CEAT, India’s leading tyre manufacturer, announced Wednesday the opening of its new truck and bus radial (TBR) production line at its Chennai manufacturing plant.

The new line will gradually increase production to 1,500 tyres daily over the next 12 months, marking a significant step in CEAT’s expansion into international markets. It complements the company’s production of premium passenger radial (PCR) and motorcycle radial (MCR/MCS) tyres.

Arnab Banerjee, Managing Director & CEO, CEAT, highlighted the strategic importance of the new TBR line, stating, “The inauguration of the Truck Bus Radial line at our export-centric Chennai plant is a key step in CEAT’s global expansion strategy of offering a complete range of tyres across markets including Europe and the US. By integrating smart technologies and connected systems, we are creating a safer, more efficient, and sustainable workplace. This investment reaffirms CEAT’s dedication to delivering innovative, world-class mobility solutions to our customers worldwide.”

Located in Sriperumbudur and spread across 160 acres, CEAT’s Chennai plant is at the forefront of the company’s global operations. The addition of the TBR line strengthens its position as a hub of advanced manufacturing powered by cutting-edge technology. The plant features connected machinery, real-time data analytics, and advanced automation, making it a truly smart factory that delivers superior efficiency, safety, and quality.

Jayasankar Kurruppal, Senior Vice President of manufacturing, CEAT, emphasised the plant’s technological and safety advancements, noting, “Our Chennai plant has consistently set new benchmarks in both operational excellence and employee safety. The new TBR line exemplifies our commitment to creating a safe and smart manufacturing environment. The project has been implemented with in-house development of key equipment, proudly leveraging domestic Indian solutions, allowing us to efficiently manage both cost and timelines.”

The Chennai plant is a model for the tyre manufacturing industry, having implemented numerous safety initiatives that prioritise employee well-being. The plant has been recognised with prestigious safety certifications, including the British Safety Council 5-Star Award and the Sword of Honour, which highlight its adherence to the highest safety standards.

In addition to its focus on employee safety and digital transformation, the Chennai plant is a leader in sustainability. With a 25 percent green cover, 40 percent of the plant’s energy is sourced from renewable energy, including a 5 MW solar rooftop installation. CEAT plans to increase this to 50 percent by 2025. The plant is also a zero-liquid discharge facility, reflecting the company’s commitment to reducing its environmental footprint.

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.

Trelleborg Tires will showcase its latest tyre solutions for the logistics and material handling industry at the upcoming Intermodal South America 2025, Latin America’s largest and most comprehensive event for logistics, intralogistics, cargo transportation, technology and foreign trade, from 22 to 24 April on booth L100.

Trelleborg's XP1000 tyre is engineered to deliver exceptional performance in terms of comfort, stability, fuel efficiency, durability and mileage. To tackle the demands of today's interlogistics work, this tyre is ideal. By using its unique integrated Pit Stop Line technology, fleet managers can better ensure operator safety and save waste and downtime by knowing when to change their tyres. Locally made, the XP1000 has a cutting-edge tread that is intended to operate sustainably. The tyre's revolutionary fibre composition, which is manufactured from recycled materials, reduces CO2 emissions by up to 110 tonnes annually while saving 866 tonnes of new materials. The new CX940 has an extra-strong casing, an enhanced tread design and a wear-resistant compound that lowers the chance of cuts and punctures. These qualities guarantee great stability, outstanding grip and superior load distribution.

Alessandro Sacco, Sales Director of Trelleborg Tires in South America, said, “Being able to respond quickly and effectively to the specific needs of the South American market is essential. Thanks to our local production, we’re bringing top-quality, high-performance tyres exactly where and when they’re needed. We’re not just supplying products; we’re delivering advanced tyre technology built to match the pace and pressure of today’s logistics. Whether our customers operate in high-intensity ports or dynamic warehouse environments, they can count on Trelleborg Tyres to deliver long-lasting performance while ensuring efficiency and cost-effectiveness every step of the way.”