L-R: Ravi Dadlani, MD &CEO, CEAT Kelani, Sri Lanka; Devika Lal, 1st Secretary Economic & Commercial; Arnab Banerjee, MD & CEO, CEAT; Santosh Jha, High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka and Amit Tolani, Chief Executive, CEAT Specialty.

CEAT has announced a significant expansion of its off-highway mobility business with the acquisition of Michelin Group’s CAMSO Construction Compact Line Business. The deal, which includes two Sri Lankan manufacturing plants, integrates the globally recognised CAMSO brand into CEAT's long-term strategy, solidifying its position in the high-margin Off-Highway Tyres (OHT) segment.

The acquisition includes CAMSO's Midigama and Kotugoda plants in Sri Lanka, as well as the global rights to the CAMSO brand, which will be fully integrated into CEAT's portfolio after a three-year licensing period. This strategic move grants CEAT immediate access to a robust network of over 40 global OEMs and premium distributors, particularly in key markets across Europe and North America.

CEAT has committed a USD 171 million investment in Sri Lanka as part of the deal, which is expected to secure 1,483 jobs and bolster the nation's role as a global hub for OHT manufacturing.

Arnab Banerjee, MD & CEO, CEAT, stated, “The integration of compact construction equipment business and the acquisition of the CAMSO brand is a pivotal step in advancing CEAT’s long-term vision of becoming a significant player in Off Highway mobility. We are confident that our enhanced strengths in products, capabilities, and markets will enable us to enter new geographies, expand our portfolio, and drive sustainable growth in the years ahead.”

Santosh Jha, High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, said, “I would like to extend my best wishes to CEAT for its investment in Sri Lanka. India has been the largest source of FDI in Sri Lanka in recent years and I am delighted to see that trend continue.  The deepening of the investment-led partnership between the two countries has been catalysed by the leadership of both countries. It supports their vision of building a future of shared prosperity for our peoples. With India’s private sector investing in Sri Lanka, I’m confident that the economic and commercial relationship between the two countries will continue to strengthen”.

Amit Tolani, Chief Executive, CEAT Specialty, said, “The integration of CAMSO’s premium brand and construction compact line manufacturing capabilities into CEAT is a transformative step in our journey. Our immediate focus is on seamless transition, ensuring customer satisfaction and further strengthening our operations in Sri Lanka.”

This acquisition marks a major milestone for CEAT, which has spent the past decade building a strong agricultural portfolio. With CAMSO’s specialised expertise in compact construction equipment tracks and tyres, CEAT aims to further strengthen its ambition to become a leading global force in the off-highway mobility sector. Michelin will exit the compact line bias tyres and construction tracks activities.

Mercedes-AMG and Michelin have successfully completed a gruelling endurance run at Italy’s Nardò Technical Center, driving the circumference of the Earth – 40,075 kilometres – in under eight days. The CONCEPT AMG GT XX, a precursor to next year’s production AMG.EA electric architecture, maintained an average speed of 300 kmph throughout the challenge, showcasing its advanced drivetrain technologies.

An equally critical component of this achievement was a groundbreaking new tyre developed by Michelin. To withstand the extreme stresses of sustained high-speed driving, the company’s R&D centre created the MICHELIN Pilot Sport 5 energy. This high-performance tyre is the result of five years of research, utilising advanced dynamic simulation and unique manufacturing processes. Its innovative tread features a dual-rubber architecture: an energy-saving compound on the outer sides to reduce consumption and a central adaptive compound to maximise dry and wet grip. This design ensured consistent performance and exceptional energy efficiency, minimising the need for recharges throughout the record attempt.

Fitted with integrated RFID chips for real-time monitoring, these specially sized tyres were supported by an extensive onsite technical effort from Michelin. Engineers provided 24/7 support and monitoring, while dedicated teams worked around the clock to manage fitting and replacements on the demanding 12.6-kilometre banked track.

This endurance record underscores the strategic, 30-year partnership between Mercedes-AMG and Michelin, built on a shared commitment to extreme performance and innovation. It also demonstrates Michelin’s capacity to develop tailor-made, cutting-edge solutions for demanding manufacturers, accelerating the arrival of these advanced technologies for drivers worldwide.

Serge Lafon President of the automotive original equipment business line at Michelin, said, “Congratulations to Mercedes-AMG for this symbolic endurance record, to which Michelin is proud to have actively contributed. This circumnavigation in under eight days by the CONCEPT AMG GT XX is a striking demonstration of the possibilities of innovation: tyres capable of delivering both performance and energy efficiency, from the first to the last mile. This success takes on its full meaning on the eve of the commercial launch of the new MICHELIN Pilot Sport 5 energy range. This will benefit directly from the technologies validated in the field, such as the never-before-seen dual-rubber architecture on the tread. This challenge illustrates Michelin’s commitment to turn its sporting challenges into innovation accelerators for mobility that is ever more sustainable.”

In a strategic move to advance its digital mobility services, Sumitomo Rubber Industries has finalised an agreement to acquire US-based AI startup Viaduct, Inc. for USD 104 million. This acquisition, signed on 27 August, is a direct result of a successful existing partnership and is designed to rapidly accelerate the global deployment of Sumitomo’s predictive maintenance solutions.

The collaboration centres on integrating Sumitomo’s proprietary SENSING CORE tyre sensing technology with Viaduct’s sophisticated artificial intelligence algorithms. This powerful combination will form the foundation of a new predictive maintenance service for corporate fleet vehicles in North America, scheduled to launch in October. The service is intended to minimise vehicle downtime and maintenance expenses by accurately forecasting the optimal time for parts replacement, thereby preventing breakdowns and enhancing operational safety and efficiency. The platform is also expected to expand into streamlining parts ordering and providing automated work instructions.

Headquartered in Silicon Valley, Viaduct brings proven expertise in analysing large-scale data from vehicles and manufacturing environments to detect anomalies and diagnose their root causes. While the company has a strong history with major automotive clients, its versatile AI technology offers potential for expansion into other industrial sectors.

This acquisition represents a critical step in Sumitomo Rubber’s broader ‘SMART TYRE CONCEPT’, which aims to address the evolving demands of next-generation mobility, including connected and autonomous vehicles. The company envisions developing its SENSING CORE-based services into a fourth core business pillar, alongside its established tyre, sports and industrial product divisions. With a focus on autonomous driving and fleet management, Sumitomo Rubber has set a target of generating over JPY 10 billion in operating profit from this new business segment by 2030.

Satoru Yamamoto, President and CEO, Sumitomo Rubber Industries, said, “As we prepare for the coming era of autonomous driving, we are delighted to have found a trusted partner in Viaduct to help expand our SENSING CORE services, which are highly compatible with next-generation vehicles. This is one of the key strategies to accelerate the achievement of the SENSING CORE business concept outlined in our long-term corporate strategy R.I.S.E. 2035 released in this March. Through deeper collaboration, we aim to create innovative services that go beyond mobility.”

David Hallac, CEO, Viaduct, Inc., said, “We are thrilled to join the Sumitomo Group under Sumitomo Rubber, a trusted partner we have been collaborating with for years. This acquisition not only accelerates our momentum but also gives us the scale and reach to bring AI-driven transformation to more customers around the world. When I had the opportunity in April to visit and learn more about the Sumitomo Group, I was deeply impressed by the integrity, long-term vision and commitment to excellence that define their culture. I felt an immediate affinity between those values and the way we operate at Viaduct, and I’m excited for the future impact we can create together.”

Alliance Tire Group launched what it claims is the world's largest agricultural tyre by inflation volume at this year's Farm Progress Show, as the company seeks to address growing demands from modern farming operations for higher-capacity equipment.

The IF1400/45R42 CFO Agriflex 372, featuring a 207 load rating, represents Alliance's latest effort to capture market share in the competitive grain cart segment. The tyre is designed to deliver enhanced load capacity whilst reducing soil compaction, two critical factors for large-scale agricultural operations.

The product launch comes as American farmers increasingly turn to larger equipment to improve operational efficiency amid rising input costs and labour shortages. Grain carts, which transport harvested crops from combines to storage or transport vehicles, have grown significantly in size over recent years.

Alliance's booth drew considerable attention from farmers and equipment dealers, with the company also showcasing its Agriflex+ series including the 393 XT, 377 XT, and 373 models. These VF (Very high Flexion) tyres represent the company's premium product line targeting high-end agricultural applications.

The company highlighted a significant milestone for its Agristar II product line, which has achieved one million units sold within five years of launch. Alliance supported this achievement with field demonstration data from trials conducted near Ames, Iowa, in June.

Alliance emphasised its "Whole Farm Concept" strategy at the show, positioning itself as a comprehensive solution provider across diverse agricultural operations rather than focusing solely on individual product categories.

The Farm Progress Show, one of North America's largest agricultural trade exhibitions, serves as a key platform for equipment manufacturers to introduce new products and gauge market sentiment ahead of the harvest season.

India’s Automotive Tyre Manufacturers Association (ATMA) has urged the government to lower the goods and services tax (GST) rate on tyres from the current 28 percent slab, stating that such a move would reduce vehicle operating costs and lower logistics expenses across the economy.

In a communication to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the industry body stated that tyres, which are taxed at the highest GST rate, should not be treated as luxury goods, given their critical role in supporting transportation, agriculture, and infrastructure. By contrast, tractor tyres attract 18 percent GST and aircraft tyres five percent.

“Tyres are indispensable to the movement of people and goods across India. Given their essential role in supporting national priorities of agriculture, logistics efficiency and infrastructure, tyres should not be treated on par with luxury goods,” said Arun Mammen, chairman of ATMA.

The association has argued that lowering GST on tyres to five percent would ease the financial burden for farmers, small traders and service providers, as well as the construction and mining industries, where tyre costs form a significant part of operating expenditure.

ATMA also raised concerns about the risk of tyre dealers accumulating unused input tax credits if GST rates are revised. To avoid working capital from being locked, it is recommended that new rates be announced swiftly and accompanied by a one-time refund of unused credits arising from rationalisation.