Speaking about the plant, Reddy said, “We planned to set up the plant in late 2018. Before the first wave of Coronavirus, we started off with construction, but our work was stalled due to the subsequent lockdown. Now the manufacturing unit has been fully constructed, but we can’t start operations due to Odisha being under lockdown. Once things normalise, we will start production.”

The plant is expected to have a monthly production of 500 units of 1200x24 size tyres used for Volvo truck-like vehicles.

The new plant will cater to the mining industry situated in Odisha. The company has already been serving the mining industry in the region for the last 24 years. “A lot of people from Andhra Pradesh are involved in the mining business in Odisha. We are taking indigenous machinery from Coimbatore, which will ensure an optimum cost for the tyres,” said Reddy.

The company’s customer base comprises VPR, BGR, Sainik Mining, etc.  It has also started trade relations with Linde India. Fortune Tire Tech also plans to offer management services to its customers as well.

Fortune Tire Tech is the first-of-its-kind company in India to retread tubeless, radial and bias tyres, complying with European and American environmental standards.

The Odisha plant is equipped with the latest machinery imported from Germany and Italy. Fortune Tire is the first company in India to use shearography for retreading tyres. However, speaking on the viability in deploying modern machinery, Reddy explained, “Due to being a model plant, the investment for the plant is high. However, the plant is not viable for the Indian perception. But as a passionate retreader for the last 25 years, we have made the investment. The challenge is the Indian customers compare my product quality with roadside retreaders. Global retreading machinery leaders have also set up plants in the country, but unfortunately, could not succeed in this market so far. The people interested in investing in machinery get demoralised as the output cost is more than the local products. It is a problem for everyone.”

Commenting on the Indian government’s move to open its indigenous mining to private players, he said, “Retreading is famous in the mining industry across the globe—everyone banks on it. It is a key change in the tyre space. It is viable for everybody.”

Reddy has been in the retreading business since1995, but he started on a larger scale in 2012 with his first manufacturing plant in Hyderabad. “I was associated with Vamshi Rubber Limited since 1995 as a franchisee. That time we would roll out 800 units per month in Telangana. It was a small unit. I know the chairman of the firm very well. So, in one of our discussions, I placed the idea of a model plant in India. After that, we set on a tour of Europe and eventually, with the help of Mereddy Ramesh Reddy, chairman of Vamshi Rubber, we laid out our first plant in Hyderabad in 2012. After its success, we started our second plant in Singrauli, Madhya Pradesh, in 2016. And now we have set our eyes on Odisha. But due to the pandemic, there is a delay in commencing operations,” said Reddy.

Fortune Tire Tech’s Hyderabad plant has a capacity of 4,000 tyres, but it is rolling out 1,300-1,400 tyres per month in the lockdown. On the other hand, the MP plant produces 500 units per month, but currently, it is producing 250 tyres per month.

Commenting on the retreading space in India, the veteran opined, “The market is outstanding, but the sector is unorganised. You cannot compete in an unorganised sector. Around 80 percent of the market is unorganised. We have appealed to the government to license players in this sector, but nothing has been done so far. Between 2016 and 2018, many Chinese tyres were imported into the Indian market which crunched to the tyre retreaders . But now, the current import duty has reduced the flow of Chinese tyres here. The government should show its support to the industry as we come under 18 percent GST slab. Due to this, transporters and other logistic support have to incur heavy losses. We appealed to the government through our association, but nothing came of it. We should come under the 5 percent GST slab.”

According to Reddy, fleet owners mow are more concerned about maintaining their old tyres than buying new ones and looking for retreading tyres to reduce the cost per kilometre. “Chinese tyres are use and throw tyres and can be used temporarily. They are not viable in the long run, and retreading of these tyres is not viable. Major Indian tyre companies have come into the retreading space, but none of them, including the government, have perceived that this industry can be eco-friendly,” said Reddy.

Drawing a comparison on tyre retreading awareness between India and European countries, Reddy opined, “In European countries, every retreader has to have a licence and label their tyres. We have demanded the government to bring the same practices to India. Because once we have labelling on retreaded tyres, the unorganised sector will come to an end. But it is not happening in India.”

He concluded the conversation by saying, “We have no future plans yet. We are looking at the second Covid wave. Future prospect for the space is good, but we have to see how it unfolds after the pandemic and what effect does Coronavirus have on it.” (TT)

Goodyear Tyre & Rubber is conducting a strategic review of the farm tyre business at its Indian subsidiary, signalling potential changes as the US manufacturer evaluates its global operations.

The Indian unit disclosed in a regulatory filing that its board has acknowledged communication from its American parent regarding the review. Goodyear will be examining "all strategic, operational and financial opportunities" related to the agricultural tyre business, according to the statement filed under SEBI disclosure requirements.

The Ohio-based tyre maker has not indicated any specific plans or timeline for the review. The company cautioned that there is "no assurance that the strategic review will result in the implementation of any transaction."

This move is part of Goodyear's broader efforts to optimise its global portfolio amid challenging market conditions in the automotive sector.

As part of a strategic effort to increase its presence in the region's premium original equipment (OE) market, Kumho Tire has confirmed its plans to establish its first tyre production facility in Europe by 2027.

The company has shortlisted Poland, Serbia and Portugal as possible locations for the plant, which is projected to need an investment of more than KRW1 trillion (USD 705 million). The decision is closely linked to Kumho’s ambition to strengthen its partnerships with European automakers and was revealed by Kumho Tire CEO during the South Korean premiere of Kumho's new Ecsta Sport tyre line.

Kumho has recently secured OE supply contracts with major brands such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Volkswagen Group. At the moment, Kumho runs eight tyre production plants in China, Vietnam, South Korea and the US. Its capacity to compete in the premium OE market, however, has come to be perceived as being constrained by the absence of a European production base. Through the benefits of local production, the new facility will improve response to European client requests, save freight costs and shorten delivery times, all of which will strengthen the company's partnerships.

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.”