The ContiTech group sector will become independent, according to a decision made today by the Continental Executive Board. Analysing and evaluating the potential transaction forms for independence and creating an implementation schedule are the tasks of the next preparation phase. In the following phase, the Executive Board will make a decision on this.

Currently, Continental believes that the most likely course of action is to sell ContiTech. This will be put into effect following the sale of the Original Equipment Solutions (OESL) business area and the spin-off of the Automotive group sector. ContiTech may achieve independence by the end of 2026, pending the completion of the required resolutions.

With the anticipated spin-off of its Automotive group sector, Continental has already set the stage for its realignment. The company wants to establish the three group sectors, namely Automotive, ContiTech and Tires, as robust, stand-alone businesses. ContiTech will now function autonomously as a material solutions expert with a strong industrial emphasis. As a result, Continental AG will grow into a multinational tyre firm. The last phase will be to transfer the still-overarching holding functions to Continental AG.

As part of the development, Dr Ariane Reinhart, Director of Labor Relations and Executive Board member for HR and Sustainability, will leave her role on 30 June 2025. With effect from 1 July 2025, Ulrike Hintze will be named Director of Labor Relations and HR Executive Board member. At the same time, she will continue to oversee the HR department for the Tires Group. In addition to Reinhart's responsibilities for IT and Communications, Continental CEO Nikolai Setzer will assume responsibility for Sustainability.

Explaining the Executive Board’s decision, Setzer said, “Over the past 30 years in particular, Continental has used targeted acquisitions and organic growth to build up three strong group sectors in their respective industries. These are now ready for independence. Today’s highly dynamic markets also call for focused, agile and decisive action. Now is therefore the right time to initiate the most far-reaching realignment in the company’s history. We are creating three strong, independent champions that will achieve their full growth and value creation potential as independent companies. I will shape and drive forward Continental’s realignment as CEO until its successful completion. This realignment will benefit all our stakeholders.”

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Kuraray Co., Ltd. reported a sharp fall in net profit for 2025 after recording impairment losses in its isoprene and elastomer businesses, even as operating cash flow remained positive and the group outlined a recovery in 2026.

The Japanese chemicals group posted net sales of USD 5.27 billion for the year to December 31 2025, down 2.2 percent from USD 5.39 billion year earlier. Operating income declined 30.8 percent to USD 383.7 million, while ordinary income fell 36.8 percent to USD 335.0 million.

Net income attributable to owners of the parent dropped 76.5 percent to USD 48.9 million, reflecting extraordinary losses that included USD 193.5 million in impairment charges related to the isoprene chemical business and thermoplastic styrene elastomers.

Total assets rose to USD 8.49 billion at year end from USD 8.44 billion , while net assets fell to USD 4.92 billion, resulting in an equity ratio of 57.0 percent. Interest-bearing debt increased, contributing to a rise in total liabilities.

Net cash provided by operating activities amounted to USD 642.3 million, compared with USD 901 million in the previous year. Investing activities used USD 641 million, largely for capital expenditure, and financing activities used USD 106.5 million, including USD 196.1 million in share buybacks and USD 113.7 million in dividends. Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period stood at USD 705.5 million.

By segment, vinyl acetate sales declined 2.5 percent to USD 2.64 billion while the isoprene business recorded sales growth of 5.3 percent to USD 523.8 million but remained loss-making. Functional materials sales were broadly flat, while operating income fell. Fibres and textiles saw lower sales but improved profitability. Trading sales edged higher.

For 2026, Kuraray forecasts net sales of USD 5.54 billion and operating income of USD 456.0 million. Net income attributable to owners of the parent is expected to recover to USD 260.6 million.

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Dara Jehangir Bharucha, a respected stalwart of India’s rubber and polymer industry with a career spanning more than six decades, has passed away today. He was 90.

Born on January 12, 1936, in Mumbai, Bharucha graduated from St. Xavier’s College in 1955 before embarking on a distinguished professional journey in the technical side of the rubber sector. He began his career with Firestone Tyre Company in Bombay, working in its technical department during a formative phase for India’s tyre industry.

He later joined Philips Carbon Black Ltd in West Bengal, where he was associated with testing the first lot of carbon black produced in India — a milestone in the domestic rubber value chain. In 1972, Bharucha moved to Bayer, rising to become Regional Technical Manager and subsequently Technical and Development Manager at the company’s Thane headquarters.

Following his retirement, he continued contributing to the industry by joining the Bhimrajka Group in 1996, a leading distributor of performance polymers and chemicals in India. Even in his later years, Bharucha remained actively engaged with the All India Rubber Industries Association (AIRIA), participating in technical forums, seminars and industry deliberations.

Colleagues remember him as a technically rigorous professional with an unwavering commitment to industry development. His career mirrored the evolution of India’s rubber and polymer ecosystem — from import dependence to domestic capability.

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Sanjay Sharma, Head of Corporate Communication and Motorsport at JK Tyre & Industries Ltd, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 61. A central architect of organised racing in India, Sharma, widely known in Indian motorsport circles as “Hardy”, leaves behind a legacy that reshaped the country’s motorsport ecosystem over three decades.

Sharma joined JK Tyre & Industries Ltd in 1994 with a mandate to professionalise its fledgling motorsport division. At a time when structured racing pathways in India were limited, he built a formal competitive framework that would become the backbone of the sport domestically.

In 1997, he spearheaded the launch of the JK Tyre National Racing Championship, creating a sustained talent pipeline for aspiring drivers. The championship went on to nurture several Indian racers who would make their mark internationally, including Narain Karthikeyan, Karun Chandhok, Aditya Patel and Armaan Ebrahim.

Beyond circuit racing, Sharma broadened JK Tyre’s footprint across rallying, karting and grassroots motorsport development. In 2000, he was instrumental in introducing organised karting championships in India — a decisive step in creating an entry-level ladder for young drivers. His long-term vision emphasised early talent identification and structured progression to international competition.

Under his stewardship, JK Tyre also strengthened its presence in rallying, supporting prominent drivers such as Gaurav Gill, while expanding competitive platforms across formats. Colleagues and competitors alike credit Sharma with institutionalising professionalism in an industry that had previously operated in fragmented pockets.

Tributes from across the Indian motorsport fraternity poured in on Thursday, describing him as a mentor, strategist and relentless advocate for the sport. Many credited his administrative foresight and corporate stewardship for laying the foundation upon which India’s contemporary racing structure stands.

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At a recent European dealer conference held in Thailand, Prinx Chengshan introduced its strategic direction for the coming years under the theme ‘PRINX REVEAL 2026 THE FUTURE UNVEILED’. The company marked the occasion by launching a new brand slogan for the European market - FUTURE READY TIRES -underscoring its ambition to co-create a shared trajectory with its regional partners amidst an evolving industry landscape.

A central component of the event was a tour of the company’s Thailand Smart Factory, where delegates observed advanced manufacturing systems in action. Led by General Manager Xu Jiangang, the visit highlighted the facility’s intelligent production lines, digital oversight tools and commitment to corporate social responsibility. Li Chongbing from the R&D Centre elaborated on the technological foundations underpinning Prinx Chengshan’s tyre quality, while Wang Hongdian of the Marketing Centre outlined a five-year product roadmap for both commercial vehicle and passenger car tyres tailored to European customers. Meanwhile, Wu Longfeng, Manager of Customer Service Department at Quality Management Centre, introduced an updated 2026 Claim Policy designed to respond more effectively to market expectations and reinforce the company’s integrated ‘Product + Service’ approach.

Strategic vision took centre stage as Li Xinming, Deputy Director of the Europe & Americas Sales Centre, discussed the company’s ongoing evolution from a traditional tyre producer into a globally competitive industrial group. He credited much of this progress to the enduring trust of European partners and conveyed optimism that the Prinx brand – rooted in innovation, craftsmanship and forward-thinking design – would continue to gain momentum through these collaborations. Thomas Wohlgemuth, General Manager for Europe, elaborated on the new brand identity and confirmed Prinx’s official entry into the European commercial vehicle tyre sector in 2026, with sustainability embedded across research, operations and partnerships.

Adding a dynamic dimension to the proceedings, British racing driver Luke Garrett made a guest appearance. As a sponsored athlete in the 2025 FIA European Truck Racing Championship, Garrett shared his experiences competing on Prinx Chengshan tyres, offering attendees a tangible connection to the brand’s values of determination, aspiration and performance.

Beyond the formal agenda, the company curated an immersive cultural programme that enabled participants to experience Thailand’s natural beauty and build stronger interpersonal connections in a relaxed setting. Looking forward, Prinx Chengshan intends to deepen its investment in research and development while capitalising on its smart manufacturing footprint across China, Thailand and Malaysia. The company envisions a future defined by sustainable growth, longer product life cycles and green innovation – bringing Chinese intelligent manufacturing to an ever-widening global stage through close collaboration with its European allies.

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