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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Hankook Tire-sponsored TGL presented by SoFi, a US-based team golf league, is set to host its ninth through twelfth matches over two days beginning 23 February at the SoFi Center in Florida. As the league’s first-ever Official Tyre Partner and a Founding Partner, Hankook Tire is maximising its involvement by showcasing its unified global ‘Hankook’ brand across on-site LED displays, television advertising and broadcast coverage. This strategic presence reaches fans in approximately 150 countries, delivering premium brand value and creating a distinctive brand experience at the crossroads of mobility and sports while broadening consumer engagement.

The upcoming matches carry significant weight as TGL Season 2 approaches its playoff phase. On 23 February, Atlanta Drive GC will face a demanding doubleheader, first confronting Boston Common Golf followed by Los Angeles Golf Club. The opening contest presents a compelling standings battle, with Atlanta seeking to defend its top position against a Boston team that recently surged into second place after a decisive victory over The Bay Golf Club. Although Atlanta opened the season with consecutive wins to claim the lead, Boston has narrowed the gap based on holes won, intensifying the stakes. The subsequent match against Los Angeles proves equally critical, as Atlanta holds merely a two-point advantage over a team tied in holes won, meaning a defeat could trigger a standings reversal.

The following day features New York Golf Club in its own doubleheader, beginning against The Bay Golf Club before meeting Boston Common Golf. Currently occupying sixth place, New York aims to close ground on fifth-place Bay, while The Bay seeks to overcome early-season inconsistencies and build playoff momentum through back-to-back victories. The twelfth matchup places New York against second-place Boston, with only two points separating them. New York will depend on Matt Fitzpatrick, undefeated in Season 2 singles competition, to anchor its postseason push.

With merely three regular season matches remaining before the playoffs, the battle for top-four positioning has intensified considerably. Atlanta Drive GC maintains its lead atop the standings, pursued closely by Boston Common Golf, Los Angeles Golf Club and Jupiter Links GC. Meanwhile, The Bay Golf Club and New York Golf Club occupy fifth and sixth places, respectively, rendering every remaining contest crucial for postseason aspirations.

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Tipler convened dealers from across Brazil and Latin America in a live online broadcast in February using its annual convention to reward top performers, outline strategy and tighten alignment across its commercial truck tire retreading network.

Branded the 2026 Convention – Tipler Champions League, the virtual gathering connected business owners, managers and sales teams in what the company described as a pivotal moment for recognition and planning ahead of its next expansion cycle. The event spotlighted standout performances in 2025 with dealers evaluated on sales results, management standards, market growth and operational excellence.

Beyond awards, the convention doubled as a strategic roadmap session for 2026. Executives detailed commercial targets, marketing and market intelligence investments and new technical and management training initiatives. The company also signaled plans to expand regional operations and further develop its Tipler Champions League program, while sharpening its focus on innovation, efficiency gains, customer proximity and territorial expansion in key Latin American markets.

Leadership underscored the dealer network’s role in driving sustainable growth. “Our business model is built by many hands. Each dealer is a key player in our story. The convention is the moment to celebrate achievements and, above all, align our course so we can continue growing together,” said Jandrei Goldschmidt, Marketing Executive at Tipler.

The high-engagement broadcast reinforced integration across the network and a collective push to bolster competitiveness as Tipler works to consolidate its position among sector leaders. By linking partners, sharing operational and commercial priorities and recognising performance, the company signaled its intent to accelerate growth while maintaining a focus on excellence, dealer partnership and value creation for the transportation market across the region.

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DRC (Doctors of Rubber Compounding) is set to participate in the 2026 edition of Tire Technology Expo, a premier European event focused on tyre manufacturing materials and technology. The exhibition will take place in Hannover, Germany, from 3 to 5 March 2026.

Bringing over four and a half decades of expertise as a specialist custom compounder, DRC supplies advanced rubber compounds to tire producers worldwide. These formulations are designed for various tyre components, such as treads, sidewalls, innerliners and other technical parts. Beyond developing compounds and offering large-scale mixing capabilities, the company also manufactures semi-finished tyre-related goods, including calendered rubber and retreading materials. DRC provides comprehensive support throughout the entire process, from the initial formulation stage to final application, backed by in-house testing and scalable production to guarantee consistent quality, processing efficiency and supply reliability.

Attendees are invited to visit Stand C114 in Hall 20 to engage with the DRC team, explore custom compound development, address specific performance criteria for tyre materials and learn more about their full range of compounded and semi-finished products.

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Left Lane Auto, a tyre retail and automotive services provider based in Champaign, Illinois, has expanded its footprint through a new partnership with Don Foshay's Discount Tire & Alignment. The Maine-based business operates six locations offering comprehensive vehicle repair and maintenance and is the latest addition to Left Lane’s growing portfolio, which is backed by private equity firm Bertram Capital. The financial details of the deal have not been released.

Founded in 1982 by Don Foshay Sr with a single shop in South Portland, the company has since grown to include six locations and a team of more than 75 employees. Over the years, the business has earned multiple industry accolades while building a strong reputation under its established local brand. Its service offerings are extensive and include tyre sales and installation, wheel alignments, preventive maintenance, diagnostics, transmission work and repairs to exhaust, cooling and belt systems for a wide range of vehicles. The organisation has also invested in modern diagnostic and repair technology to support its commitment to dependable service.

This acquisition represents a significant milestone for Left Lane, bringing its total number of owned stores to over 80 since its inception in 2021. It also marks the first transaction completed following the strategic partnership announced between Left Lane and Bertram Capital in late 2025.

Parham Parastaran, CEO, Left Lane, said, "We are excited to have the opportunity to carry on the strong legacy and operation that the Foshay family has built in Maine, which will serve as a strong entry point into the state for our platform. We plan to retain all upper management and employees across all locations and are excited to continue to grow both the Don Foshay's brand and the broader Left Lane platform's presence across the New England area."

Don Foshay Jr said, "We had multiple buyers to pick from but found that Left Lane Auto was the best match for our team and our customers going forward. The further we've gotten into the transition, the happier we are with that decision."

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