Tyre makers across the globe have in the recent past announced their firm expansion plans as well as new investments. In fact, as per a recent report by the Automotive Tyre Manufacturers Association (ATMA), almost a dozen of new plants and capacity enhancements are currently underway.

The report states that Mexico is on track for being in the top 5 tyre manufacturing nations. In the last 6 months, over $1 billion new investment has been committed from three brands – Yokohama Rubber Co, Sailun Group and ZC Rubber Group. This will add fresh capacity of 24 million passenger/light truck tyres in addition to the existing over 65 million passenger/light truck tyres a year and upto 2 million truck/bus tyres a year.

Then there is China’s Sunset Tyres Corp, which aims to invest over $256 million towards its new radial passenger tyre plant in Brazil.

Linglong also announced investment of $640 million to enhance its competitiveness and broaden its product mix at its Serbia plant. The facility is expected to be completed by end-2030 and will add capacity to manufacture 1.1 million radial tyres, including 8,00,000 truck/bus tyres and 50,000 industrial/engineering tyres and 1,50,000 agricultural tyres.

Michelin is upgrading its French farm tyre plant as it gears up to build new generation of agricultuarly tyres.

UAE-based tyre distributor, Zafco Group Holdings is exploring setting up a tyre plant in Pakistan. The proposed 1.4 million passenger and light truck tyres a year factory is valued at $92 million, according to the World Bank affiliated International Finance Corp. (IFC), which is evaluating contributing up to $25 million in funding.

India’s JK Tyre & Industries is also mulling new investment of $168 million towards capacity expansion over the course of the next two years. The company aims to increase its passenger car tyre production by 16 percent and also aims to invest another $48 million towards ramping up off-road and radial truck/bus tyre production.

Bridgestone has announced its plans to upgrade its OTR tyre plant in Japan. It will invest $166 million at its earthmover and mining tyre facility over the next three and a half years.

Nova Motorsport is investing $22 million at its recently acquired CNB/Camac tyre factory in Palmeira, Portugal. The project includes incorporating motorsport tyre capacity from the former Cooper Tyre plant in Melksham, England.

German tyre maker Continental is also expanding capacity for passenger tyres at its five-year-old factory in Rayong, as it aims to meet the growing demand for ‘premium tyres’ in the region and elsewhere, including North America.

Chinese manufacturer JGST aims to refocus on expansion to meet passenger demand. The company sells tyres under the Celimo and TBB brands.

Yokohama Rubber Co is also relocating its over 20-year-old facility in Hangzhou to a new greenfield site. It will invest $269 million towards the new plant, and aims to start production in the second quarter of 2025 with an initial capacity to manufacture 9 million tyres.

British engineering start-up Enso aims to build the world’s first carbon-neutral manufacturing plant for electric vehicle tyres in the United States. It aims to invest around $500 million towards the new facility with plans to manufacture 5 million passenger tyres specifically designed for EVs by 2027.

Representational Image courtesy: ATMA

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KraussMaffei has appointed Xinting Ren as Managing Director of its extrusion business, effective 1 September, 2026, combining the role with his existing leadership of the group’s China operations.

Ren succeeds Ralf Benack, who left the company at his own request on 31^st August , ending a tenure of about two years.

The company said the dual appointment is intended to strengthen integration between its extrusion activities and international operations.

Ren has led KraussMaffei China for the past three years, overseeing cross-technology activities in the Chinese market. Before joining the group, he held several management roles in the chemical industry, including Assistant General Manager at KraussMaffei Company Limited, now operating as Sinochem Equipment Technology Qingdao Co., and most recently served as general manager of Shanxi China Coal Pingshuo Energy Chemical Co., Ltd.

Benack took over leadership of KraussMaffei Extrusion in 2024 and was responsible for the group’s global extrusion business. During his tenure, the company focused on operational processes and customer orientation, reducing delivery times and further developing the Technology Center at its Laatzen site.

The facility now offers 26 pilot lines for development and customer projects, and the company said it also expanded its extrusion technology portfolio.

From September, responsibility for the extrusion business and management of the China business will be combined under Ren’s leadership.

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Nokian Tyres plc has introduced a new premium summer tyre, the Powerproof E, designed for Central and Southern European markets, with A-class ratings in all three European Union tyre label categories across its full range.

The company said the tyre achieves top grades for rolling resistance, wet grip and external rolling noise, reflecting a development approach aimed at balancing efficiency, safety and comfort within a single product.

“Whether the priority is maximizing range and efficiency or achieving confidence and comfort in wet conditions, drivers should not have to compromise on safety. The new Nokian Tyres Powerproof E is designed to deliver outstanding performance in the areas that matter most to drivers,” said Tommi Alhola, Senior Vice-President for Passenger Car tyres in Central Europe.

Samu Lepistö, development manager at the company, added: “Achieving A-class ratings in all three EU tire label categories across the entire range is a significant result. These characteristics are all important to today's drivers yet improving one can often affect another. Nokian Tyres Powerproof E was developed to deliver balanced performance across all three areas.”

The tyre incorporates what the company calls Motion Control Technology, combining tread design, compound development and structural engineering to support efficiency and wet-weather performance.

Depending on size, between 40.9 percent and 42.8 percent of the tyre’s material content consists of recycled and renewable inputs, including rice husk ash, recycled carbon black and recycled steel.

Production takes place at the group’s factory in Oradea, Romania, which opened in 2024 and operates with zero direct carbon dioxide emissions, powered by renewable energy.

The Powerproof E is designed for passenger cars, sport utility vehicles and crossover vehicles, including electric, hybrid and internal combustion models. It will be available in sizes ranging from 16 to 20 inches for the 2027 summer season in Central and Southern Europe.

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Continental Tire Canada has appointed Frank Buntinx as its new Managing Director, effective 17 August 2026. In this executive capacity, he assumes comprehensive oversight of the organisation’s entire Canadian tyre portfolio, which encompasses passenger and light truck vehicles, commercial truck lines and specialised tyre segments. His leadership will guide the strategic direction and operational performance across these diverse business units.

A native of Belgium, Buntinx brings over two decades of tenure with Continental, having commenced his career there in 2003 within logistics and supply chain management. Over the years, he has accumulated a broad commercial skillset through successive roles in marketing, pricing strategy, business analytics, fleet operations and sales. His professional trajectory later elevated him to senior leadership positions in the Benelux region, where he directed marketing efforts and subsequently headed Fleet Solutions and Truck Tires, thereby acquiring multifaceted management expertise.

This transatlantic appointment signifies a pivotal career transition for Buntinx, offering him the chance to infuse the Canadian market with an international vantage point. His arrival is anticipated to bolster Continental’s regional presence, leveraging his extensive cross-functional background to navigate the complexities of the domestic tyre industry and drive organisational growth.

“I am truly excited to join Continental Tire Canada and begin this new chapter. Continental has built a strong business and reputation in the Canadian market, and I look forward to working alongside our talented team to build on that success, strengthening Continental's position while supporting the growth and success of our customers,” said Buntinx.

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Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd., which operates the Dunlop brand, will discontinue the supply of karting tyres by the end of 2027 as part of a strategic review of its business and allocation of management resources.

The company said it would continue supplying products to existing customers until December 31, 2027.

Dunlop has produced karting tyres since 1976, supplying products homologated by the Commission Internationale de Karting-FIA (CIK-FIA), under the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile, as well as tyres accredited by the Japan Automobile Federation.

The company said its products had supported a wide range of users, from recreational drivers to young drivers aiming to compete at higher levels, and had contributed to the development of karting participation.

It added that the decision followed a review of its medium- to long-term management strategy and changes in the business environment.

The group said it would continue to contribute to motorsport activities, while expressing appreciation to customers and organisations that had supported its karting tyre business.

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