It was only many years later that we learnt about the atrocities and the inhuman ways the natives of the Amazon Valley were subjected to by the white barons to develop exporting of natural rubber to Europe to provide the main raw material for the automotive tyre industry which was gradually evolving in to a flourishing industry. The inventing of synthetic rubber in the late 1940s and the development of SBR  due to the short supply of natural rubber from the colonies  in the East to cater for the growing demand for tyres used in the military vehicles during the Second World War and the Korean War is another episode of beyond the border commercial endeavours.

Although the word ‘globalisation’ was coined by Theodore Levitt in 1983 through an article ‘Globalisation of Markets’ which appeared in the Harvard Business Review  (May-June 1983), I feel that we should go way back in the annals of history to get an understanding of the term. This knowledge may not look attractive to the modern business world. Nevertheless, the sociologists and others of similar disciplines will certainly find such knowledge useful in comprehending the modern day socio-economic woes.

Origins of globalisation may possibly be traced back to early human migrations, presumably from the Olduvai George Gorge, a site in Tanzania that holds the earliest evidence of human ancestors. Human migration is the movement of people from one place to another, particularly different countries, with the intent of settling temporarily or permanently in the new location. It typically involves movement over long distances. The driving motive, namely seeking dominance over fellow men and exploiting the natural environment to achieve success, does not seem to have changed over the millions of years.

The emergence of the great civilisations, e.g. Indus Valley, Mesopotamia, and their subsequent decline can be attributed to globalisation. Similarly, the invasions and cross-border military conquests of historical fame (or notoriety) such as that of Alexander the Great and colonisation by the West for the exploitation of natural wealth in Asia, Africa and South America reveals an ugly facet of globalisation.

The Silk Route interlinking East Asia and Southeast Asia with South Asia, Persia, the Arabian Peninsula, East Africa and Southern Europe, on the other hand, was central to the economic, political, cultural and religious interactions between these regions form 2nd century BCE to the 18th century.

The industrialisation and expansion of business and commerce across countries during the past 300-plus years was fuelled by the four industrial revolutions, or waves as some prefer to identify them, namely steam power, conveyor system, computers and digitalisation. The process is continuing to the unforeseeable future with new knowledge and innovations fuelling the globalisation.

The multifaceted nature of globalisation has commonly been identified into eight types as shown below:

•           Political Globalisation

•           Social Globalisation

•           Economic Globalisation

•           Technological Globalisation

•           Financial Globalisation

•           Cultural Globalisation

•           Economic Globalisation

•           Geographical Globalisation

My intention is not to delve in to a discussion about the pros and cons of globalisation, which has been comprehensively documented, but to highlight on some key aspects from this part of the world, especially of the Asian subcontinent.

Knowledge dissemination across border, in my view, is the single most important factor associated with globalisation. This appears common to all the above types of globalisation. The dissemination of the Buddhist doctrine by the great Emperor Asoka to countries spreading from the far East to the Central Asia and Middle East including the present Sri Lanka during 3rd century BCE is one of the earliest recorded instances of globalisation.

Countries with long histories going back to 3,000 to 4,000-plus years, such as India, China and Sri Lanka, possessed a vast knowledge base ingrained in the social consciousness. This appears to have significantly influenced the philosophical and intellectual thought of the Greek and Persian periods. Unfortunately, a major part of this knowledge has been eroded through the influence of the West, which started around the 16th century. One good example of this knowledge found in the ancient irrigation knowledge of Sri Lanka is the engineering  marvel of a gradient of 1 inch per mile in an ancient canal about 87 km long,  built to connect two man-made reservoirs in the 5th century AD. Similarly, India and Sri Lanka possessed a vast indigenous knowledge base in medicine, astrology, architecture, agriculture, irrigation and astrology, and it is somewhat unfortunate that this knowledge has not been adequately globalised. The only significant inroads are seen in tourism. But that too are based on the western norms.

On the other hand, we have acquired a vast knowledge from the industrialised countries on modern management thoughts and technologies which have enabled industrialisation and improvement in living conditions of the populace. In this era of interdependency, a country cannot afford to ignore the technologies which are necessary to maintain a suitable level of competitiveness internationally. However, if this is accomplished at the expense of ignoring the inherent social and cultural foundations, the long-term adverse consequences would be disastrous and unimaginable.

The adverse long-term consequences of the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides and the global addiction to pharmaceuticals are already seen physically and socially in practically all the countries, especially the so called underdeveloped or developing countries.

The aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic and the irreversible effects of global warming are two examples of globalisation which are affecting the mere sustenance  of mankind.

A country can immensely benefit by striving for stars through adopting modern technologies. However, the absolute importance of a strong base cannot be ignored or taken lightly. Back to a strong base and reinforcing the base lies at the core of sustainable development.

The words of Mahatma Gandhi echoing from the past reaffirm this plain truth in no uncertain terms.

“I do not want my house to be walled in on all sides and my windows to be stuffed. I want the cultures of all lands to be blown about my house as freely as possible. But I refuse to be blown off my feet by any.”

“What's past is prologue," a quote from William Shakespeare's ‘The Tempest’ presumes that though history is written, the future is anyone's to decide – with the knowledge gleaned from the past. (TT)

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Bridgestone Americas has unveiled a new Bandag Training Center on its Akron campus, backed by a USD 3 million investment. The facility is designed to instruct commercial tyre dealer and fleet personnel on the performance, sustainability and financial advantages of retreaded tyres, with plans to welcome hundreds of industry professionals annually through seminars and customised classes of varying sizes.

Occupying nearly 15,000 square feet within the company's tyre test lab, the centre sits adjacent to the Bridgestone Americas Advanced Tire Production Center. It houses a full retread operation featuring production-scale manufacturing equipment and stations covering all 10 retreading steps, complemented by a classroom and a Bandag history walk. The Akron site becomes the second designated Bandag Training Center in the Bridgestone network, alongside the existing Bandag Learning Center in Muscatine, Iowa.

Bandag's retread training is highly regarded by both fleets and dealers, and the paired locations bolster Bridgestone's capacity to satisfy rising demand by broadening access to training and technical resources. The two facilities will serve as foundational assets for teammates and customers, promoting education, innovation and industry expertise throughout the retreading segment. When classes are not in session, the Akron centre will support tyre-retreading innovation, with teams in Muscatine, Akron and Nashville testing new products and rolling out new manufacturing equipment and processes.

Bandag has delivered tyre-retreading solutions since 1957, championing sustainable mobility practices. The company runs three pre-cured tread rubber manufacturing facilities, a retread equipment manufacturing plant and a mould manufacturing plant across the United States to serve all of North America. Over its 65-year history, Bandag has kept more than 300 million tyres out of landfills by extending their service lives through retreading.

Brian Douglas, Vice President, Retread North America, said, "Bandag retreads have been a staple solution in the commercial tyre industry for more than half a century. With the addition of this second training centre, Bridgestone aims to strengthen its support for dealers and fleets, matching the value they get from retreads on the road."

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ICRA's October 2026 monthly report on the Indian automobile industry's passenger vehicle segment shows that September 2026 brought strong year-on-year gains in wholesale and retail volumes, aided by improved replacement demand following GST rate cuts. The rating agency forecasts industry volumes to grow 4–6 percent in FY2027. The moderation in growth stems from the elevated base in the second half of FY2026, normalisation of pent-up demand, higher vehicle costs and a weak monsoon.

Original equipment manufacturers kept production steady to serve robust domestic demand, lifting wholesale volumes 22 percent year-on-year to 460,000 units in September 2026. Retail sales climbed 43 percent, helped by newly launched models, larger OEM discounts and revised GST rates. During the first half of FY2027, wholesale dispatches and retail registrations rose around 28 percent and 29 percent year-on-year, respectively, against a modest base in the same period of FY2026 that was partly affected by geopolitical tensions in northern India.

Pre-festive stocking pushed inventory to 43–45 days at the end of September 2026, well below the 60-day level a year earlier. Utility vehicles made up about 68 percent of passenger vehicle volumes in the first half of FY2027. While utility vehicles continue to drive demand, the mini, compact and super-compact segments have shown a slight recovery after GST rate cuts, and passenger car demand is also expected to increase. Export volumes grew 25.8 percent sequentially in September 2026 as OEMs focused on production amid strong domestic demand. Maruti Suzuki India Limited led the market, followed by Hyundai Motor India Limited.

ICRA anticipates wholesale volume growth of 4–6 percent in FY2027, including a 28 percent rise in the first half, amid expected price increases due to rising input costs and normalisation of pent-up demand. A below-average monsoon could weaken rural sentiment, and recent price hikes by OEMs such as Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai Motor India could weigh on growth. Electric vehicle penetration increased to around 7.5 percent in the first half of FY2027 from 4.2 percent in FY2026, driven partly by a growing preference for EVs amid elevated fuel prices.

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Mickey Thompson Tires & Wheels will return to the 2026 SEMA Show, scheduled for 3–6 November at the Las Vegas Convention Center, with new products, expanded fitments and builds reflecting the brand's racing heritage and future direction. The company will appear in two locations: Central Hall Booth #22453 in the Race/Performance section and Silver Lot Booth #80001.

The display will feature vehicles from classic American muscle and vintage pickups to modern off-road machines, each demonstrating uncompromising enthusiast construction. Highlights include a limited-edition Street Comp GHT Signature Series tyre, expanded Baja Boss A/T and M/T sizes and new 15- and 16-inch MT Classic Forged wheel fitments.

Making its global debut, the ultra-premium Street Comp GHT Signature Series adds a premium sidewall with a deeper black finish and foil-like decals showing the Mickey Thompson logo, tyre name and founder's signature. It will be offered in 275/40R20 and 315/35R20 sizes for select Chevrolet Camaro, Dodge Challenger and Charger, BMW M, Porsche Panamera and other high-performance vehicles.

The Baja Boss A/T and M/T lines gain 29 new SKUs spanning classic off-road fitments, tall narrow ‘pizza-cutter’ sizes, aggressive 37- to 40-inch tires for trail rigs, large-rim-diameter applications and hard metric sizes for trail-ready SUVs. The MT Classic Forged wheel family expands with 15x14, 16x14 and 16x16 offerings combining forged construction and iconic styling with extreme widths and multiple bolt patterns.

Inside Central Hall, a 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 from GAP Industries will run Street Comp GHT tyres up front and ET Street R tyres at the rear, while a 2026 Dodge Charger from Diesel Brothers will showcase the Signature Series. Outside in the Silver Lot, a 2020 Mickey Thompson Gladiator Overland Build will ride on 40x13.50 Baja Boss A/T tyres, a 1979 Toyota Pickup 4WD on LT255/90R16 Baja Boss A/T rubber and 16x8 Canyon wheels, a 1978 Ford F-150 on 33x15.50R15 LT tyres and 15x14 MT Classic Forged wheels and a 2022 Ford Bronco on Baja Belted II tires and 17x14 MT Classic Forged wheels.

Beyond its booths, Mickey Thompson products will appear on builds across the SEMA campus, including a 2026 Toyota Tacoma on 40-inch Baja Boss A/T tyres, a Lexus GX550 on 40-inch Baja Boss M/T tyres, a 2025 Toyota GR Supra set up for the strip and a 1969 Ford F-100 on Street Comp tyres. Additional projects will be featured with Rockstar Performance Garage, Yukon Gear & Axle, Showa, Liberty Forged, Anderson Composites, Cerakote, TORA Off Road Allegiance, Borla, Evercoat and Tremec, along with a Battle of the Builders Young Guns entry and SEMA-featured locations hosting a 1977 Ford F-150 Ranger, 2023 Ram 2500, 1956 Volvo, 1976 Ford Crew Cab, 1978 F-150 and sixth-generation Bronco.

Matt Arko, General Manager – Marketing and Product, Mickey Thompson Tires & Wheels, said, "SEMA is built for people who believe a vehicle should be more than transportation. It's an opportunity to showcase your individuality and stand out from the crowd. That's always been the Mickey Thompson mindset. Whether someone is chasing a quicker pass, building a trail rig or reimagining a classic truck, we want to give them the tyres and wheels to build it their way. This year, we're bringing that full street, strip and off-road spirit to Las Vegas. What's exciting to us is the variety of sizes and applications available in our lineup. We have nicknames for each application, designed to be music to the ears of all of our Mickey Thompson fans!"

These are the nicknames:

• Rock Crawlers: Iconic 15- and 16-inch fitments for traditional Jeep and off-road builds
• Pizza Cutters: Tall, narrow fitments that deliver additional ground clearance in a reduced load, lighter weight package
• Rockstars: Aggressive 37-, 38- and 40-inch fitments for serious trail rigs and custom builds
• Show-Stoppers: 20- and 24-inch fitments that bring Baja Boss capability and attitude to premium truck builds
• Trail-Ready: Additional hard metric fitments that broaden Baja Boss A/T availability for modern SUVs and off-road vehicles

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Tegeta Green Planet organised an informational and practical campaign titled ‘Don’t Throw It Away, Hand It In’ in Khobi on 27 October aimed at promoting environmental responsibility and proper management of specific waste streams. The initiative targeted local residents, vehicle owners, drivers and private sector representatives, encouraging greater involvement in environmental efforts.

A dedicated waste collection point was established in Khobi, allowing residents to dispose of end-of-life tyres, used automotive batteries and waste oils. Participants received information about responsible automotive waste management and available disposal options. The campaign also highlighted Extended Producer Responsibility principles, teaching attendees about the role of EPR organisations, subsequent waste management stages and importers’ legal obligations.

Community engagement proved notably high, reflecting growing public interest in environmental responsibility. Active citizen participation demonstrated the important role that awareness-raising and practical collection opportunities play in fostering an environmental culture. Symbolic gifts were provided to encourage participation, while the initiative strengthened cooperation opportunities with local businesses and raised awareness of Tegeta Green Planet’s regional activities.

Tegeta Green Planet continues implementing regional campaigns and educational projects throughout Georgia, aiming to foster responsible waste management culture, raise public awareness and promote circular economy principles.

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