This coming summer, Apollo Tyres will introduce the new Vredestein Quatrac Pro 2, an ultra-high-performance all-season tyre distinguished by a sidewall created in partnership with the celebrated Italian design house, Italdesign. Engineered and manufactured entirely in Europe, the Quatrac Pro 2 represents a significant advancement in the all-season category, featuring a completely new internal structure, the use of advanced materials and a sophisticated directional tread pattern. These technical elements combine to deliver superior performance, while the tyre’s aesthetic has been developed to visually communicate this capability.

The design of the sidewall, a collaborative effort between Italdesign and Vredestein, is conceived around the theme of ‘Passage’. This concept captures the cyclical nature of the changing seasons, portraying them as a fluid interaction of positive and negative space. The graphics incorporate flowing forms that subtly suggest natural elements such as foliage, precipitation and the movement of air and water. This visual language is intended to reflect the tyre’s versatility, hinting at its ability to transition seamlessly from dry, warm roads to cold, snow-covered surfaces. The result is a distinctive visual signature that reinforces Vredestein’s premium market standing and makes the tyre instantly recognisable, translating its all-weather competence into an expressive design.

This launch marks another milestone in a 27-year design partnership between Apollo Tyres and Italdesign, a relationship that has previously produced notable models like the Sportrac in 1999 and the Ultrac Pro in 2024. The Quatrac Pro 2 continues this tradition of merging advanced engineering with distinguished Italian styling to create a product that stands out. Apollo Tyres’ research supports the importance of this focus on aesthetics, revealing that a considerable number of European driving enthusiasts prioritise tyre design. The study found that 43 percent of respondents find conventional tyres unappealing and would prefer a more distinctive sidewall design, confirming consumer appetite for products that enhance a vehicle’s overall look.

Positioned as a versatile, performance-oriented option, the Quatrac Pro 2 is engineered for a wide array of vehicles, including sports cars, high-performance saloons, hatchbacks and SUVs. It is also built to meet the specific demands of modern hybrid and electric vehicles, offering reduced noise and rolling resistance alongside a robust construction capable of handling increased weight while maintaining responsive handling. With this launch, Vredestein reinforces its long-established leadership in the all-season sector, a market it has helped shape since the early 1990s, and continues to offer the most extensive range of all-season tyres available.

Enrico Lago, Industrial Design Team Leader at Italdesign, said, “The theme of ‘Passage’ suggests a continuous path, where each season is a distinct yet interconnected stage, allowing for personal interpretation of the present moment. In this way, ‘Passage’ invites reflection on life’s transient nature and how we navigate through time. Much like when we design a car, we see the sidewall of a Vredestein tyre as a blank canvas to bring character to a high-performance product. We have enjoyed more than 25 years of close collaboration with the Vredestein brand, and the insights gained from each project have laid the foundation for the next. The Quatrac Pro 2 marks another important chapter in this story.” 

Udyan Ghai, Group Head – Marketing, Apollo Tyres, said, “The tyre balances advanced engineering with expressive design, reinforcing the Vredestein brand’s reputation for innovation and style. We’re proud of our longstanding relationship with Italdesign and it is extremely rewarding to bring to market something that is genuinely unique, perfectly aligned with the tyre’s all-season capabilities.”

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Epsilon Carbon Pvt. Ltd. has announced the appointment of Munish Kumar Rathi as its new President and Business Head for Carbon Black.

With more than 25 years of extensive global leadership experience, Rathi brings a strong background in profit and loss management, multi-site manufacturing leadership, strategic planning and business transformation. His career is marked by a demonstrated ability to drive operational excellence and foster sustainable growth across various international markets.

The company is anticipating that his leadership will play a key role as Epsilon Carbon continues to expand its global footprint and accelerate innovation within the carbon black business segment. The organisation has formally welcomed Rathi to the team, expressing confidence in his capacity to guide future strategic initiatives. This move underscores Epsilon Carbon’s commitment to strengthening its leadership team in pursuit of long-term global competitiveness.

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TVS Srichakra has approved capital investment of up to INR 2.2 billion to expand production capacity at its manufacturing facilities in Vellaripatti, Madurai.

The expansion will cover the company’s two-wheeler tyre and off-highway tyre plants, with investment of up to INR 1.1 billion allocated to each facility.

TVS Srichakra said the two-wheeler tyre plant currently has capacity of about 21 million to 23.5  million tyres a year and operates at utilisation levels of around 80 to 85 percent. The company plans to add about 5 percent capacity, with completion targeted in the first half of FY2028-29.

The off-highway tyre plant has existing capacity of about 75 to 85 metric tonnes a year and operates at utilisation levels of 75 to 80 percent. TVS Srichakra plans to increase capacity at the plant by about 25 percent, with the addition scheduled for the first half of FY2027-28.

The company said the investment would be financed through a combination of internal accruals and debt.

TVS Srichakra said the expansion is intended to meet growing demand for its two- and three-wheeler tyres and off-highway tyre products.

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JK Tyre & Industries reported record consolidated revenue of INR 163.84 billion for FY26, registering an 11 percent year-on-year increase, supported by strong domestic demand and volume growth across key tyre segments.

The company’s consolidated EBITDA rose 25 percent to INR 20.89 billion, with EBITDA margin improving to 12.8 percent.

Profit before tax increased 46 percent to INR 10.43 billion, while profit after tax climbed 52 percent to INR 8.60 billion during FY26.

For the fourth quarter, consolidated revenue rose 12 percent year-on-year to INR 42.33 billion.

Quarterly EBITDA surged 42 percent to INR 5.46 billion, with margin at 12.9 percent, while Q4 PAT nearly doubled, rising 94 percent to INR 1.99 billion.

Chairman and Managing Director Dr Raghupati Singhania described FY26 as a year of robust performance, highlighting record volumes in both truck and bus radial and passenger car radial categories.

Domestic sales volumes during Q4 grew 21 percent overall. Truck and bus radial replacement volumes increased 53 per cent, while OEM demand in the segment rose 23 percent. Passenger car radial replacement volumes were up 26 percent and OEM demand increased 10 percent.

The company said growth momentum was expected to continue into FY27, supported by new vehicle launches, infrastructure development and sustained replacement demand.

JK Tyre also highlighted strong traction in electric mobility. More than 70 per cent of electric buses operating in India currently run on its tyres, while the company supplies EV tyres to nearly eight two-wheeler OEMs and has secured orders for electric passenger vehicle models including Renault Duster EV, Hyundai Creta EV and Tata Motors’ Nexon and Punch EV variants.

Its Mexico business, operated through JK Tornel, contributed nearly 20 per cent of consolidated revenue and is expected to maintain growth across Mexican, Latin American and US markets.

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The U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) has elected David Cichocki, Managing Director, Americas, and chief sales officer, Americas Consumer, at The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, to its board of directors.

“I’m pleased to welcome David to our Board. His extensive experience and expertise across the tire and consumer goods industries will be invaluable as we navigate today’s complex industry,” said Anne Forristall Luke, USTMA president and chief executive. “His proven leadership will strengthen our ability to seize emerging opportunities.”

Cichocki joined Goodyear in early 2026 and is responsible for overseeing the Americas region and leading the company’s Americas Consumer sales business.

He brings more than 30 years of leadership experience across industrial and consumer goods companies to the USTMA board.

Before joining Goodyear, Cichocki served as senior vice-president of US sales at Whirlpool, where he managed a portfolio valued at more than $10bn across retail and direct-to-consumer channels.

He also spent more than 20 years at Kraft Foods and Nabisco in a range of senior leadership roles.

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