Bridgestone Americas (Bridgestone) has announced an investment of approximately US $190 million to renovate and expand its tyre manufacturing plant located in Belén de Heredia, Costa Rica. This investment is in addition to more than US $60 million planned for 2022-2026. In total, the company will be investing over US $250 million over the five-year period, Bridgestone claims. Thanks to the new capital investment, the company will be able to extend its facilities and increase its production capacity up to 36 percent by 2026 and adding more than 160 new permanent jobs.

Sharing his views, Alfonso Zendejas, President of Bridgestone Latin America North, Bridgestone Americas, said, “This new capital investment represents an important step for Bridgestone's tyre production capacity, and it also reinforces our commitment to contributing to Costa Rica’s economic and social development. This investment strengthens Bridgestone’s commitment to Costa Rica as a strategic location for local and global business activities and further contributes to our ability to maximise value for all of our stakeholders.”

According to Bridgestone, this investment complements the strategic plan for sustainable growth that the company has been implementing in recent years to expand the businesses that operates in the country. From 2020 to date, Bridgestone Costa Rica has invested more than US $38.5 million. Bridgestone states that US $36 million of this has been destined for modernisation and efficiency projects for the tyre manufacturing plant, US $2 million for the expansion of the plant in Turrialba and US $0.5 million to strengthen the operations of the Bridgestone Business Services.

"At Bridgestone, we believe in the great potential of the Latin American market, as well as the high levels of quality and reliability of the local workforce. Thanks to the trust of the corporation and the daily commitment of our teammates, Latin America will remain one of the most outstanding regions for the company worldwide," said Celso Villalva, Vice President of Latin American Manufacturing, Bridgestone Americas.

As per Bridgestone, the expansion of its plant in Costa Rica supports the Bridgestone E8 commitment. The E8 commitment places sustainability at the centre of its strategy and consists of eight Bridgestone-like values starting with the letter E (Energy, Ecology, Efficiency, Extension, Economy, Emotion, Ease and Empowerment). Bridgestone claims that it has committed to working together with employees, society, partners and customers to realise a sustainable society. This expansion project exalts the values of extension, economy and ecology, since it includes the adoption of new machines and manufacturing technologies, as well as the replacement of two fuel oil boilers with electrical ones, resulting in more efficient production with zero carbon emissions.

Pablo Jiménez, Manufacturing Director of Bridgestone Costa Rica, Bridgestone Americas, explained, “With the expansion of the plant, we will be able to continue to meet the current and future needs of our customers, focusing on the production of premium tyres for domestic and export markets and sustainable solutions with products that will be ready for the digital age.”

As part of a strategic effort to increase its presence in the region's premium original equipment (OE) market, Kumho Tire has confirmed its plans to establish its first tyre production facility in Europe by 2027.

The company has shortlisted Poland, Serbia and Portugal as possible locations for the plant, which is projected to need an investment of more than KRW1 trillion (USD 705 million). The decision is closely linked to Kumho’s ambition to strengthen its partnerships with European automakers and was revealed by Kumho Tire CEO during the South Korean premiere of Kumho's new Ecsta Sport tyre line.

Kumho has recently secured OE supply contracts with major brands such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Volkswagen Group. At the moment, Kumho runs eight tyre production plants in China, Vietnam, South Korea and the US. Its capacity to compete in the premium OE market, however, has come to be perceived as being constrained by the absence of a European production base. Through the benefits of local production, the new facility will improve response to European client requests, save freight costs and shorten delivery times, all of which will strengthen the company's partnerships.

Sentury Tire USA has opened pre-enrolment for its two associate dealer programmes (ADPs), the Delinte HYPERDRIVE Associate Dealer Program and the Landsail Elyte Associate Dealer Program, underscoring the company’s commitment to rewarding dedication and partnership to the Landsail and Delinte brands.

The ADPs, which are customised for each brand and intended to encourage dealers, will formally start on 1 June 2025. Both programmes give dealers access to special benefits, incentives and strong tools to help them expand their businesses. This involves dependable customer service, effective marketing and worthwhile financial incentives to promote dealers' success at every stage.

Beginning in Q3, dealers may earn up to USD three per tyre through the Delinte HYPERDRIVE Associate Dealer Program. Dealers can receive retroactive benefits for purchases completed in Q2 if they register before 1 June. The awards are available for all Delinte PTR, LTR and the new DV3 LMD AS last-mile delivery tyres. For all Landsail PTR and LTR tyres, independent dealers that sign up for the Landsail Elyte Associate Dealer Program can also earn up to USD three per tyre. For customers who sign up by June 1, the new LMD 100 AS last-mile delivery is also eligible for the benefits and will get the same early bird incentive for Q2 2025.

No initial order is necessary. Dealers only need to register to begin making money. According to the monthly programme rewards structure, 48 tyre purchases each month are eligible for a reward of USD one per tyre, 120 tyres are eligible for a reward of USD two per tyre and 240 or more tyres are eligible for a reward of USD three per tyre.

ENSO, a London-based tyre manufacturer engaged in the production of sustainable tyres specially designed for electric vehicles (EVs), has launched its new ENSO Premium range of EV-specific ultra-high-performance (UHP) tyres aimed at drivers of high-performance EVs such as the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y.

Specifically designed for electric passenger vehicles, the ENSO Premium range comes with A/A EU-label ratings for both energy efficiency and wet grip. The tyres are designed to provide safety, increased range and a reduced total cost of ownership. Conventional tyre designs frequently fall short of the special performance needs of electric vehicles, which include greater vehicle weight, regenerative braking and higher torque loads. By lowering tyre wear and rolling resistance, ENSO Premium takes care of these issues.

The company is an authorised provider of replacement tyres for LEVC's electric taxis and has partnered with Uber to install its tyres in high-mileage metropolitan areas. The company now plans to grow throughout Europe and North America, and with ENSO Premium, it is now offering its services to individual EV owners throughout the United Kingdom. According to ENSO, the range offers advantages including longer tyre life and fewer replacements, lower energy usage, fewer charging stops and lower CO₂ emissions and tyre particle pollution.

Gunnlaugur Erlendsson, CEO and Co-Founder, ENSO, said, “We’re plugging a long-standing gap in the tyre market by offering EV drivers a purpose-built, affordable, premium EV tyre alternative that matches the innovation of their EV.”

Kraton Corporation, a leading global sustainable producer of specialty polymers and high-value bio-based products derived from pine wood pulping co-products, has announced a general price hike in North America for its SBS, SIS and HSBC product lines with effect from 1 May 2025.

Following a careful analysis of the effects of recently implemented tariffs, related cost increases and a conclusion that the company cannot independently absorb these repercussions, Kraton is adopting these pricing hikes, according to a company statement. The company further said that it will keep an eye on the scene and reassess these measures promptly in the event that conditions and US import tariffs alter.