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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Continental has unveiled plans to build a highly automated finished-goods warehouse in Mount Vernon, Illinois, representing an investment of roughly USD 76 million. The new facility, which will cover an area larger than six American football fields and hold approximately 500,000 passenger car tyres, aims to address growing demand across North America while improving service levels and customer support. Construction is scheduled to begin in the summer of 2026, with operations expected to launch the following year.

The Mount Vernon location already holds the distinction of being Continental’s largest tyre production facility in United States and serves as a linchpin for its supply network throughout the Americas. Tyre manufacturing has been a constant at this site for over 50 years, dating back to its 1974 opening; Continental took ownership in 1987. Today, the vast campus – measuring more than 320,000 square metres – produces tyres for passenger cars, light trucks and commercial vehicles, churning out roughly 11.4 million units annually while employing over 3,500 people.

Continental continues to advance digitalisation and automation across its global manufacturing operations, which include 19 tyre plants in 16 countries. The company is prioritising new technologies, alternative materials, environmentally friendly production methods and ongoing improvements in logistics efficiency.

Tansu Işık, CEO, Continental Tires Americas, said, “Our new highly automated finished-goods warehouse underscores our growth ambitions in North America. The new facility will enhance our ability to serve customers with greater speed and flexibility while strengthening our overall distribution network in the region.”

Nik Pearce, Plant Manager of Continental’s Mount Vernon tyre plant, said, “This investment is a strong signal for the future of our Mount Vernon plant. It enhances our capabilities, further modernises our operations and makes our plant logistics more efficient. At the same time, it strengthens our operations at local level and creates new development opportunities for our employees.”

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CAMSO Construction has publicly confirmed its market entry readiness for United Kingdom and Ireland, representing the second stage of its broader European rollout. This follows the business’s initial success in Southern Europe after the RPG Group formally acquired the compact construction tyres and tracks division from Michelin in September 2025.

The move into UK and Irish markets aligns with CAMSO Construction’s deliberate phased growth strategy, transitioning from establishing a regional foothold to scaling operations in high-potential territories. The company now manages its own product distribution and has already taken delivery of its first shipment of construction tyres and tracks, now warehoused in UK. With a global leadership team, proprietary engineering capabilities and existing manufacturing infrastructure, the firm is positioned to offer performance-focused tyres and tracks designed for local construction demands.

Industry requirements in UK place a premium on machine uptime, durability and operational productivity. CAMSO Construction aims to function as a dependable technical partner, supported by cross-market expertise and a strong after-sales framework. Responsive service, comprehensive warranty programmes and a commitment to on-the-ground customer productivity form the core of its long-term partnership model for the region.

Amit Tolani, Director, CAMSO Construction, said, “Our entry into the UK & Ireland marks a significant milestone in our second wave of European expansion. CAMSO is already a premium and trusted brand across Europe, known for its proven performance and reliability. We are not just entering the market, we are investing to build a strong, scalable presence on the ground, backed by proven products, responsive service and a clear focus on delivering measurable value to our customers.”

Steffen Sahl, Director of Sales, said, “Success in the UK will come down to understanding local realities – dealer expectations, contractor demands and fleet uptime pressures. We have built our model around exactly that: the right product fit, backed by technical expertise and people who are close to the customer and quick to respond.”

James Noon, Head of Sales, Northern Europe, said, “The UK is one of Europe’s most strategically important compact construction markets. CAMSO Construction is a premium brand that contractors, dealers and OEMs already know and trust. The brand has strong affinity and proven product quality, with the lowest overall operating costs. Our goal is to further strengthen our leadership position by being closer to customers, faster in response and relentless in delivering measurable value on the ground.”

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Falken Motorsports has confirmed its lineup and strategy for the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring, the centrepiece of the season. The Japanese tyre brand will compete with a teal and blue Porsche 911 GT3 R marked as car number 44, driven by a carefully selected international team. Klaus Bachler from Austria, Dutch racer Morris Schuring and German drivers Sven Müller and Tim Heinemann share the cockpit of the familiar teal and blue machine.

The team’s confidence stems from strong performances in the ADAC RAVENOL Nürburgring Endurance Series opener. After a weather delay, Müller and Heinemann claimed an impressive second place overall, providing valuable data and momentum. Falken is prioritising driver stability, with Bachler remaining a core member since 2017 despite never having won the 24-hour race itself.

Schuring adds youthful ambition, having already secured an overall victory in last year’s season debut with Falken alongside Müller. Müller himself brings deep technical expertise and longevity, while Heinemann rounds out the squad as a proven fast man on the demanding Nordschleife. Other Falken tyre users include the Subaru WRX, an Opel Corsa, a BMW M4 GT4 and two SRS Team entries comprising a BMW 330i and a Toyota Supra.

Max Kruse Racing will enter five cars, including two Audi R8 LMS GT3 evo II machines and three VW Golf GTI Clubsport 24h vehicles. Among their drivers are former professional footballer Max Kruse and Fabian Vettel, the younger brother of former Formula 1 world champion Sebastian Vettel.

Falken has been a near-constant presence at the Nürburgring 24-hour race since 1999. The traditional Falken Drift Show takes place on Friday 15 May at 7:30 pm on the Müllenbachschleife. Away from the track, a darts show match between Max Hopp and Martin Schindler occurs on 16 May from noon to 1:00 pm, followed by autograph sessions.

The main race starts on Saturday 16 May at 3:00 pm, with live coverage available on RTL Nitro and the official 24h streaming platform. Falken Motorsports will also offer ongoing updates and behind-the-scenes material through its social media and digital channels.

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Hankook Tire, the exclusive tyre supplier to the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), has reinforced its technical support for the sixth round of the 2026 season, the Vodafone Rally de Portugal, being held from 7 to 10 May in Matosinhos in the country’s northern region. The company is supplying its extreme all-terrain Dynapro R213 tyre, engineered for gravel stability, which is available in both Hard and Soft compound options. This tyre features a high-strength casing and an optimised tread pattern designed to disperse impact from sharp rocks and maintain grip even under high-speed, high-stress driving conditions.

As one of the most historic fixtures on the WRC calendar, Rally de Portugal has been a cornerstone event since the championship’s inaugural season in 1973. The 2026 edition is based at the Exponor service park near Porto and includes 23 special stages with a total competitive distance of roughly 345 kilometres. The route blends fast-paced sections with technically demanding areas, challenging crews with a soft, sandy gravel surface that deteriorates rapidly as cars make repeated passes. While the first run demands stable performance on limited grip, the second pass exposes deeper ruts and sharper rocks, making tyre durability and handling decisive.

A particular focus is the Amarante stage, the longest of the rally at approximately 26 kilometres, which features a mix of tight hairpin turns and high-speed straights. Drivers must carefully balance aggressive tactics with tyre preservation, placing a premium on strategic decision-making. The Dynapro R213’s two-compound system allows teams to adapt flexibly to evolving stage conditions, with the Hard compound offering resilience against cuts and the Soft compound providing extra mechanical grip on looser surfaces.

Beyond technical support, Hankook is operating its ‘Brand World’ booth inside the service park throughout the event. This interactive space aims to elevate the premium image of the global brand with a motorsport heritage exhibition, racing simulators, branded merchandise and dedicated photo zones. Visitors are offered an immersive brand experience that complements the intense competition, as Hankook continues to demonstrate its engineering capabilities across one of the most abrasive and unpredictable rallies on the WRC schedule.

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