 for the drive axle.

Compared with its predecessor, the TH51 is designed around the requirements of high mileage and low rolling resistance. At launch, Hankook will offer the tyre in 385/65 R22.5, with the tyre carrying the 3PMSF certification mark for use in winter conditions and as part of a year-round application strategy.

Richard Bezzant, Marketing Director – Truck & Bus at Hankook Tire Europe

The TH51 is intended for single-axle applications on semi-trailers and trailers. Its tread, the company said, is designed as a key element of the tyre’s performance strategy, using concealed grooves manufactured through 3D-printed tread moulds.

The design is intended to progressively reveal additional tread features as the tyre wears. When approximately 40 percent of the tread has worn, interlocking 3D sipes are revealed to increase tread-block rigidity and support grip. At around 70 percent wear, additional concealed grooves become exposed to support wet grip. By around 90 percent wear, the concealed grooves are fully exposed, with Hankook positioning the design as a means of maintaining performance towards the end of the tyre’s service life.

The tread combines zigzag grooves with drainage grooves and channels. The zigzag grooves are designed to provide grip, counter irregular wear and support water evacuation under changing road and weather conditions. Water is channelled through the drainage grooves and discharged through the drainage channels.

The product therefore links several of the requirements highlighted by Bezzant – mileage, rolling resistance, grip and efficiency – in a single trailer application. Rather than being a standalone launch, the TH51 illustrates how Hankook is applying its product-development strategy to different axle positions within regional transport.

As regulatory attention increases on tyre abrasion and other non-exhaust emissions, the ability to deliver longer service life and improved efficiency is likely to become increasingly relevant to tyre selection.

EXPANSION AMID COMPETITION

Hankook’s investment comes at a time when the global tyre industry is seeing continued competitive pressure, capacity adjustments and increasing participation from manufacturers from emerging markets.

Against this backdrop, Bezzant described Hankook’s approach as expansionary. “For us, it’s much more growth-oriented,” he stated.

The company has also expanded its TBR manufacturing footprint in the United States and is targeting growth in both North America and Europe.

“We’re growing in both the United States and in Europe across the board. Europe represents 45 percent of our global revenue in total, and this year we are seeing growth, substantial growth. We witnessed good growth last year and next year too we expect the same,” he explained.

The additional European production capacity will therefore need to be absorbed through increased sales, with Hankook looking to build demand across both replacement and OE channels.

Responding to what is next for the tyre maker, Bezzant said that the company will now focus on consuming the additional capacity within its global production, especially with the new TBR tyre production starting in Europe.

The company’s approach to growing competition from Chinese tyre manufacturers in Europe is similarly pragmatic. Rather than viewing new entrants purely as a threat, Bezzant sees potential benefits if products are manufactured locally and meet the quality, sustainability and performance requirements of European fleets.

He said the European market benefits from a broad choice of products, while local production can make it easier for customers to access tyres and manage supply.

Bezzant also highlighted the importance of sustainability and retreadability as the market develops. For fleet operators, the ability to maximise tyre life and support multiple lives through retreading can contribute to both operating efficiency and resource efficiency.

REBUILDING OE PARTNERSHIP

Hankook is also looking to strengthen its original equipment presence in European truck applications.

“In Europe today, in OE truck, we are just restarting that business. So today we are not an OE supplier as it stands now,” Bezzant said.

While Hankook is rebuilding its European truck OE presence, the company has established relationships with trailer manufacturers including Schmitz Cargobull, Wielton and Fruehauf.

The company’s strategy extends beyond the tyre itself, with fleet services becoming an increasingly important part of its offering.

FLEXIBLE FLEET SERVICES

Hankook already operates its Smart Fleet offering in the UK, the Netherlands, France and Germany. The model is designed to give fleets flexibility in selecting the services they require across different markets.

“It’s almost like an à la carte menu. A customer can say, ‘I need breakdown service across Europe’, or ‘I only need it in one country’. We will provide a platform to manage authorisations and billing,” Bezzant explained.

The Hankook Smart Solution authorisation and tyre management platform can be combined with the Smart Partner Network, which provides contracted services. The objective is to help fleets reduce downtime, maintain vehicle availability and gain greater control over tyre-related expenditure.

For fleets operating across multiple countries or through several distributors, such a model can simplify tyre management while allowing operators to select services according to their individual requirements.

As Bezzant puts it, the underlying strategy is straightforward: get closer to the customer, understand how commercial vehicles are changing and build the products, production footprint and services around those requirements.

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