Bridgestone will be using GoCardless to power payments for its tyre subscription service MOBOX in the UK.

MOBOX, which recently launched in the UK, is an all-inclusive monthly subscription service offering new tyres alongside other vehicle-related services, at an affordable price per month. Already available in France, Germany, Italy and Spain, MOBOX will provide the services to UK drivers.

MOBOX customers in the UK can pay via GoCardless for a frictionless payment experience.  And, thanks to the end-to-end integration of the GoCardless API, Bridgestone will have access to real-time information on the status of mandates and payments - in turn, reducing costs and time spent on administration. 

GoCardless research shows that almost half (48%) of UK consumers say bank debit is their favoured payment method for recurring payments. It's also clear that consumer behaviour is shifting to a subscription-based model. Zuora's 'End of Ownership Report' highlights three quarters (74%) of consumers believe people will subscribe to more services and own fewer physical goods in the future.

Another concern for subscription businesses is involuntary churn, typically caused by failed credit and debit card payments. It's estimated that 30% of all churn is involuntary, which is even more reason to choose a payment provider that can help reduce failure rates as low as possible. GoCardless' latest Payment Success Index highlights payments collected on an instalment basis have an average failure rate of 4.9% - compared to invoice payments (3.1%) and subscriptions (2.2%). Any failed transactions on the GoCardless payment gateway will be managed by our payment intelligence tool, Success+.

Andrea Manenti, Vice President, North Region,  Bridgestone said: "The growing global popularity for the service economy provides us with a great opportunity to diversify our customer offering and bring added convenience. We want to provide our customers with the best service at every point in their journey with Bridgestone - from premium products and solutions to the way they pay.

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Continental has secured original equipment approval for the new all-electric Volkswagen ID. Polo, marking a significant supply agreement with the Wolfsburg-based automaker. The compact model will come factory-fitted with the German manufacturer’s EcoContact 7 summer tyre, with Volkswagen officially sanctioning the 17-inch and 18-inch sizes for standard production.

The EcoContact 7 summer tyre prioritises energy efficiency through a specialised material blend that minimises internal friction, thereby lowering rolling resistance and reducing electricity consumption. Its Aerodimple sidewall technology, modelled after golf ball surface textures, cuts air turbulence to further decrease drag, while the Silent Pattern tread design optimises block spacing and angles to suppress urban driving noise frequencies.

For cold-weather performance, Volkswagen has endorsed the WinterContact TS 870 P, whose tread layout and advanced sipe structure deliver dependable traction on snow and ice. The compound stays pliable in freezing temperatures to ensure short stopping distances and secure handling on wet, frigid or slippery roads.

As a year-round alternative, the AllSeasonContact 2 has been recommended by the automaker in 18-inch dimensions. This Continental tire provides balanced capability across warm summer conditions and wet winter environments, offering drivers a single-set solution without compromising seasonal safety or performance.

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Dunlop’s Blue Response TG has been named ‘Tyre of the Year’ for 2026–27 by WhatTyre, a European tyre news and comparison site, marking a strong debut for the company’s latest premium product line.

The tyre also secured two category awards, being named ‘Summer Tyre of the Year’ and ‘SUV Tyre of the Year’. Dunlop received a further two awards, with the Dunlop All Season 2 winning ‘All Season Tyre of the Year’ and the Dunlop Winter range taking the ‘Winter Tyre of the Year’ accolade.

The Blue Response TG, launched earlier this year, is the first tyre developed independently by Dunlop since its acquisition by Sumitomo Rubber Industries in 2025.

Andrew Bogie, editor at WhatTyre, comments: “The DUNLOP BLUE RESPONSE TG represents the triumphant rejuvenation of a premium brand. Targeting the mass market, it combines low noise, increased tread life, dynamic handling, superb safety characteristics and reasonable fuel and energy-efficiency, including extended range for EVs. These capabilities were achieved in a very tight 12-month development cycle using a suite of new technologies. SRI wants the tyre to capture significant market share quickly to re-establish the brand, and the BLUE RESPONSE TG could scarcely have made a more convincing entrance.”

The award follows a series of positive assessments since the tyre’s launch. In March 2026, it received an ‘Outstanding’ rating in a comparison test by Auto Motor und Sport, one of Germany’s leading automotive publications. It was only the fourth tyre in 10 years to achieve that rating. The product has also received favourable reviews from other independent testers and automotive media.

Markus Bögner, managing director and president of Dunlop Tyre Europe GmbH, said: “As we look to re-establish the DUNLOP brand in Europe, we’re proud to see the first tyre of our own design leaving such a positive mark. We have strong ambitions for DUNLOP in Europe as we return to the premium segment, and this success in the WhatTyre awards highlights that our strategy is already bearing fruit.”

The Blue Response TG is positioned as a premium summer tyre designed to balance performance, comfort and braking in both wet and dry conditions. Developed for passenger cars and SUVs, including electric vehicles, it focuses on mileage and ride comfort across a broad range of driving conditions.

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Bridgestone Americas (Bridgestone) has introduced the new Bridgestone Potenza Race R, a semi-slick track tyre engineered for extreme dry performance. The tyre made its public debut at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering 2026, mounted on the newly unveiled 2026 Lamborghini Revuelto SV (Super Veloce). This particular variant was developed as a bespoke fitment specifically for the Italian marque’s latest supercar.

Engineered as an evolution of the standard Potenza Race, the Race R variant incorporates a motorsport-derived compound and an aggressive new tread pattern to maximise dry grip and handling. The tyre is designed for rapid warm-up and consistent lap times from the first circuit to the last, fully complementing the Revuelto SV’s high-performance capabilities. Despite its track-focused nature, the Potenza Race R remains fully homologated for legal road use.

As Lamborghini’s Official Technical Partner and exclusive tyre supplier, Bridgestone has crafted a comprehensive tyre lineup for the V12 hybrid Revuelto SV, which boasts a top speed exceeding 215 mph and a 0–60 mph time of just 2.4 seconds. Beyond the track-focused Potenza Race R, the package includes the ultra-high-performance Potenza Sport for road driving, available with Run Flat Technology for post-puncture safety. A bespoke Blizzak LM005 winter fitment completes the range, ensuring year-round capability.

All four custom fitments feature the exclusive Lamborghini marking and are offered in 20-inch front and 21-inch rear sizes. Developed and manufactured in Italy, the tyres were created using Bridgestone’s proprietary Virtual Tyre Development technology. This digital approach significantly enhances efficiency and sustainability, potentially reducing raw material usage and CO2 emissions during the development phase by up to 60 percent.

The Revuelto SV represents the second Bridgestone-Lamborghini collaboration announced in 2026, following the historic Fenomeno Roadster. This latest milestone extends a six-year partnership that began with the Huracán STO in 2021 and has since encompassed flagship models including the Revuelto, Temerario, and Fenomeno, solidifying the alliance between the tyre manufacturer and the supercar brand.

Adrien Thormann, Director of OE Sales at Bridgestone EMEA, said, “The Lamborghini Revuelto SV is the perfect vehicle to introduce our new, bespoke Bridgestone Potenza Race R and showcase what it can do. And Lamborghini has been a brilliant partner in helping bring our vision to life. In 2023, Lamborghini chose Bridgestone as the exclusive tyre partner for the Revuelto, its first-ever super sports V12 HPEV. Three years later, the incredible Revuelto SV launches with Bridgestone as sole tyre partner once again.”

Alessandro Farmeschi, Automobili Lamborghini Revuelto Product Line Director, said, “At Lamborghini, Super Veloce signifies extreme performance, which is perfectly embodied by the new Revuelto SV. Every detail has been optimised – from aerodynamics and power delivery to the bespoke Bridgestone tyre lineup that matches the vehicle’s extraordinary capabilities. The pairing of the Revuelto SV and the new Bridgestone Potenza Race R reflects our shared commitment to engineering for cutting edge performance.”

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Westlake will present a new range of commercial truck tyres at IAA Transportation 2026 in Hannover, as it expands its Gen II portfolio for European fleets.

The company said it would introduce new products developed to improve rolling resistance, fuel efficiency and mileage performance, in collaboration with Interpneu and Pneuhage Fleet Solution .

The latest developments focus on two product lines: the Long Run series, designed to reduce rolling resistance, and the PRO series, aimed at high-mileage applications.

The Long Run range includes the WSL2 steer tyre, WDL2+ drive tyre and WTL2 trailer tyre. Westlake said the WSL2 and WDL2+ achieve EU Tyre Label Class A for rolling resistance. The tyres are designed for long-haul operations, with an emphasis on fuel efficiency and extended service life.

The WSL2 steer tyre is designed to support stable handling and high mileage, using a tread design and compound aimed at reducing heat generation and rolling resistance. The WDL2+ drive tyre focuses on mileage, traction and efficiency, incorporating a wider tread design and low rolling resistance compound.

The WTL2 trailer tyre is intended to provide durability and stability in trailer applications, combining a low rolling resistance compound with a tread design aimed at extending service life.

Alongside the Long Run series, Westlake will showcase its PRO series, developed for fleet operations where durability and mileage are priorities. The WTR PRO trailer tyre features a wider tread design and wear-resistant compound, aimed at improving mileage and ensuring consistent wear.

The four new tyres — WSL2, WDL2+, WTL2 and WTR PRO — will be available for order during the event.

Westlake said it would also present selected Gen II commercial tyres as part of its broader portfolio for European fleet applications.

IAA Transportation 2026 will be held from 15 to 20 September in Hannover, Germany.

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