Indian tyre manufacturer CEAT Ltd has inaugurated its largest retail outlet in Anand, Gujarat, expanding its presence in the western state with a 4,200-square-foot flagship store.

The new CEAT Shoppe, launched in partnership with local dealer Bharat Tyres, marks the company's seventh outlet opening in Gujarat this year, bringing its total presence in the state to approximately 45 stores.

"The inauguration of CEAT Shoppe in Anand reflects our strategic focus on strengthening our premium retail footprint in high-growth markets," said Lakshmi Narayanan B, Chief Marketing Officer, CEAT. "Gujarat is a key region for CEAT, and Anand's emergence as a significant automobile, educational, and business hub makes it an ideal location for this expansion."

The showroom, situated in Anand's primary automobile district near major OEM showrooms, represents the third collaborative venture between CEAT and Bharat Tyres. The partnership extends beyond retail, with Bharat Tyres operating a CEAT Truck Service Hub established in 2023.

The expansion follows recent store openings in Ahmedabad and Rajkot, underscoring CEAT's commitment to strengthening its retail network in key Indian markets. The new outlet aims to provide premium tyre fitting services and enhanced customer experience in the growing urban centre.

CEAT's strategic expansion in Gujarat reflects the company's focus on establishing a robust presence in high-potential markets whilst maintaining its commitment to superior customer service and professional expertise.

Japanese tyre maker Toyo Tire Corp announced plans to sell an 86 percent stake in its Chinese manufacturing subsidiary to local investment firm Liaoning Hengdasheng Investment Co (LHI), marking a significant scaling back of its operations in the world's largest auto market.

The deal, expected to close by 30 June, comes as Toyo Tire's Zhangjiagang unit has struggled to establish brand recognition and competitive advantage in China's crowded passenger vehicle tyre market. The subsidiary posted an operating loss of 5 million yuan in 2024, compared to a profit of 13 million yuan the previous year.

"TTZ has struggled to fully leverage its competitive advantage as a local manufacturer/supplier, due to slower-than-expected brand and product recognition," Toyo Tire said in a statement.

The Japanese company will retain a 14 percent stake in the Zhangjiagang facility, which was established in 2010. Following the transaction, Toyo Tire plans to supply its Asian markets from its manufacturing bases in Japan and Malaysia.

The company said it would redirect its focus to North America and other high-growth markets, emphasising "flexible and agile business operations" and optimal resource allocation.

The sale price was not disclosed. The deal is expected to be finalised with a formal agreement by 28 February.

Sumitomo Rubber Industries reported a full-year profit that significantly exceeded its forecast, driven by effective cost management and favourable currency movements in the fourth quarter.

The Japanese tyre manufacturer posted a profit of 9.87 billion yen attributable to owners for the year ended December 2024, nearly nine times higher than its November forecast of 1 billion yen. However, it is still well below the previous year's 37.05 billion yen.

Operating profit reached 11.19 billion yen, more than double the company's forecast of 5 billion yen, while sales revenue slightly topped expectations at 1.21 trillion yen.

The company cited better-than-expected exchange rates for both the US dollar and euro in the fourth quarter, combined with successful cost containment measures, as key factors behind the earnings beat.

Business profit, which reflects the company's core operations, was 87.94 billion yen, exceeding the forecast of 80 billion yen.

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has announced the new Cooper WORK Series Regional Haul All-position (RHA) 2 tyre for super-regional and regional all-position commercial vehicle applications.

Designed for super-regional and Less-than-Truckload (LTL) fleets, the Cooper WORK Series RHA 2 tyre provides the fuel efficiency of a long-haul tyre and the toughness of a high-scrub regional tyre. The tyre is SmartWay-verified and offers long distances to removal and even-wear for the growing super-regional commercial vehicle category.

Joe Burke, Vice President, North America Commercial, Goodyear, said, "The super-regional category is evolving with shorter routes between shipping hubs and a focus on improving efficiency by being closer to last-mile delivery fleets. The new Cooper WORK Series RHA 2 helps address these needs by combining a long-haul tread with a scrub guard compound, creating a tough tyre that can handle everything from long trips to urban traffic."

Falken has reiterated its commitment to offer tyres for all road and weather conditions to its dealers and consumers this summer. The tyre maker is ready with its summer product portfolio that includes tyres for lorry, electric vehicles (EV), ultra, super-ultra-high-performance as well as motorsport and off-road tyres.

The newly launched Falken AZENIS RS820, the new generation of super-ultra-high-performance tyres designed for ambitious sports car drivers, leads the summer lineup. For speeds of up to 300 km/h, the tyre will be offered in 40 sizes ranging from series 30 to 45 with diameters of 19 to 21 inches. The Tyre Technology International Awards for Innovation and Excellence nominated the AZENIS RS820 for ‘Tyre of the Year’.

The Falken e. ZIEX is available in 29 sizes in series 40 to 65, with diameters ranging from 15 to 21 inches. It was initially created for EVs, but drivers of internal combustion engine vehicles that value environmental performance and fuel economy are also targeted. The Falken AZENIS FK520 UHP summer tyre comes in 129 dimensions, from 17 to 21-inch diameters in series 30 to 65. All specifications are also satisfied by the Falken ZIEX ZE320, which comes in 60 sizes with a diameter of 16 to 18 inches in series 45 to 65. The tyre provides excellent noise reduction.

The EUROALL SEASON AS220 PRO is an all-weather tyre developed specifically for vehicles that are all about performance. Fo speeds up to 270 km/h, it is available in 54 sizes from 17 to 21-inch diameters in series 35 to 65. The WILDPEAK R/T 01 is aimed at heavy pick-ups and SUVs that love off-road tracks. The R/T model from Falken is available in eight sizes with 17 to 20-inch diameters from series 55 to 70. Finally, the LINAM VAN 01 summer tyre is aimed at transporters and vans. It is available in 37 sizes in series 55 to 82 in 12 to 17-inch diameter with the speed index R / S / T / H.