Until 1989, the IAA featured both passenger cars and commercial vehicles in one show that was held at the exhibition site in Frankfurt. Following a recent slump in visitor and exhibitor numbers, organisers VDA decided not to renew the contract with Messe Frankfurt and moved the show out of Frankfurt.

In March 2020, a decision was made to host the event in Munich due to it being home to manufacturers like BMW and several other tech companies like Apple and Google. The organisers also received support from the Greens-led city council and Bavarian state government to host the show. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the show was postponed from 2020 to 2021.

Finally, the show was held from 7-12 September 2021 in Munich. The move to Munich worked wonders for the organisers, as the 2021 edition of IAA Mobility witnessed over 400,000 participants from 95 countries, along with an international media reach of 137 billion. The show featured around 744 exhibitors and 936 speakers from 32 countries presenting their views and innovations.

Talking about the show's success, Hildegard Müller, President, German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), said, "We took a courageous step and were rewarded by the visitors. A total of 400,000 participants in only six days is a clear case of 'voting with their feet’. The visitors were evidently very interested in and delighted by the whole experience. The IAA MOBILITY is now the largest mobility event in the world. New electric cars, bicycles, e-scooters, energy policies and urban planning, digitisation and more – here in Munich, we presented and discussed what needs to be thought together in the future. At the IAA MOBILITY Conference, we also experienced lively discussions on the path to new mobility. The exhibitors unveiled more than 100 premieres of their latest models and concepts, underscoring the fact that the transformation of mobility is being driven forward toward climate neutrality and digitisation."

The 2021 edition of IAA Mobility was focused around 'What will move us next?'. Exhibitors presented their innovations focussing on automation, connectivity and sustainability. Below we will discuss the innovations displayed by Michelin and Continental and talk about the other significant exhibits from the show.

Continental:

It was a busy IAA Mobility 2021 for Continental. The company showcased a slew of innovations ranging from sustainable tyre to autonomous vehicle concept. All concepts showcased were categorised under the tagline 'Safe, Connected, Convenient and Driving the Future of Mobility for 150 years'.

The first concept showcased was the Conti GreenConcept. This sustainable tyre concept has been developed by Continental's development engineers and material experts to set new standards in integrated sustainability. The concept tyre consists of an exceptionally high proportion of traceable renewable and recycled materials. It is based on innovative and resource-saving lightweight technology that ensures an extended service life.

Conti GreenConcept tyre is made up of 35 percent renewable raw materials and 17 percent recycled materials. The use of organic materials like natural rubber from dandelions, silicate from the ashes of rice husks and various vegetable oils and resins help significantly in reducing the use of crude oil-based materials. In addition to using processed steel and carbon black, Continental is using recycled PET bottles in the casing of the tyre for the first time as part of its Contyre.Tex technology rollout.

Another advantage of the Conti GreenConcept’s lightweight design is significant reduction in rolling resistance helping improve EV range by up to six percent. According to an analysis by Continental, the rolling resistance of Conti GreenConcept is around 25 percent lower than any tyre with Class A rolling resistance. In addition, the Conti GreenConcept’s renewable tread can be replaced repeatedly with little effort. This tread concept significantly improves resource conservation along with improving the service life of the tyre.

Conti GreenConcept tyre also features COKOON – a technology for the eco-friendly bonding of textile reinforcements with rubber compounds developed by Continental in partnership with Kordsa.

Talking about the Conti GreenConcept tyres, Nikolai Setzer, CEO, Continental, said, "The cars of the future will still need tyres, which we are making more and more sustainable, as our concept tyre shows. The Conti GreenConcept demonstrates how Continental will completely convert its global tyre production to use sustainable materials by 2050 at the latest. This underlines our goal of being the most advanced tyre company along the entire value chain by 2030 in terms of social needs as well as our ecological and economic footprint. Step by step, our solutions and technologies are enhancing sustainability and climate protection on the road."

Continental also showcased its vision of an autonomous, connected future with the AMBIENC3 car interiors concept alongside the sustainable tyre concept. A combination of 'Ambience' and '3^rd space', the AMBIENC3 concept combines driving, working and relaxing in one interior.

The interior concept features the Ac2ated sound system, offering immersive audio without speakers and the ProViu360 driver assistance system, which gives the driver much better situational awareness thanks to a camera surround system. Other exciting interior features include intelligent glass control with adjustable dimming and heating functions, a built-in solar charger with photovoltaic cell and the eTravel companion software that provides the driver with tips and recommendations relating to the route, refuelling and the condition of the vehicle.

Michelin:

While Continental stayed inside, Michelin took to the streets to showcase its airless tyre solution. Equipped on a Mini Electric, the Unique Puncture-Proof Tyre System (UPTIS) made its public appearance offering test ride opportunities to certain lucky members of the general public. Announced in 2019, the UPTIS is part of Michelin's sustainable development model, the Vision concept. The UPTIS features a structure capable of supporting the vehicle while also delivering a safe and comfortableride without air.

Commenting on the UPTIS, Cyrille Roget, Group Technical and Scientific Communications Director, Michelin, said, "The truly distinctive structure of the Michelin UPTIS prototype, or its 'weirdness' as we have often heard it called, really attracted the attention of many visitors and left a lasting impression on them. It was an exceptional experience for us, and our greatest satisfaction came at the end of the demonstration when our passengers, who were admittedly a little wary at first, said they felt no difference compared with conventional tyres."

Along with the public display of the UPTIS, Michelin also showcased its first competition tyre constructed using 46 percent sustainable materials. These products align with Michelin's ambition to use 100 percent sustainable material in its tyres by 2050.

In addition to the tyre showcase, Michelin also ran an awareness campaign encouraging people to recycle waste and highlight the company's sustainability plans. Six teams were tasked to collect enough plastic to produce 100 tyres. The company has plans to utilise these PET bottles and yoghurt cups to produce and launch its first sustainable tyre latest by 2024. As part of its awareness campaign, Michelin also revealed a recipe for creating sustainable tyres using green waste and plastic waste.

Other launches

Apart from Continental and Michelin, there were many manufacturers and suppliers who showcased their vision of a carbon-neutral future. Some of the highlights include BMW's i Vision CirCular Concept car made from almost 100 percent recycled materials; automated valet parking system jointly developed by Bosch, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, CARIAD, Ford, Jaguar Land Rover, Continental, Valeo, Kopernikus Automotive and Unikie; driverless robotaxi for 2022 produced in collaboration by Intel and Sixt and multiple in-cabin monitoring systems for cars showcased by Valeo, Bosch and Continental.

Following a challenging phase with the ongoing pandemic, the auto industry has emerged greener and stronger than ever before and the IAA 2021 was an indication of the same. The next IAA Mobility show is scheduled from 5-10 September 2023 and we can expect the auto industry to come up with more intelligent and greener solutions to our mobility problems. (TT)

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Toyo Tire Corporation said Mitsubishi Corporation has ceased to be a major shareholder after tendering its entire holding through a treasury share buyback, ending its status as the company’s largest shareholder.

The change took effect on 10^th August , 2026, following Toyo Tire’s acquisition of its own shares through off-auction trading (ToSTNeT-3). Mitsubishi tendered all its shares, excluding less than one unit, as part of the transaction.

As a result, Mitsubishi is no longer classified as a major shareholder or associated company of Toyo Tire, the company said.

Before the transaction, Mitsubishi held 30,822,206 shares, equivalent to 20.07 percent of total voting rights, and ranked as the largest shareholder. Following the change, its holding has effectively been reduced to zero.

The move follows Toyo Tire’s earlier announcement on August 7, 2026 regarding the termination of its capital and business alliance with Mitsubishi, alongside plans to repurchase its own shares.

Toyo Tire said the change would have no impact on its consolidated financial results.

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Linglong Tire has become the first Chinese tyre manufacturer to join the Global Data Service Organization (GDSO) as a full member, marking a step in the industry’s efforts to standardise and exchange tyre-related data globally.

The company joins the non-profit body as its fourteenth member. GDSO was established in January 2022 by Bridgestone, Continental, Goodyear, Michelin and Pirelli to facilitate the digital exchange of tyre data and develop common standards across the sector.

Moh Wahi, Head Of Truck And Bus Tyre Development at Linglong Europe, said: "By joining the GDSO as a Full Member and providing reliable data, we want to be the first Chinese tyre manufacturer to make a positive contribution to the further development of the tire industry and set new standards for the efficient processing of tire data in the digital age."

Riccardo Giovannotti, Secretary General of GDSO, said: "With Linglong Tire as a Full Member, GDSO is gaining one of the leading Chinese tire companies which is committed to digitalization and sustainability in the industry. Together, we will further make progress in developing standards for data processing and future-oriented solutions."

Shandong Linglong Tire Co., Ltd., founded in 1975, operates seven research and development centres globally and employs almost 20,000 people. The company runs nearly 200,000 sales outlets and exports products to 175 countries.

It supplies tyres to more than 200 production bases for over 60 automakers and has manufacturing facilities across China, Thailand and Serbia, with plans to expand further overseas.

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TyreSafe, UK’s charity dedicated to raising tyre safety awareness, has joined forces with Sussex Police’s Road Safety Team to introduce a pioneering digital reference tool for frontline officers. The initiative equips police with immediate, device-accessible tyre safety data during roadside stops.

Developed as a local pilot, the application enables consistent vehicle examinations and improves driver communication regarding tyre dangers. It offers specific checklists for diverse vehicle categories, including motorcycles, cars, heavy goods vehicles, light commercial vans and towed trailers. The system further incorporates guidance on part-worn tyres, common queries and educational talking points.

Following its Sussex trial, the programme holds potential for nationwide adoption across UK police forces. This deployment underscores Sussex Police’s dedication to roadway innovation and reinforces the essential contribution of proper tyre maintenance to overall public safety.

Stuart Lovatt, TyreSafe Chair, said, “This partnership with Sussex Police is a landmark moment for tyre safety enforcement and education. By putting reliable, accessible tyre safety guidance directly into the hands of frontline officers, we can ensure safer vehicles on our roads and help prevent avoidable collisions and breakdowns. Sussex is leading the way, and we hope this model will soon be adopted nationally.”

Superintendent Jo Grantham, Head of Roads Policing, Sussex Police, said, “Our officers are committed to keeping road users safe, and having instant access to this tyre safety resource makes a real difference on the ground. It supports enforcement while also giving us the tools to educate drivers more effectively. We’re proud to be working with TyreSafe on this project and to be the first police force in the country to pilot it.”

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The UK Towing Safety Alliance (UKTSA) has published a comprehensive four-year analysis of incident data from National Highways’ Strategic Road Network, covering 2022 to 2025. The findings reveal a 23 percent rise in total towing-related incidents, driven primarily by a maintenance crisis affecting utility and commercial trailers. While traffic collisions involving towed vehicles decreased by 17 percent, mechanical breakdowns now constitute 77 percent of all towing-related incidents, highlighting vehicle and trailer condition as the sector's foremost challenge.

The data coincides with SMMT Motorparc 2025 figures showing Britain's vehicle fleet at its oldest recorded level, with average car age reaching 9.7 years. The summer harvest season has also arrived, bringing agricultural trailers back to roads after months of disuse. NFU Mutual research indicates collisions involving agricultural vehicles are 56 percent more likely between May and September, reinforcing the need for pre-journey roadworthiness checks.

Utility and agricultural trailers now account for nearly half of all towing-related callouts, surpassing 3,000 incidents in 2025. Regionally, the North West has overtaken the South East as the most incident-prone area, with trailer failures surging 60 percent since 2022, while the North East recorded a 55 percent increase. A growing divide exists between leisure and commercial towing sectors.

Leisure sector improvements, including fewer horsebox incidents and regional caravan reductions, suggest awareness campaigns are yielding positive results. However, utility trailer failures continue climbing, indicating maintenance standards across commercial and domestic sectors require greater attention. Regular servicing, correct loading and proper coupling remain essential to prevent avoidable incidents.

For working trailers, summer represents peak operational period, with agricultural and utility trailers seeing intensive use while rural roads become busier with tourists and cyclists. The Alliance emphasises that trailers stored for extended periods require thorough inspections before returning to service.

The UKTSA urges all towers to perform three essential checks covering tyres, load and connection before every journey. Tyres must be inspected for pressure, tread and deterioration; loads correctly distributed and couplings and electrical connections verified. The Alliance will place ‘The Working Trailer’ at the centre of safety campaigns, collaborating with industry partners to boost maintenance awareness and reduce preventable breakdowns across the Strategic Road Network.

A spokesperson for the UK Towing Safety Alliance said, “It’s encouraging to see fewer collisions involving towing vehicles, which suggests that drivers are becoming more aware of safe towing practices. However, that progress is being undermined by a growing number of preventable mechanical failures. The challenge is no longer simply about how people tow – it’s increasingly about what they’re towing and the condition it’s in. As both tow vehicles and trailers get older, regular maintenance has never been more important.”

Stuart Lovatt, Chair of TyreSafe, said, “Harvest season places extra demands on both vehicles and trailers, particularly those that may only be used for a few months each year. One of the most common issues we see is tyres that appear to have plenty of tread but have deteriorated through age, weathering or prolonged storage. Whether you’re towing a livestock trailer, plant trailer, horsebox or caravan, tyres should always be inspected for correct pressure, damage, cracking and signs of ageing before every journey. A few minutes spent carrying out these checks can prevent breakdowns and significantly improve safety for everyone using our roads.”

Sarah Smithurst MBE, COO, National Trailer & Towing Association (NTTA), said, “Across the NTTA network, we’re seeing a noticeable increase in enquiries from people looking to refurbish older trailers or source second-hand trailers, including imported models, as a more affordable alternative to buying new. While extending the life of a trailer is often entirely appropriate, it’s essential that owners understand that trailers are not maintenance-free. Many have been in service for years, sometimes decades, and components naturally deteriorate over time, even if the trailer has seen relatively little use. Every trailer should be thoroughly inspected before it returns to the road, with particular attention paid to tyres, brakes, bearings, couplings and lighting. Investing in regular servicing and maintenance is far less costly than experiencing a breakdown – or worse, being involved in an incident. The NTTA continues to help and advice new and old trailer users about safety and many are asking for help when towing, especially the reversing aspect of a trailer, now the B&E test was withdrawn. We are also seeing more trailers being repatriated from North America and Europe rather than purchasing new in the UK.”

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