A proposed bill in Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies has ignited fierce opposition from the country’s tyre retreading sector, which sees the legislation as an ill-conceived and uninformed attack on an industry that plays a crucial role in the economy and sustainability efforts. The bill seeks to ban the use of retread tyres on buses and trucks operating on state and federal highways, a move that the industry argues is both impractical and detrimental.

Brazil is the world’s second-largest retread market, following only the United States. This achievement has been attributed to the reliability and quality of work carried out by retreaders, which has earned the market’s trust.

In September 2024, a draft bill was introduced in Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies to exercise a ban on the use of retread tyres in buses and trucks operating on state and federal highways. The Brazilian Association of Tyre Retreading (ABR) lashed out at the proposed draft, labelling it as ‘misguided and uninformed’.

Subsequently, ABR President and Federal Senator of Mato Grosso, Margareth Buzetti, told Tyre Trends, “The proposed bill focuses on retread tyres rather than broader factors such as overloading, poor road conditions or inadequate maintenance practices due to sheer misinformation on the part of the person who proposed the project. It is a simplistic and populist proposal that promises to increase road safety by fighting the wrong enemy. Tyres retreaded in Brazil undergo extremely rigorous inspections to ensure that they reach the transport companies safely and reliably.”

“We, as retreaders, meet Inmetro standards that define the technical requirements for tyre retreading, following the standards of excellence practiced in other countries. We are talking about large companies that have strict quality standards. We are in no way inferior to new tyres in terms of safety,” she added.

According to Buzetti, no reputable company would compromise on tyre safety as doing so could lead to financial losses from accidents and endanger lives. She also pointed out that the sector’s ability to generate approximately 300,000 direct and indirect jobs is a testament to the high quality of retreaded products.

Commenting on how the proposed bill might influence public perception about the sustainable practice, she noted, “The way it was proposed is terrible because it gives people the impression that retread tyres in Brazil are of poor quality and are responsible for road accidents. This is absurd misinformation. However, I do not see this issue as something that concerns the general population. Transport companies, which are the largest users of retread tyres, are aware of the reality.”

“Entities linked to both the reform and transportation sectors sent dozens of letters to the Chamber of Deputies against the proposed bill. We will continue this pressure in 2025,” she added.

The association plans to seek out the rapporteur and the author of the bill so that they understand the seriousness of the work carried out by the sector. “The right thing to do would be for the congressman to withdraw the bill he presented and file another one that focuses on combating illegally-made reforms or the poor-quality tyres that are imported from Asia without any control whatsoever. Then they will have our support. Otherwise, we will seek out partner congressmen to wage a real battle within the Chamber against the advancement of this absurd proposal,” contended Buzetti.

IMPLICATIONS OF THE BILL

Buzetti noted that if the proposed bill was implemented, then the implications would be ‘catastrophic’. “If the bill were to become law, the long-term impact on Brazil’s tyre industry would be devastating. Companies are already struggling with the rising cost of raw materials due to increase in the Dollar-Brazilian Real exchange rates. Banning tyre retreading would further cripple the sector, leading to significant financial and operational challenges,” she said.

Currently, tyre retreading saves Brazil BRL 7 billion in transportation costs. If the proposed bill becomes law, which the ABR believes is unlikely and will actively oppose, it would effectively force transportation companies to buy only new tyres overnight, causing a massive rise in costs.

Alluding to the potential impact of this legislation on Brazil’s carbon neutrality and sustainability goals, Buzetti emphasised, “The sector was recently recognised by the Ministry of the Environment as an important asset in the circular economy. This was a milestone that we achieved at great cost, and the government is finally beginning to see our importance for environmental sustainability. I believe that 2025 will be the year in which we will be able to make even more progress on this issue. We cannot ignore the importance for the environment of a sector that retreads 14 million tyres per year.”

While the association can furnish data demonstrating the safety and reliability of Inmerto-certified retread tyres to battle the proposed bill, Buzetti, attacking the project makers, said, “Can the deputy who created the project present data that guarantees that the lack of safety on the roads is caused by retread tyres?”

Commenting on the bill’s impact on small and micro enterprises if implemented, Buzetti said, “Tyre retreading supports 300,000 jobs in Brazil today. It is a well-established market. Banning retreading would be like taking food off the table for thousands of Brazilians who rely on this sector.”

ALTERNATIVE ROUTE

According to Buzetti, the legislative year ended with this bill being presented to the Chamber of Deputies’ Transport and Roads Committee and it did not receive any amendments within the statutory deadline. Now, in February, discussions on the proposal can begin and she highly doubts that it will move forward. As a senator, she will not participate in the votes in the Chamber but will personally go to the committee to talk to all the deputies to demonstrate the quality of tyre retreading in Brazil.

Speaking on the steps that the government should take to address any lingering safety concerns and prevent future proposals like this, in case the bill was withdrawn, Buzetti said, “Inspection of poor-quality tyres entering the country and incentives for tyre retreaders to continue operating within the law is a necessary step. I presented a bill that is currently pending in the Chamber of Deputies that provides tax exemption for tyre retreading companies, as a way of attracting them to formality.”

She also noted, “Instead of banning retread tyres, we could have greater oversight of imported tyres that enter Brazil illegally. We are talking about tyres that are so bad that they don’t even need to be refurbished. These should be a priority for parliamentarians. And, of course, improving road conditions and oversight of the rules that must be followed by transport companies (such as not exceeding the maximum load) are also important steps to increase road safety.”

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Bridgestone India, a leading tyre manufacturer, has announced the appointment of Rajarshi Moitra as its new Managing Director, effective 1 January 2026. He currently serves as the Deputy Managing Director and succeeds Hiroshi Yoshizane, who has served as Managing Director since January 2024 and as Group President, Bridgestone Asia Pacific, India, China (BSAPIC) since May 2025.

Yoshizane will be promoted to Vice-President and Senior Officer of Bridgestone Corporation, effective 1 January 2026. He will continue to serve as BSAPIC Group President, Chairman of the Board of Bridgestone India and Vice Chairman of the Automotive Tyre Manufacturers’ Association.

In these roles, Yoshizane will provide strategic guidance to Bridgestone India and contribute to the growth of the industry.

Rajarshi Moitra, said, “I’m deeply honoured to take on the role of Managing Director and to continue supporting our teams at Bridgestone India, with whom I have worked so closely over the past few years. I look forward to continuing to work in alignment with Bridgestone’s essence and its unchanging mission of ‘Serving Society with Superior Quality’, as we serve our customers, OEM partners and communities at large.”

Hiroshi Yoshizane, said, “Bridgestone India has been an important part of Bridgestone’s growth journey globally, and it has been a privilege to work with such a passionate and capable team driving that progress. Together, we have strengthened our business operations, expanded our market presence, enhanced Safety & Quality, and planted important seeds for the future through initiatives in R&D, social contribution, and sustainability. The team’s strong commitment to serving customers and communities has created a solid foundation for continued success. As I continue my responsibilities as Group President of BSAPIC and Chairman of the Board of Bridgestone India, I look forward to supporting its continued growth under Rajarshi’s capable leadership.”

Moitra has over two decades of experience in Business Strategy, Profit Centre Management, Sales & Marketing and leading transformations. He joined Bridgestone India in 2019 to lead the Consumer business. He expanded his roles to include Consumer & Commercial Business, Solution Business, Logistics & Supply Chain Management. He became Executive Director – Sales & Marketing in June 2024 and Deputy Managing Director in May 2025.

Bridgestone India states that the new leadership structure will help it continue its transformation toward becoming a solutions company, guided by the ‘Bridgestone E8 Commitment.’

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Albourgh Tyres, a brand owned by Heuver Group, has appointed Armando Lima Santos as Sales Manager for Latin America region. This strategic placement is in line with Albourgh Tyres’ global expansion plans after a successful introduction of the first tyre lines for truck and trailer on the European market during the last three years.

Santos brings over 17 years of experience and expertise in truck and OTR tyres and has been associated with major tyre companies like Goodyear, Bridgestone, Tiresur and Prinx Chengshan in the past. In his new role, he will focus on developing the Latin American market, a key step in strengthening Albourgh Tyres’ global presence.

Santos said, “LATAM will be a strategic engine to accelerate Albourgh’s worldwide relevance and reinforce Heuver’s international footprint – with stronger portfolio depth, proximity, scale and customer-centric execution. I’m excited to help build this together – developing long term partnerships in the region and capturing this huge potential with the Heuver family.”

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Linglong Tire president and chief executive Wang Feng has set out the Chinese manufacturer’s most detailed climate commitments to date, telling delegates at the UN Climate Change Conference in Brazil that the company aims to reach carbon neutrality a decade ahead of China’s Paris Agreement schedule for industry.

Speaking at China’s national pavilion at COP30, Wang said Linglong will “significantly” cut CO₂ emissions by 2030 and target full carbon neutrality by 2050, aligning its internal goals with those of the European Union.

Linglong said it is already lowering emissions through energy-efficiency measures, sustainable tyre development and digitalised supply-chain systems. The company aims to reduce emissions by 52.07 percent by 2035, underpinned by a strategy built on five pillars — new materials, advanced technologies, modern processes, smart machinery and renewable energy.

Last year the manufacturer unveiled a concept tyre made from 79 percent sustainable materials. It expects to raise the proportion to 85 percent in all tyres by 2028 and achieve 100 percent sustainable materials by 2040. The company highlighted bio-based feedstocks — including biotechnical (itaconate) rubber, rice husk ash and corn-based silica — as alternatives to petroleum-derived raw materials, claiming such substitutions could cut emissions by up to 35%.

Linglong was the first Chinese tyre maker to join the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber, and said it is working with members to improve environmental and social standards across the sector. It is also backing FSC-certified natural rubber projects to protect forests, strengthen labour rights and support smallholder farmers. In recycling, the company said it is promoting the use of liquid waste rubber and pyrolysis carbon black to create a closed-loop system for end-of-life tyres.

Wang stressed that the company’s “dual-carbon roadmap is not only a commitment to environmental protection but also revolutionises the entire production process”. He added that Linglong would “do everything it can to achieve its environmental goals and provide consumers worldwide with environmentally friendly, sustainable and high-quality mobility solutions to leave a clean and beautiful planet for generations to come”.

COP30, held from 10–21 November in the Amazonian city of Belém, is expected to produce a list of indicators designed to measure adaptation progress, covering areas such as climate-resilient infrastructure, public health, livelihoods, water supply and ecosystem protection.

Shandong-based Linglong, founded in 1975, operates seven R&D centres and seven manufacturing bases globally, employing more than 19,000 people. Its tyres are sold in 173 countries and supplied as original equipment to more than 60 automotive brands, including Volkswagen, Audi and BYD.

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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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