Birla Tyres, once a dominant name on Indian roads, is going a transformation under new ownership. Acquired by Himadri Speciality Chemicals and Dalmia Bharat Refractories, the iconic brand is being restructured to target emerging opportunities within electric vehicles and off-the-highway tyres, supported by strategic innovation and forward integration.

Birla Tyres ruled many Indian roads for over two decades till its fall in 2023. Born as a division of Kesoram Industries in 1991, the tyre maker collaborated with global giant Pirelli shortly after its inception for advanced tyre manufacturing technology.

It started production of truck and bus tyres from its Odisha plant in 1992, and later, between 1995 and 2000, went onto produce tyres across different vehicular categories including passenger, two-wheeler, commercial, farm and heavy earth-movers. 

The Kolkata-based manufacturer produced both radial and bias tyres and had a densely spread supply chain with over 170 sales depots within India and an international network across 17 countries during the helm of its operations.

Production capacities had risen to 15 million tyres with revenue crossing INR 200 billion, annually, until the second decade of the 21st century. The company that once held a moderate share in the Indian tyre market, competing with brands like MRF, Apollo Tyres, CEAT and JK Tyre, was now facing operational efficiencies leading to dwindling market share.

Hence, a new era heralded within the operations of one of the major homegrown tyre makers. Furthermore, the axe fell at the core of the entity in 2019 when Kesoram Industries demerged its tyre division into an independent entity called Birla Tyres Limited to focus exclusively on the tyre business.

Soon after, in 2021, financial crisis led the company to file for insolvency under the Indian Bankruptcy Code due to mounting debts and operational losses. Production slowed significantly with plants running below capacity. The company had incurred debt of over INR 100 billion by 2021, and in FY23, Birla Tyres’ reported a net loss of INR 370.7 million.

Between 2022-2023, the company made revival attempts as it sought investors, explored cost-cutting measures, focused on realigning its product portfolio, emphasising two-wheeler tyres and niche markets like electric vehicles, but to no avail.

Alas, in October, 2023, control of Birla Tyres was handed over to a consortium of Kolkata-based Himadri Speciality Chemicals and Dalmia Bharat Refractories.

The rebirth

According to media reports, Himadri Speciality Chemical and Dalmia Bharat Refractories jointly acquired Birla Tyres under India’s Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process, approved by the National Company Law Tribunal. Birla Tyres faced insolvency due to mounting debt, including claims of INR 115.2 billion by financial creditors. The resolution plan proposed a payment of INR 3.16 billion to secured creditors against admitted claims of INR 109.7 billion.

The new owners aimed to revitalise Birla Tyres by leveraging its existing infrastructure, particularly at the Balasore plant in Odisha. While Himadri Speciality Chemicals planned to focus on passenger car tyres, including those for electric vehicles (EV), Dalmia Bharat Refractories proposed to oversee procurement and material supply.

The strategic partnership sought to re-establish Birla Tyres in niche markets, supported by Himadri’s expertise in carbon black production, which constitutes a significant cost component in tyre manufacturing.

Moreover, the consortium decided in November 2023 to invest INR 2.5 billion to operationalise the passenger car radial segment of the fallen giant.

Path forward

Over a year has passed since the controlling interests have been transferred, but the Indian tyre landscape eagerly awaits the resurgence of a much-loved brand. Speaking to Tyre Trends on the re-launching of Birla Tyres, Himadri Speciality Chemicals Managing Director Anurag Choudhary said, “We plan to initially continue producing Birla Tyres existing range but have outlined a strategic shift towards focusing on electric vehicle tyres in the long term. With the electric vehicle market rapidly expanding, the demand for specialised tyres designed to meet the unique requirements of EVs is expected to grow significantly. Additionally, we also aim to prioritise off-the-highway (OTR) tyres as part of our long-term vision, targeting key industrial and off-road sectors.”

Himadri Speciality Chemicals plans to start the manufacturing process from Birla Tyres’ plant in Balasore, which has with a capacity of 400 tyres per day. While the company acknowledges the growing potential of the EV market, it has not yet determined how much of this capacity will be allocated to EV tyre production. This decision will depend on finalising future plans and market strategies. 

Additionally, no capital expenditure plans have been finalised yet, but it was informed that the specialty chemicals company is considering the establishment of a dedicated supply chain to support the tyre operations.

Alluding to why a specialty chemicals company invested in acquiring a tyre company, Choudhary averred, “Our acquisition of Birla Tyres aligns with a long-standing strategy of forward integration. Historically, we have evolved by building on core processes, starting with coal tar distillation and progressing into areas such as oils, carbon black and eventually speciality black products.”

“This forward-thinking approach has also driven the development of special coal tar-derived materials for applications like anode materials in lithium-ion batteries, reflecting our commitment to innovation and research and development. The decision to acquire Birla Tyres is a natural extension of this strategy. Tyre production uses a significant proportion (almost 26 percent) of carbon black by volume, making it a logical step for the company to integrate downstream into the tyre manufacturing sector. This acquisition not only ensures a steady demand for its carbon black but also positions the company to leverage its expertise in specialty materials and innovation for future growth,” he added.

When asked about plans to introduce sustainable materials in the revival of Birla Tyres, the executive indicated that the company is steadfast in its plan to foster a circular economy and is exploring ways to enhance the reusability of existing materials including carbon black but emphasised that these efforts are still in the research and development phase.

Regarding competitiveness in the tyre market, he stated that the company is devising a comprehensive strategy. As for the challenges of entering the tyre industry, he acknowledged that being a newcomer brings a range of hurdles. However, he viewed these challenges as opportunities to innovate and carve a niche in the market.

Forward integration

Himadri Speciality Chemicals in also setting up a lithium-iron phosphate plant in Odisha to further its expansion into the automotive sector. Furthermore, it also sees growing demand for carbon black within the Indian market.

Commenting on opportunities in India's carbon black market, Choudhury highlighted, “Himadri is focusing heavily on speciality carbon black, a high-value segment with diverse applications. We have a current production capacity of 60,000 metric tonnes and plan to expand it to 130,000 metric tonnes, positioning us as the world’s fourth-largest producer in this niche. We are also focusing on speciality carbon black for EV tyres.”

When asked about the potential of recovered carbon black, he expressed doubts about its ability to replace virgin carbon black due to quality constraints. While the company supports sustainability under its ESG commitments and is a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact, recycled carbon black is expected to remain a small, complementary product in its portfolio. 

Speaking on the lithium-iron phosphate plant in Odisha, Choudhary mentioned that the first phase is designed to produce 40,000 metric tonnes, supporting 20 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of battery production. The project involves a capital expenditure of INR 113 billion and marks a significant step in Himadri’s strategy to support the EV and battery sectors. 

Moreover, he sees significant growth opportunities in the EV market, which he mentioned is at a critical inflection point, leading to exponential adoption. The company is investing in materials essential to the EV ecosystem. It has focused on developing key battery components such as cathodes and is conducting research on anodes, which together account for 65 percent of a lithium-ion cell’s cost.

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Dow Inc. said its chief executive Jim Fitterling will become executive chair of the board from 1 July , 2026, with chief operating officer Karen S Carter appointed as chief executive.

Carter will also join the board on the same date, while Richard Davis will continue as independent lead director.

The company said the changes follow a multi-year succession planning process and are intended to ensure continuity as it advances its strategy as a materials science group.

“On behalf of the Board, I want to thank Jim for his exceptional leadership and continued contributions to Dow,” Davis said. “Jim has led the company through a period of significant transformation while strengthening Dow's strategy, culture and long-term positioning. We are equally pleased to congratulate Karen on her appointment as CEO. She is a disciplined, highly respected leader with a deep understanding of Dow's businesses and customers. This appointment reflects our confidence in her ability to lead Dow forward into its next chapter of growth and value creation for customers, employees and shareholders.”

Fitterling, who has been chief executive since 2018 and chair since 2020, oversaw the company’s separation from DowDuPont and led its repositioning towards higher-growth, consumer-led markets. He also guided the group through broader macroeconomic and geopolitical challenges, while advancing its sustainability ambitions and corporate culture.

“Serving as CEO of Dow has been the privilege of a lifetime,” Fitterling said. “Together with our employees and leadership team, we have transformed Dow into a stronger, more focused company with the right strategy, capabilities and culture for the future. I look forward to continuing to support Dow as Executive Chair and working closely with Karen to help ensure continuity and strong execution.”

As executive chair, Fitterling will continue to lead the board, focusing on long-term strategy, governance and external relationships.

Carter, who has spent more than three decades at Dow, currently oversees business and operational performance across the company as chief operating officer. She previously led the packaging and specialty plastics division, the group’s largest operating segment, where she focused on capacity expansion, asset upgrades and operational reliability, alongside efforts linked to circular economy initiatives.

“I am deeply honored to assume the role of CEO and lead Dow into our next chapter,” Carter said. “Dow has extraordinary people, world-class assets and leading positions in the markets we serve. Our focus remains unwavering: delivering reliable and innovative solutions for our customers, and long-term value for our employees and our shareholders, while accelerating our transformation to set a new competitive standard for best-in-class performance. I look forward to continuing my partnership with Jim in his new role as Executive Chair, and to working with the Board and all of Team Dow to advance our strategy and deliver on our priorities.”

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Nokian Tyres plc is expanding its partnership with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) to strengthen IT operations and support ongoing transformation.

The companies will focus their expanded partnership on maintaining and developing IT applications to meet Nokian Tyres’ future needs and to increase the efficiency of its IT operations.

TCS has already handled Nokian Tyres’ service desk support, end-user services like device deliveries, and network and data centre operations. Starting June 1, 2026, TCS will also take over maintenance and development of IT applications, as well as on-site support for internal processes.

This change is part of a larger restructuring of Nokian Tyres’ IT organisation to keep up with changing business needs.

“A more extensive partnership with TCS will enable Nokian Tyres to have a globally unified, agile, and efficient operating model that supports business needs. In addition, it creates a sustainable foundation for the increasing adoption of next-generation technologies such as automation, data-driven solutions and artificial intelligence,” said Timmy McLellan, vice-president, IT and processes, and chief information officer at Nokian Tyres.

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JK Tyre & Industries, one of the leading tyre manufacturers in the country, has appointed Mandar V Deo as President – India, effective immediately.

Based in Delhi, Deo will report to the Chairman and Managing Director, Dr Raghupati Singhania, and the Managing Director, Anshuman Singhania. He joins the tyre manufacturer with more than two decades of experience in senior leadership positions, having previously served at Exide Energy Solutions, Cummins India and Cummins Inc.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Pune University, alongside a Master’s degree and a PhD from Pennsylvania State University. He also holds an MBA from the Kelly School of Business at Indiana University.

Deo’s appointment comes as JK Tyre continues to expand its global footprint, which currently spans 105 countries and includes 11 manufacturing facilities in India and Mexico with an annual production capacity of 35 million tyres.

The company maintains a focus on technical innovation through its Raghupati Singhania Centre of Excellence in Mysore and was the first in India to introduce 'Smart Tyre' technology featuring integrated Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS). Additionally, JK Tyre has committed to the global RE100 initiative, aiming to transition to 100% renewable electricity by 2050.

Dr Raghupati Singhania, Chairman & Managing Director, JK Tyre, said, “I am confident that Mr. Deo will provide strong and adept leadership and steer JK Tyre on a new growth trajectory.”

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The research and development team of any tyre maker decides whether the final product will be a success or a failure. And it is prudent to say that a lot of research hours and developmental cash go into making one of the most critical components of the automobile sector. In an exclusive tete-a-tete with Tyre Trends, Vice President and Global Head of Research and Development at Omni United, Olli Seppala, shares insights into the demanding and complex world of tyre research illuminating how markets and other factors dictate team operations.

“Omni United has an experienced team and we understand the needs of different markets very well. We constantly track trends in each region because legislation and approval requirements change all the time. In Europe, for instance, there are evolving regulations and strong influence from testing. In United States, the market is also changing very quickly as it is no longer only about mileage and comfort. Performance has become equally important,” he stated.

The company sells extensively in North America and Europe as well as in countries like South Africa, Australia and several markets across Asia.

However, every market doesn’t necessarily have similar demands, and the onus falls on the research and development team to derive market-ready products.

“Every market is equally demanding in different ways. Europe requires extremely high-performance levels, but customers are also willing to pay for that performance. In Asian markets, however, you still need a certain level of performance, but you must also keep prices under control. That creates additional pressure on the research and development side,” noted Seppala.

In the tyre industry, research and development quietly determines whether a product succeeds or disappears from the market. Behind every tyre lies years of testing, complex material science and constant adaptation to changing global demands. In an exclusive interaction with Tyre Trends, Vice President and Global Head of Research and Development at Omni United, Olli Seppala, explains how the company’s development teams navigate shifting regulations, regional market expectations and sustainability pressures while striving to deliver premium performance tyres at accessible prices across diverse international markets.

He added that European developers sometimes struggle when developing tyres for US or Asian markets because they may still carry the old perception that the US market is only about comfort and mileage.

Currently, the US market is now strongly performance-oriented. Tyre makers must understand specific requirements such as wet grip, correct handling balance, rubber compound characteristics and special durability properties like resistance to cuts and chips.

Asian markets are also highly complex. Conditions can vary dramatically by region. For example, southern China is very different from northern China, so specialised approaches are necessary.

The Japanese market is another example, said Seppala, as Japanese winter tyres are a category of their own and one really has to understand the specific expectations there. In addition, tyres must be durable and resistant to environmental factors such as ozone and pollutants.

WORKING THE WORKS

“When we talk about all-season tyres with the snowflake symbol, European all-season or North American all-weather tyres pose a significant challenge,” noted Seppala.

“Such tyres must balance strong wet grip, stable dry handling in high temperatures and reliable performance in snow and cold conditions. The main challenge is developing a rubber compound that remains flexible in freezing temperatures while maintaining handling stability at around 30 degrees Celsius,” he added.

On the other hand, working with different manufacturing partners also raises certain concerns, which the executive describes as ‘complex situation’. “The process is complex and involves several challenges. When developing a new product, we carry out the design work internally including building the construction and conducting in-house testing. Most of the development work is completed within the company before moving forward to the production stage. However, the advantages generally outweigh the challenges,” noted Seppala.

The company develops its own tyre compounds in-house and is now entering a deeper phase of rubber compounding through a new materials development initiative focused specifically on compounding.

“The goal is to deliver premium tyre performance at accessible prices. Key research and development priorities include improving wet grip, increasing mileage and reducing rolling resistance to balance the tyre industry’s ‘magic triangle’. Sustainability is also becoming essential with growing work on recycled and bio-based materials. Currently, development efforts are focused mainly on passenger car and 4x4 tyres, although we also produce truck and commercial tyres,” he added.

Nonetheless, he noted that shorter development timelines are an everyday challenge for research and developmental teams. While Omni United already has one of the shortest development cycles in the industry, efforts are ongoing to make the process even faster.

However, Seppala averred that the approach depends on the situation. Completely new concepts can be developed quickly, but when replacing a product at the end of its lifecycle, it is often better to allow more time for testing and gradual improvements. In such cases, the focus is not just speed but improving the overall efficiency of the development process.

TECHNOLOGICAL ADVENT

Seppala noted that digital tools and artificial intelligence (AI) are expected to play a very significant role in tyre research and development, particularly in construction design and compound development.

Machine learning can help improve compound recipes by analysing large datasets generated from continuous testing. Using non-linear analysis and specialised software, the company processes accumulated testing data to refine and optimise compound formulations over time.

Seppala also noted that tyre development today must address broader environmental challenges, including noise pollution. With electric vehicles becoming quieter, tyre noise is becoming more noticeable.

At the same time, regulations such as Euro 7 are increasing attention on particle emissions. He explained that noise is an important factor in tyre design. While the European tyre label mainly measures external pass-by noise, the company also focuses on reducing noise inside the cabin to improve driver and passenger comfort, alongside minimising environmental noise pollution.

Over the next three years, one of the main priorities of the company will be taking materials development to the next level, making it a major focus for the research and development team.

Another key area will be expanding the company’s testing operations. While he did not disclose detailed strategic plans, he noted that testing capabilities will increase significantly, covering outdoor track testing, indoor tyre testing and laboratory testing of materials. All three areas will play an important role in future development.

Alluding to the areas pertaining to tyre performance that the company plans to focus on in the future, he said, “Tyre performance involves many factors, making it difficult to rank them strictly, but improving safety will remain a key focus in the coming years. While current products already perform at a high level, we aim to further enhance safety performance.”

Seppala also highlighted ongoing work on replacing 6PPD, noting that progress has been promising. The goal is to become the best-performing tyre brand in ozone resistance, addressing ozone cracking issues seen in many manufacturers globally, while developing a solution that is both sustainable and effective.

Commenting on key trends that will influence the company’s future, Seppala said, “Three major trends will shape the company’s research and development work going forward. First, market expectations in Europe and US are gradually converging. The US market is placing greater emphasis on safety and wet grip, while Europe is increasingly focusing on abrasion resistance and tyre mileage, creating pressure to improve durability. Secondly, sustainability will remain a constant industry priority. Thirdly, the key challenge will be developing tyres with advanced materials that deliver premium performance while keeping prices accessible for customers.”

For Omni United, the future of tyre development lies in balancing performance, durability and affordability amid tightening regulations and sustainability demands. As markets converge and technologies like AI reshape research and development, the company’s challenge will be clear as it harnesses advanced materials and faster development cycles to deliver safer, longer-lasting tyres without compromising accessibility.

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