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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The Alliance for the Future of Tires (AZuR) has expanded its network by securing Siemens AG (Digital Industries) as its newest partner, taking another step towards advancing digital transformation throughout the tyre and recycling sectors and transformation to a tyre circular economy. This new collaboration reinforces AZuR’s standing as a cross-disciplinary hub that connects innovation, industrial know‑how and sustainable practices.

Siemens brings deep experience in automation and digitalisation to the Europe-wide network, with the shared goal of accelerating a sustainable, ethical and green tyre value chain. The company pursues a holistic approach covering the entire tyre lifecycle, from production and use to end-of-life. A particular emphasis is placed on the end-of-life segment, where Siemens aims to expand its ecosystem through more efficient processing methods and continuous data collection across the increasingly extended lifecycle of tyres.

Working closely with stakeholders including raw material suppliers, machine manufacturers and producers, Siemens seeks to help meet regulatory requirements while unlocking new efficiency gains. A key technological example is the digital twin, a virtual representation of real-world systems and processes. These simulations allow dynamic testing of developments, process optimisations and new methods without physical prototypes, enabling resource-conserving, data-driven improvements for individual tyres or complete recycling and retreading plants.

Siemens’ digital solutions also support precise planning and efficient operation of tyre recycling and retreading facilities for all vehicle types, as well as data-driven tyre tracking for transparent lifecycle documentation. Through this partnership, AZuR demonstrates that transforming the tyre industry depends on the interplay of technology, data and cooperation.

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Linglong Tire has expanded its commercial vehicle portfolio with the introduction of the Linglong Dura Master Van, a new tyre designed specifically for light trucks, vans and motorhomes. This latest addition to the Linglong Master product family emphasises high mileage, low rolling resistance and enhanced driving characteristics. A specialised version, the Dura Master Van e, has been developed to meet the unique requirements of original equipment manufacturers in the automotive industry.

The Dura Master Van features a robust new construction and an optimised tread design with a wider contact surface, delivering significantly higher mileage than its two predecessors, the Green-Max Van and Green-Max Van HP. An innovative tread compound reduces rolling resistance, translating into meaningful cost savings for commercial users. The reinforced carcass enhances load capacity for fully laden vehicles, while new sipe technology combined with a silica-based compound shortens wet braking distances and improves handling on both wet and dry roads.

Production of both the Dura Master Van and the Dura Master Van e is exclusively taking place at Linglong’s advanced tyre factory in Zrenjanin, Serbia, with immediate availability. A total of 29 sizes ranging from 12 to 17 inches will be delivered starting in spring 2026 and will reach retail stores thereafter. The Dura Master Van e, offered in two 16-inch sizes, will be supplied directly to OEMs following individual manufacturer approvals.

Development of the new tyres was led by Linglong’s European Development Center in Hanover, with testing conducted at the Idiada test track in Spain and the company’s own Sino Asia proving ground in China. Looking ahead, Linglong will further expand its van tire lineup in fall 2026 with the introduction of the Dura Master Van 4S, a new all-season tread pattern specifically engineered for light commercial vehicles.

Wencheng Liu, Head of Product Management, Linglong Tire, said, "With the Linglong Dura Master Van, we are expanding our range in the light commercial vehicle sector and offering a high-performance solution for businesses as well as private households. The tyre combines high mileage with safety and efficiency – crucial factors for cost-conscious families and entrepreneurs who use their vehicles every day."

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Tegeta Green Planet, under the leadership of CEO Shalva Akhvlediani, has positioned Georgia as a notable participant in Europe’s circular economy ecosystem through its strong engagement at the 31st annual conference of the European Tyre Recycling Association (ETRA). The event served as a key platform where Akhvlediani presented Georgia’s approach to converting waste materials into valuable industrial resources, marking a significant step for the country’s environmental strategy.

The involvement of Georgia at the Brussel-based conference highlighted the strategic importance of RECSOL LLC, a collaborative venture aimed at establishing modern tyre recycling facilities in Georgia that comply with European Union standards. This project is designed to bridge local industrial needs with internationally recognized environmental and technological benchmarks, reinforcing the country’s commitment to sustainable development.

ETRA’s 2026 gathering took place amid rapidly tightening environmental regulations across Europe, including new sustainability targets and the implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility frameworks. In this context, Akhvlediani’s presentation took on added significance, positioning Georgia alongside European nations that are actively shifting from conventional waste management towards integrated circular economy models. The focus moved beyond simple tyre recycling to creating interconnected systems for material reuse.

A central theme of the address was the transformation of end-of-life tyres into high-quality secondary raw materials such as rubber granules, powders, steel and textile components. Advances in recycling technology now allow these materials to serve industrial value chains more effectively, though Akhvlediani emphasised that processing alone is insufficient without stable demand and integration into manufacturing. This is where RECSOL LLC plays an intermediary role, ensuring uniform output that meets European specifications.

Tegeta Holding, through its Tegeta Green Planet division, has made circular economy strategy a priority, with RECSOL LLC as a core initiative. The planned recycling factory is intended to serve both domestic and export markets, aligning with European technological and environmental standards while remaining scalable for future growth. This industrial capacity positions Georgia as a potential bridge between Europe and the Caucasus region, attracting foreign investment and creating regional supply chains for recycled goods.

Regulatory harmonisation was another key point raised at ETRA 2026, particularly regarding emission controls, energy management, product certification and reporting systems. Akhvlediani also highlighted downstream applications such as rubberised asphalt, which offers enhanced road durability, lower maintenance costs, reduced noise and improved safety. Using recycled materials in infrastructure development would allow Georgia to turn waste into a driver of economic and environmental progress.

Looking beyond the conference, attention is now shifting to implementation, including finalising engineering designs, securing investment and linking suppliers with end users. The 2026 ETRA meeting marked a pivotal moment for Georgia’s industrial and environmental ambitions, with Akhvlediani, Tegeta Holding, Tegeta Green Planet and RECSOL LLC collectively steering the country towards becoming a contributing partner in Europe’s circular economy.

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Pirelli has marked a successful start to the 2026 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters season, as the specially developed P Zero tyres for DTM’s GT3 cars received widespread praise from drivers and teams following the opening round at the Red Bull Ring in Austria. The weekend featured bright sunshine, mild temperatures, close competition and full grandstands, with German brands demonstrating absolute dominance on track. From Pirelli’s perspective, the event encapsulated the best possible debut for its exclusive tire technology.

The Red Bull Ring crowd witnessed two thrilling races. Saturday’s victory went to Thomas Preining of the Manthey team driving a Porsche, who secured the win after qualifying third in an exceptionally tight session. That qualifying session saw lap times surpass the 2023 track record, with eleven drivers finishing within less than one second of each other. Behind Preining, Luca Auer in a Landgraf team Mercedes-AMG finished second, followed by Maro Engel in a Ravenol team Mercedes-AMG in third.

Sunday’s race delivered another dramatic contest, with Engel taking the win after starting from fifth on the grid. Marco Wittmann in a Schubert team BMW climbed from ninth place to finish second, while Auer claimed third again. Spectators also enjoyed action from other Pirelli-partnered categories, including GT Masters, GT4 Germany and the FIA Formula Regional championship, which launched its season with a new generation of cars fitted with bespoke 15-inch Pirelli P Zero tyres developed exclusively for that series.

Matteo Braga, Circuit Activity Manager, Pirelli, said, "We are very satisfied with the performance of the new P Zero tyres for the DTM. It was not a given that already at the first race the drivers would be able to get the best out of the tyres, exploiting the performance optimised for this race format. We saw many different tyre strategies, which was one of the objectives set for us by the teams and the promoter during product development. Furthermore, the faster warm-up minimised the impact of pit stops, allowing drivers to defend their position more easily after the stop. There will certainly still be a great deal for everyone to learn: first and foremost on our side, as we gathered interesting data over the weekend, but also on the drivers' side, who will need to optimise the management of the mix between new and used tyres over the course of each event and throughout the seasonal carry-over."

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