Michelin India Technology Centre has been operating for over five years. Could you highlight how the centre has been playing its role in research and development for Michelin's domestic and international markets?

The centre has grown over the years in terms of developing competencies and delivering products and solutions to businesses in the local market, region and globally. The agility and flexibility in delivery of solutions to sustainable mobility is one of our key strengths. The product solutions that are developed in conjunction with other regional teams have the cutting edge, keeping Michelin ahead of the curve. The gender and domain diverse team at the centre has brought unique dimensions to meet customer aspirations specific to different vehicle platforms. There are forward looking concepts and products that are being developed in different life cycle stages by the team in India that have upgraded their skills due to their world class training. Our teams are also exposed to global norms and developments in mature markets, thus enabling them to bring in such perspectives while developing products in the domestic market. 

What will drive the Indian truck and bus tyre market in future?

This is very interesting and all of us have seen a reset of a new normal due to Covid-19 in ways we are conducting the different facets of our businesses. The Indian market is smart, agile and ahead in their thought process compared to some of the other markets. The digital solutions, smarts, AI and services will drive the Indian truck and bus tyre market. Customers, whether they own transportation fleets or personal vehicles, want the worry-free ‘fit and forget’ tyre solutions. At Michelin, we have many such services, charging cost per kilometre to customers, which have been deployed in mature markets as well as in India, allowing our customers to focus on other aspects of their business models or personal routines.

The other driving factor will be ‘smarts’ in the tyre industry. The embedded chips in tyres for V2X interfaces are a huge opportunity for the mobility ecosystem with a vast application playfield that includes monitoring tear wear, tyre rotation periods, driver behaviour, inputs fed to active integrated suspensions for ride comfort, adjusting speed depending on terrain for safety and ergonomics of driver comfort as well as cargo movement.

Advanced materials will change the game with growing percentages of recycled rubber in tyre design and manufacturing. These will be an enabler in reducing carbon footprint of a vehicle and the holistic ecosystem including tyre dust. Faster curing materials, self-sealing tyres are around the corner in India. There are pilots and that will be the real ‘aah-ha’ moment for the industry and consumers. 

The centre also has a material testing lab. Sustainable raw materials are growing focus of tyre companies. What are the activities of the centre in the material testing space?

Materials, we believe, will be the strategic edge of our products and solutions as mentioned earlier. The centre does leverage material testing, monitoring various aspects of product development. The automation of test data for faster evaluation and upstream design actions is an important aspect with regard to speed to market. This is something that our teams are good at creatively innovating at the centre and the lab downstream.  

How do you distinguish the product requirements for developed and developing countries?

It is not the product but the solutions and services that are adapted for different regions. This is decided based on local regulations and norms, and the ecosystem and the infrastructure available there to support it. Product development also considers the tech savviness in the totem poles of the customers. The smartness in deploying the right solutions at the right price, at the right time will continue to be a distinguishing and winning factor for us across the globe.

MITC joined hands with IIT Bombay and ARAI. According to you, how will the new mobility shape in India, and how are you preparing, through R&D work, to offer the customised products in India?

This is one amazing aspect of India that we believe can be leveraged to the advantage of the Indian ecosystem. The Indian competitiveness for delivering ‘more customer value with lesser resources’ will help Michelin progress with these engagements. We will have students exposed to mature markets, working with global academia and experienced Michelin engineers to straight-on take the lead in their careers and solution mindset. We are confident that these and such partnerships are the diving boards to our collective growth. To use the cricket analogies, we are here to play well, in both the T20 and the test matches, and we are building teams that can switch on and off the pace between such situations due to their exposure, mentoring and talent acceleration.    

Will you be open to more partnerships in India?

The power of Collective Intelligence is second to none when it comes to delivering smarts to our customers through such valuable partnerships. The centre is already working with few of the academic institutions in India and is in discussions with the right-minded players that are on the same page. We have a clear understanding of ‘where to play’ as it forms our evaluation matrix when we are exploring start-ups, incubation parks and innovation accelerators. We will continue this journey as it helps with the step-change in the Indian ecosystem on many aspects of mobility and related solutions that are beneficial to all stakeholders.

According to you, what are the more significant challenges for scientists and engineers in the tyre industry?

Challenges are to find, train and retain individuals with the right kind of skill-sets. The gestation period to train and get an engineer to deliver high quality smart solutions requires patience and commitment. The more experienced scientists and engineers are at cross roads to delegate to the pipeline of talent that graduates out of our engineering institutions in their early professional journey. The infra and technical power needs to grow in India since the AI solutions and digitalisation can be catapulted very well in an existing innovation mindset for deployment. The race to get to the senior positions without developing a depth in domains is a challenge and not sustainable for growth in the long term. Talent in AI and data analytics tied to tyre and mobility domains is growing, but this talent is enticed by other non-mobility industries, creating a churn and dampening the speed to market and ability to provide attractive solutions and products to our customers. (TT)

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Maxion Wheels has reaffirmed its dedication to responsible business practices, operational excellence and environmental stewardship by strengthening a resilient and sustainable global supply chain. The company emphasises that collaboration with suppliers sharing its values is vital for delivering long-term value to customers, communities and stakeholders while maintaining high expectations for performance in quality, delivery, sustainability, innovation and ethical conduct. The 2025 Maxion Wheels Supplier Awards recognise exceptional partners whose contributions have advanced the business and reinforced its supply chain worldwide.

Among the honourees, Akzo Nobel Coatings Ltda of Brazil received the Supplier of the Year award for the Americas. A global leader in paints and coatings, AkzoNobel supports Maxion facilities in Brazil and Argentina with liquid and powder coating technologies. In 2025, it earned an ‘A’ rating in the annual Supplier Performance Evaluation for its commitment to quality, innovation, sustainability and supply reliability.

For Asia, JSW Steel Limited of India was named Supplier of the Year. Part of the O.P. Jindal Group, JSW Steel is one of India’s leading steel manufacturers, with an annual production capacity of 35 million tonnes across six plants. As a strategic partner for Maxion India, it supports product development, operational flexibility and business growth. Its senior leadership engagement and strong collaboration helped it meet all environmental, social and governance requirements, securing an ‘A’ rating.

In the EMEA region, FreiLacke, a brand of Emil Frei GmbH & Co KG, received Supplier of the Year honours. The family-owned German coatings specialist, based in the Black Forest, supplies powder and liquid coatings to several Maxion aluminium wheel plants and supports development for both aluminium and steel applications. FreiLacke achieved Supplier Performance Evaluation scores above 97 and met all quality, ESG and governance requirements, earning an ‘A’ rating.

The Green Wheel Award for 2025 went to Akzo Nobel Coatings CZ of the Czech Republic. Based in Opava, the company is part of the AkzoNobel group and serves as a key supplier to Maxion Wheels Ostrava, providing high-quality coating solutions for wheel manufacturing while demonstrating responsible business practices.

Akzo Nobel Coatings CZ was recognised for outstanding sustainability performance, achieving a Supplier Performance Evaluation sustainability score of 24 out of 25 and full compliance with Maxion’s ESG, governance and responsible sourcing requirements. Supported by AkzoNobel’s ambitious sustainability agenda and strong transparency, the company exemplifies leadership in environmental stewardship and sustainable value creation across the supply chain.

Pia Schütz, Vice President – Global Purchasing, Maxion Wheels, said, “At Maxion Wheels, we view our suppliers as strategic partners in our success. Their dedication to quality, innovation, sustainability and operational excellence enables us to better serve our customers and continuously improve our performance. These awards recognise organisations that have distinguished themselves through exceptional collaboration and a shared commitment to creating long-term value.”

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Hankook Tire has renewed its FIA Three-Star Environmental Accreditation, retaining the highest rating awarded under the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile’s environmental certification framework. The renewal follows a rigorous assessment by FIA Sustainability, with final approval securing the accreditation through July 2028. Hankook first earned the distinction in 2024 while serving as exclusive tyre supplier and official partner of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.

The FIA programme evaluates environmental management across motorsports and mobility, covering performance, energy reduction, logistics efficiency, waste optimisation and carbon neutrality initiatives. Hankook’s renewed status confirms that its motorsport environmental systems satisfy FIA standards. The company has also conducted life cycle assessments for Formula E tyres, spanning raw material procurement, manufacturing and transportation, while tracking carbon footprints throughout production.

Beyond racing, Hankook’s Geumsan Plant became Korea’s first tyre facility to obtain ISCC PLUS certification in 2021. The certification has since expanded to plants in Hungary, Daejeon and Jiaxing, China. The company has additionally secured a long-term renewable energy power purchase agreement for its Hungary Plant and installed solar systems for on-site use at Geumsan, Chongqing and Jiaxing.

Hankook plans to keep reviewing and strengthening ESG management and environmental capabilities across its unified global brand. The renewed accreditation reaffirms the company’s commitment to sustainable motorsport operations while advancing broader environmental goals throughout its international manufacturing network.

Willem Groenewald, FIA Secretary General for Automobile Mobility, Sustainability and Tourism, said, “Congratulations to Hankook on renewing its FIA Three-Star Environmental Accreditation. Earning our highest environmental standard once is an achievement; renewing it shows a commitment that runs deep. As a Global Partner of the FIA, Hankook shares our belief that motor sport can drive innovation from the track to the road, and this renewal is a fitting reflection of the partnership we are building together.”

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Pirelli is all set for Formula 1's newest venue, the Madring, which hosts its first Spanish capital Grand Prix next weekend. The tyre supplier has nominated the C2 as Hard, the C3 as Medium and the C4 as Soft for the 5.416-kilometre circuit, which blends a street section threading between exhibition district buildings with a permanent layout and boasts 22 corners, among them the 550-metre Monumental with its 24 percent banking.

Only 200 metres separate the start-finish line from Turn 1, and the opening sector is extremely fast. The middle part of the lap brings several medium and low-speed corners, including the banked Turn 12, while the closing stretch serves up 90-degree turns reminiscent of Baku.

Pirelli's involvement stretches back three years, when circuit designers first shared details of the intended layout. Simulation tools enabled engineers to trace the paths cars would take and compute the forces tyres would face. Once construction concluded, Pirelli personnel travelled to Madrid to gauge the asphalt's macro and micro roughness, sharpening their simulations and preparing a technical document distributed to teams ahead of the event.

In energy terms, the track sits among the five most taxing on the calendar, generating lateral forces on par with Barcelona and Silverstone. The Monumental produces the year's highest vertical load thanks to both its banking and its length, and it also tests grip, with drivers likely to choose differing approaches depending on whether they favour setting up an attack into the next corner.

Because the asphalt is unusually smooth and offers modest grip, it has been cleaned with high-pressure water jets to strip away dust and oily deposits typical of fresh surfaces, a practice already employed at circuits such as Singapore. Elevation also distinguishes the layout: Turn 7 marks the highest point at roughly 700 metres above sea level, reached via an 8 percent gradient and 10-metre climb from Turn 6, while Turn 2 is the lowest, sitting 26 metres below.

With no testing possible before the weekend, teams will only finalise their programmes and tyre strategies after first practice, possibly reserving Hard sets for Sunday if softer rubber degrades sharply. Last year brought ambient highs of 29°C, though the circuit's altitude makes severe heat improbable. Madrid's region previously staged nine Spanish Grands Prix at Jarama from 1968 to 1981, where Mario Andretti won twice and Lotus took four wins. Across 55 Spanish Grands Prix at five venues, Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton each have six victories, while Ferrari leads constructors with 12.

The Pirelli Design podium cap by Denis Dekovic carries a white crown and the seven stars of Ursa Major under the peak and is on sale through Pirelli's e-commerce platform.

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Nokian Tyres marks the 90th anniversary of its Hakkapeliitta winter tyre family, celebrating a legacy that began in 1936 with the introduction of the first Hakkapeliitta-branded tyre, the Lumi-Hakkapeliitta. This debut product, arriving just two years after the world’s first winter tyre, featured a transverse tread pattern and suction-pad-style grip, establishing itself as a breakthrough in winter mobility and the first winter tyre designed specifically for passenger cars.

The company commemorates this milestone with the launch of its newest winter product, the Nokian Tyres Hakkapeliitta 01, announced in March and available for sale at tyre shops this fall. The Hakkapeliitta 01 represents a significant step forward in the brand’s rich history, introducing On-Demand Grip technology that allows studs to enter ‘OFF’ and ‘ON’ modes in response to driving conditions.

Throughout the decades, Nokian Tyres expanded the Hakkapeliitta’s influence from the Nordic region to snowy surfaces worldwide. The Haka-Hakkapeliitta became one of the best-selling winter tyres of the 1950s and 1960s, featuring a dense pattern of protrusions effective on icy roads with packed snow, while the first studded model, Kometa-Hakkapeliitta, was introduced in the 1960s. The product family gained global recognition during the same period by dominating the Monte Carlo Rally, cementing its association with extreme weather performance.

Forty years ago, in 1986, the company opened the Ivalo Test Center, known as White Hell, in Finland, providing a diverse winter tyre testing environment with temperature variations of up to 40 degrees possible in a single week. From 2000 onward, all new Hakkapeliitta tyres have featured the Driving Safety Indicator, an easy-to-read number moulded into the tyre indicating remaining tread life. Innovations such as the square stud, Bear Claw technology, Double Stud technology and Arctic Grip Crystals have further advanced both studded and non-studded offerings.

Today, studded and non-studded Hakkapeliitta products equip passenger cars, SUVs, commercial vehicles, trucks, tractors and selected speciality equipment used in municipal maintenance and contracting. Models including the studded Hakkapeliitta 10 and non-studded Hakkapeliitta R5 have ranked atop test results, helping keep drivers safe in diverse winter weather.

The Hakkapeliitta 01 reduces road wear by up to 30 percent compared to its predecessor, the Hakkapeliitta 10, while improving ice grip by up to 10 percent and wet grip by up to 5 percent. Noise levels drop by as much as one decibel, making the new tyre a victory of safety and comfort. This marks the second time in the series’ history that Nokian Tyres has reset its numerical naming convention. Consumers can purchase the Hakkapeliitta 01 this fall at tyre shops across the Nordics, North America and Central Europe.

Paolo Pompei, President and CEO, Nokian Tyres, said, “The Hakkapeliitta product family is an iconic part of our heritage and continues to play a central role in our strategy. Achieving and maintaining leadership in the winter tyre market requires continuous innovation. The new Nokian Tyres Hakkapeliitta 01 is a clear demonstration of that commitment, combining our longstanding expertise with the latest advancements in safety and performance.”

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