Apollo Tyres Ltd, through its Vredestein premium tyre brand, successfully organised its latest ‘Soccer School’ day in Volendam, the Netherlands, in collaboration with Manchester United. This marks the ninth Soccer School event organised by Apollo Tyres in partnership with Manchester United, following successful sessions across Europe, including Italy, Spain, Germany, Poland and the Netherlands.

The event, which took place on 15 March at Kras Stadium, the home of FC Volendam, the leaders of the Eerste Divisie, gave 25 kids access to a private training session with Manchester United trainers. With an emphasis on providing opportunity to kids who face financial or physical obstacles, the Manchester United Soccer School project promotes grassroots football in nations all over the world.

The Soccer School, which was organized in collaboration with a number of neighbourhood charities, such as WonderBoyz, which offers assistance to kids with physical and mental disabilities, and Geven en Nemen, which arranges donations and the redistribution of goods to those in need, attracted participants (aged 7 to 18) from a wide range of backgrounds who had little access to sports facilities. High-quality football instruction was provided during the four-hour session to promote workout dedication, increase self-confidence and promote personal growth. In keeping with the club's dedication to young development, FC Volendam's amateur youth squad, RKAV Volendam, also took part in the event.

Manchester United legend Denis Irwin led the training session with a team of experienced club coaches from Manchester United. Along with the training session, participants received full Manchester United uniforms, medals, certificates and on-site lunches, as well as chances to take pictures and get autographs from Irwin. The kids and their family were invited to FC Volendam's home game versus Cambuur after the Soccer School session.

Irwin said, “Football has the power to inspire and bring people together, and it’s been incredible to see the enthusiasm and talent of these young players today. Through initiatives like this, we’re not only sharing the love of the game but also giving every child the chance to develop their skills and confidence in a supportive environment.”

Paul Eidhof, Head of Cluster North West at Apollo Tyres, said, “Apollo Tyres is committed to making a lasting impact in local communities, and partnering with Manchester United and FC Volendam allows us to provide meaningful opportunities for children who may not otherwise have access to professional coaching. Community engagement is a core pillar of our global strategy, and we look forward to hosting more Soccer Schools in the future to continue making a positive difference.”

Michelin, the CNRS, Grenoble Alpes University (UGA), Savoie Mont Blanc University (USMB) and Grenoble INP – UGA have entered into a new research collaboration to develop a low-carbon and sustainable hydrogen production technology using water by creating next-generation materials made of elements abundant in the earth's crust.

The four-year programme, which was launched on 14 March, is the third time that Michelin and CNRS have combined their expertise in green hydrogen generation technologies through LabCom. Green hydrogen may now be produced using water in a number of ways. The first method is AWE alkaline water electrolysis, which involves passing electricity through a potassium hydroxide and water solution. Despite being widely utilised in industry, this technology is slow in producing ultra-pure hydrogen and is challenging to combine with renewable energy sources. Although it depends on rare and noble metal catalysts, a more recent kind of water electrolyser called PEMWE employs a polymer membrane that is impermeable to gas (oxygen and hydrogen) and produces ultra-pure gas with a greater yield.

Under the direction of CNRS researcher Frédéric Maillard, the new research collaboration aims to create water electrolysis technology that combines the best of both worlds with assistance from the Michelin R&D Centre in Clermont-Ferrand. The goal is to get high hydrogen production speeds by utilising both the benefits of PEMWE, which uses a polymer membrane, and AWE technology, which uses non-noble metals. The new technique, known as the ‘anion-exchange membrane water electrolyser’ (AEMWE), calls for the creation of nano-catalysts made of more optimised anion exchange polymer membranes and metals that are abundant in the earth's crust, such as nickel.

ZC Rubber has launched its X-Elite Series truck tyres at the Southeast Asia Dealer Conference & X-Tech Seminar held in Singapore, marking the debut of the X-Elite Series in the Southeast Asian market.

The X-Elite Series, created under ZC Rubber's proprietary X-Tech System, combines cutting-edge tyre compounding technologies, structural designs and manufacturing innovations specifically suited for high-mileage and overloading applications. The X-Elite Series is perfect for logistics, heavy transport and mining activities since it is made to withstand the harsh conditions of Southeast Asia and performs very well in high-mileage and overloading situations.

The X-Tech System, which combines cutting-edge digital R&D tools with more than 60 years of experience in tyre development, provides a multifaceted platform for tire innovation. The X-Elite Series offers 15 percent mileage improvement, 3L fuel savings per 100 km, 10°C reduction in sidewall temperature, 10 percent increase in tyre casing strength, 15 percent enhancement in wet grip and low-noise comfort at 69dB(A).

Justin Cui, Asia Sales Director of ZC Rubber International Business, said, “The launch of the X-Elite Series demonstrates our dedication to pushing the boundaries of commercial tyre innovation. With the integration of the X-Tech System, we are setting a new benchmark for performance and efficiency, ensuring that our customers in Southeast Asia receive the best-in-class solutions tailored to their operational needs.”

The Tire Industry Association (TIA) has started accepting nominations for four seats of Board of Directors that will become open in November 2025.

The newly elected members of the Board will be appointed to three-year terms, with the possibility of being re-elected for two more. Leaders committed to furthering the association's goals of promoting tyre safety, serving as the industry's main spokesperson in governmental matters and improving the industry's reputation and professionalism can find a platform in these roles.

The nominees must be employed by a TIA member firm, have been in good standing for two years before to the election and represent a tyre dealer, manufacturer, wholesale distributor, supplier, recycler or retreader in order to be eligible. Nominations must be submitted by 14 May 2025 at 5:00 p.m. EST.

The newly elected board members will be installed during the TIA Annual Membership Meeting, which will be held in Las Vegas on 3 November 2025, before the Global Tire Expo/SEMA Show begins.

Bridgestone Americas (Bridgestone) has unveiled the new R273 Ecopia regional tyre for the steer position and the Duravis M705 tyre for mixed fleet vehicles in pickup and delivery (P&D) and last-mile delivery (LMD) fleets at the recently concluded 2025 Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) Annual Meeting & Transportation Technology Exhibition. The company also demonstrated its new servicing Dispatch Solution, a fleet tool meant to decrease downtime and improve tyre communication and information for servicing events.

The Bridgestone R273 Ecopia is the second regional truck tyre with ENLITEN technology in the company's lineup. The improved tread compound and design of the R273 Ecopia are intended to lessen shoulder wear and increase removal mileage. Compared to its predecessor, the new casing's better four-rib design and reduced rolling resistance compounding result in increased fuel efficiency. Later this year, the tyre will be made available to fleets in six initial sizes: 295/75R22.5, 11R22.5, 11R24.5, 285/75R24.5, 12R22.5 and 295/80R22.5.

The Bridgestone Duravis M705 is the first to use ENLITEN technology in LMD and P&D tyres and is intended for mixed fleets with a wide tyre size arrangement. With sidewall protection and an upgraded casing that adds durability and improves retreading efficiency while keeping sustainability in mind, the all-position tyre offers performance improvements. In order to enhance wear over the Bridgestone M724, the Duravis M705 is made with 3D sipes and a mixed tread pattern. The Duravis M705, which has been designated a Three Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF), is intended to give fleets excellent performance and traction during the winter months. In the second half of 2025, the Bridgestone Duravis M705 will be offered in the following sizes: 215/75R17.5, 225/70R19.5 and 245/70R19.5.

Apart from the two new tyres, Bridgestone also debuted the company’s new Service Dispatch Solution. This web-based tool seeks to increase efficiency and productivity. Automated technician deployment and comprehensive tracking of images, papers and digital event data are vital elements. Bridgestone fleet customers provided input for the new solution, which represents a fundamental change in the way the business handles its digital products. Bridgestone’s Service Dispatch Solution highlights the company's dedication to providing fleets with user-friendly tools and improving the customer experience.

Steve Hoeft, President – Commercial Truck Group, Bridgestone Americas, said, “The new R273 Ecopia and Duravis M705 with ENLITEN technology demonstrate how Bridgestone continues to push to enhance our product performance with our goal toward sustainability in mind. These tyres reflect our approach of using real-world data to not only enhance performance for our fleet customers but also to infuse environmentally friendly practices into our industry.”