If the phrase was heavy, the package was heavier still. As big as Rs 20-lakh crore (with thirteen zeroes) package was announced by the Government for a self-reliant India. The package intends to help the country tide over the all-round economic disruption caused by the raging Covid-19 outbreak and a series of lock-downs. Besides the economic stimulus package which is 10% of India's GDP, PM also made a pitch for promoting local businesses.

As was the plan, the next few days witnessed Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman unveiling a slew of measures with the intention to help the Indian economy recover from the adverse impact of the coronavirus crisis. While the jury is still out about the direct stimulus of the economic package for the corporate sector, certain transformational and structural reforms have been introduced across several key areas, which certainly hold the potential to rebuild the Indian economy and pave the way for a sustained economic revival.

These include radical reforms in agricultural sector, redefinition of the micro, medium and small enterprises (MSMEs), key steps to revitalise the power sector, liberalisation of the coal and mining sectors and raising of the foreign direct investment (FDI) limit in defence manufacturing. These reform measures tried to address key pain points of the economy and to contribute towards enhancing India’s global competitiveness at a time when the world stands at a critical turning point.

However, what exactly Aatma Nirbhar means has been a subject of intense debate. Two leading lights that have been at the helm of affairs of Indian industry have shed appropriate light to make it sound cogent.

Amitabh Kant, the celebrated CEO of NITI Aayog made it very clear when he said Aatma Nirbhar Bharat is all about making India self-reliant to take the global competition head-on by achieving cost competitiveness through size and scale, quality and cutting edge technologies.

Achieving such lofty ideals is easier said than done and necessitate whole lot of policy enablers many of which have been cited by Kant himself including the need to provide industries with regular and cheap supply of power to boost competitiveness, identifying large land banks and equipping them with infrastructure, easing labour laws, timely land acquisition, environmental & other clearances and easy credit.

Some measures need special mention for instance efficiencies in the logistics sector - India’s port turnaround time is around 60 hours against that of China’s 20 hours and Korea’s 12 hours.

Union Minister for Commerce & Industry Mr Piyush Goyal hit the nail on the head when at Digital Summit organised by CII, he stated (through video conferencing of course) that Aatma Nirbhar Bharat was not just about greater self-reliance but also engaging with the world from a position of strength. India should be seen as a dependable partner and reliable friend in the world market, particularly when the global supply chains are undergoing a rejig, he stated. He specifically mentioned that India had a huge opportunity to promote indigenous production in the auto component sector.

And that brings us to India’s tyre sector which has been a less celebrated manufacturing success stories. As has been communicated earlier, a big chunk, nearly 20% of the domestic tyre production is exported to over 100 countries in the world. And these include discerning ones such as US and European countries. India has potential to increase exports of tyres significantly since domestic capacity is ahead of the demand curve. The quality of Indian made tyres is well established and that’s an added advantage when it comes to exports.

There is little doubt that Covid-19 has pressed the reset button and is likely to lead to a change in the world order. Perhaps that thought spurred the PM to state “Today it is the need of the hour that India should play a big role in the global supply chains”.

Tyre Industry is well aligned with the Government in its stated mission. However as shown by China, it is important to encourage domestic value addition by minimizing the raw material uncertainty and uncompetitive prices. For a sector like Tyre Industry, that will be true Aatma Nirbharta.

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The Tire Society has completed its paper selection for the 44th Annual Conference on Tire Science & Technology, which will take place from September 23 to 25, 2025, at the University of Akron. This year, over 60 percent of presentations will come from international participants.

Technologists from 20 organisations in Canada, China, Germany, India, Italy, Korea, and the United States will present at the conference. Presenters include tire manufacturers, universities, testing labs, consultants, suppliers, a vehicle company, and the non-profit Consumer Reports.

This year’s program focuses on sustainability, with papers on rubber emissions, devulcanisation, tire lifecycle, and electric vehicle applications. Technical talks will also cover tire performance topics like noise reduction, cornering, traction, wear, and durability testing using predictive analytics and advanced simulations.

Dr Surendra Chawla will deliver the keynote address titled “Sustainability in the Tire Industry: Driving Toward a Greener Future.” Chawla spent four decades at Goodyear, advancing to Director of Corporate Research before retiring as Senior Director, Global Innovation. Following his Goodyear tenure, he joined the Polymer industry Cluster as a Leading Consultant, contributing to the Greater Akron region’s designation as the Sustainable Polymers Tech Hub by the US Economic Development Administration.

Michelin representatives Frederic Biesse and Damien Lim will present the plenary address “Tire Wear Emissions and Air Quality: Current Insights and Pathways Toward a Sustainable Future.” Biesse has worked 26 years at Michelin’s Clermont-Ferrand R&D Centre in France, focusing on noise, wear, and rolling resistance as Manager of the Tire Performance Analysis team. Lim brings 14 years of experience from Michelin Americas R&D Centre, specialising in tire wear studies and predictive tool development.

Scott Sass, Director of Technology at Alterra Energy LLC, will address the awards banquet with “Polymer Circularity: Steering Clear of Potholes.” Alterra has developed a continuous thermochemical liquefaction process for recycling typically non-recyclable plastics into manufacturing feedstock.

The Tire Society positions itself as the world’s leading membership organisation for tire science, engineering, and technology. Conference registrations include Tire Society membership, providing access to the peer-reviewed Tire Science and Technology Journal and post-conference presentation access through the “Play-on-Demand” feature.

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Continental Tire the Americas has named Wyatt D Hamilton Sr as the new Director of Sales for its US Truck Tire Replacement division. With over 20 years of industry expertise, Hamilton will lead strategic efforts to expand market share, enhance customer relationships and drive sales growth in the replacement truck tyre segment.

A seasoned professional, Hamilton began his career at Continental as a Field Sales Representative after earning a Business Management degree from North Carolina State University. He progressed through key roles, including Territory Sales Manager and Key Account Manager for both Replacement and Original Equipment (OE) Truck Tires. His leadership expanded globally when he headed Continental’s Truck Tire OE team in Malaysia for the APAC market. Upon returning to the Americas, he led the Pricing and Market Intelligence team, influencing strategic decisions. Most recently, as Director of OE and Strategic Accounts, he developed business strategies while fostering collaboration across engineering, operations and sales teams, along with talent development initiatives.

Based at Continental’s US headquarters in Fort Mill, South Carolina, Hamilton’s deep industry knowledge and leadership will further strengthen the company’s position in the truck tyre market.

Shaun Uys, Vice President Truck Tire US, Continental Tire the Americas, LLC, said, "Wyatt's extensive industry expertise, unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction and strategic foresight position him as the perfect leader to elevate our replacement truck tyre business to new heights. We are eager to witness the contributions he will bring to this pivotal role."

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Nokian Tyres has announced several key leadership changes, effective 1 September 2025, to align with its sharpened commercial focus and strategic growth commitment.

Christopher Ostrander has been appointed SVP of Passenger Car Tyres, North America, and will join the Nokian Tyres Management Team. Previously serving on the Board of Directors since 2021 and as Chair of the Investment Committee since 2024, Ostrander will step down from these roles before transitioning. He succeeds Lauri Halme, who has been named SVP of Vianor while remaining on the Management Team.

Additionally, Tron Gulbrandsen, currently VP of Passenger Car Tyres, Nordics, has been promoted to SVP of the same division and will also join the Management Team. These changes reinforce Nokian Tyres' leadership in key markets.

Paolo Pompei, President and CEO, Nokian Tyres, said, “These changes reflect our enhanced commercial focus. I am extremely excited to welcome Christopher to the Management Team. His extensive experience and deep knowledge of the tyre industry and the North American market will strongly support our future expansion in this strategic growth area, helping us secure our premium positioning and further strengthening our product and go-to-market strategy. At the same time, I want to thank Lauri for his valuable contribution to our business transformation in North America and for laying a solid foundation for future growth. He will now focus on the strategic development of our service capabilities and the further development of the Vianor network. Finally, I want to congratulate Tron for being appointed to the Management Team. With 20 years of successful business development and sales leadership experience in the Nordic region, Tron brings valuable insights. His customer-centric approach will further sharpen our commercial focus and help consolidate our presence in the Nordic market.”

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Epsilon Carbon, a leading producer of carbon black in the country, has introduced a fleet of six liquified natural gas (LNG)-powered container trucks to transport carbon black to its tyre manufacturing customers. The initiative is part of the company’s efforts to reduce emissions and improve supply chain efficiency.

According to Epsilon, LNG-powered trucks emit 20–25 percent less carbon dioxide, up to 90 percent less nitrogen oxides (NOx), and nearly 100 percent less particulate matter compared to diesel trucks. They also offer 5–10 percent better fuel efficiency, contributing to lower fuel use and operating costs.

The move supports Scope 3 emission reductions for both Epsilon and its customers, allowing tyre manufacturers to account for lower downstream emissions in their sustainability reporting.

Each LNG truck has a range of around 500 kilometres, suitable for medium-to-long-distance freight. Epsilon plans to expand the fleet based on customer demand and utilisation, aligning with its broader decarbonisation strategy.

Vikram Handa, Managing Director, Epsilon Carbon, said, “India’s road logistics sector moves nearly 70 percent of domestic freight and plays a critical role in the economy. We believe the future of logistics must be both efficient and environmentally responsible. As a leader in the chemical industry, we are committed to reducing our environmental footprint. The launch of our LNG-powered fleet is a step towards cleaner, smarter freight movement and reflects our continued support for India’s Net Zero goals by 2070.”

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