Hankook Technology Group, the holding company of Hankook Tire & Technology, will change its name to Hankook & Company, once the proposal is approved at the Extraordinary General Meeting, which will be held today.

The new name, Hankook & Company, embodies the company’s long-term vision and will to secure a future growth engine and push harder for sustainable growth, taking consideration into strategic M&A and business expansions in years to come.

Under a unified brand system using the name ‘Hankook’ that has attained worldwide recognition, Hankook & Company aims to leverage its affiliates’ brand awareness and create synergy effect.

The major affiliates of Hankook & Company will accelerate technological innovations and service development on the global stage in various areas from sales to recruitment and community service activities, and will contribute to consolidating the future competitiveness of the entire group.

In the meantime, the company will boost innovation and creativity in internal communication and collaboration, further fostering its unique corporate culture called ‘Proactive Culture’. Through Proactive Culture, the company encourages all employees to become voluntary innovators as they are the ones who create breakthrough technologies and are the backbones of the sustainable business growth.

The affiliates’ names stay the same: Hankook Tire & Technology Co., Ltd., Hankook AtlasBX Co., Ltd., Hankook Precision Works Co., Ltd., Hankook Networks Co., Ltd., Hankook Engineering Works Co., Ltd., Hankook Car & Life Co., Ltd., and Model Solution Co., Ltd.

Bridgestone Corporation has announced that it will participate in the upcoming 40th Space Symposium, the largest space-related conference in the United States. The company is all prepped up to display two concept models of its second-generation lunar rover tyre at the event, scheduled to be held from 7 to 10 April 2025 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, US.

The new concept models can be used on small and medium-sized lunar rovers since they are lighter than their predecessors. In order to satisfy the rigorous requirements of lunar exploration, Bridgestone started developing lunar tyres in 2019 and is still improving their designs. The company claims that the display would provide a platform for growing its network in the space industry and opening doors for future cooperation. By entering into a partnership with Astrobotic Technology, Inc., a US-based business that specialises in space exploration, in 2024, Bridgestone has already made strides in this direction.

Bridgestone, which has over 90 years of expertise in tyre development, is bringing its understanding of Earth-based mobility, particularly motorsport, to the difficulties of space flight. In order to improve performance and safety during lunar exploration, the business wants to create tyres that can be customised to meet the demands of individual customers or mission specifications. Additionally, the lunar rover tyre project furthers Bridgestone's more comprehensive Mid-Term commercial Plan (2024–2026), which places a strong focus on innovative commercial ventures like the ‘AirFree Concept’.

Bridgestone will be on display at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's (JAXA) Japan's Space Industry stand in South Hall #111 of the BAE Systems Exhibit Center. Along with its exhibit, Bridgestone will take part in a panel discussion with Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd., Toyota Motor Corporation and Space Foundation, the event organiser.

JK Tyre & Industries, a leading tyre manufacturer in the country, has expanded its retail presence with the inauguration of the JK Tyre Truck Wheels Centre in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh.

The facility is designed to be a one-stop shop for all tyre needs, which will be operated by Hemkunt Transport Company. It was inaugurated by  Sanjeev Sharma, Associate Vice-President – Mobility Solutions, JK Tyre & Industries, along with other senior officials of the company.

The company shared that the location was selected because of its strategic position and will cater to needs of fleet operations and commercial vehicle owners in the city and surrounding areas. The new JK Tyre Trucks Wheel Centre spread across 7,500 sqft with highly trained technical advisors, will provide wheel servicing services and the company’s full range of smart tyres, fuel-efficient tyres and other product range for commercial vehicles.

Srinivasu Allaphan, Director – Sales & Marketing, JK Tyre & Industries, said, "At JK Tyre, our priority is to enhance convenience and reliability for our customers by expanding our reach to key transport corridors. With this new Truck Wheels Centre in Muzaffarnagar, we are bringing world-class tyre solutions closer to fleet operators and truck owners who rely on efficient, high-performance tyres for their business. This expansion is a step forward in strengthening our service network and ensuring our customers receive the best-in-class solutions with ease, across the nation.”

At present, JK Tyre & Industries has a network of over 850 exclusive Brand Shops and 6,000 plus channel partners across the country.

Italian machinery manufacturer Rodolfo Comerio has been recognised with the prestigious “Excellent Partner” award by Linglong Tire, one of the world’s leading tyre producers, during celebrations marking the Chinese company’s 50th anniversary.

The accolade was presented at the “2025 Linglong Tire Global Equipment Suppliers Conference,” which was part of an international event called “Driving Collaborative Growth with Linglong Tire.” The conference gathered major machinery suppliers from across the tyre industry.

According to the Italian firm, the award acknowledges Rodolfo Comerio’s exceptional calendaring line performance, commitment to innovation, quality after-sales service, and consistent presence in the Chinese market.

Nicola Fedele, Sales & Marketing Managing Director at Rodolfo Comerio, expressed his gratitude: “We are truly honoured to receive this recognition from such a prestigious company like Linglong. Our mission has always been to build strong and lasting relationships based on quality and reliability, and this award confirms the trust Linglong has placed in Rodolfo Comerio. To know that we have played a role in Linglong’s exponential growth thanks to our synergistic work and continuous commitment to meeting and exceeding their expectations is always a great source of pride for us.”

During the ceremony, Linglong Tire’s Chairman Wang Feng delivered a speech highlighting the crucial importance of the Chinese manufacturer’s partnership with Rodolfo Comerio. This relationship of mutual trust has reportedly enabled Linglong to achieve significant milestones and contributed substantially to the company’s growth in both quality and productivity.

Fedele added: “Meeting and being able to talk with  Wang Feng is always a source of inspiration for me. His dedication and foresight are a continuous professional lesson, and they provide a fundamental guide to push us to do better and reach new heights of excellence. His strategic vision motivates us to continue our work with passion and constantly improve our solutions to support the growth of our customers.”

Element Fleet Management Corp., the world’s largest publicly traded automotive fleet manager, has nominated Paolo Ferrari and Tracey McVicar to stand for election to its Board of Directors, the Toronto-listed company announced recently.

The nominations, to be voted on at the firm’s Annual General Meeting on 2 May, come as current board members Andrew Clarke and Arielle-Meloul Wechsler have decided not to seek re-election.

Ferrari brings substantial executive experience to the role, having most recently served as Chief Executive Officer of Bridgestone Americas and Bridgestone West, while simultaneously holding the position of Joint Global Chief Operations Officer of Bridgestone Corporation. His prior leadership roles include Chief Executive Officer of Pirelli North America and Latin America, alongside executive positions in telecommunications, technology, and investment banking.

McVicar, a Partner at private equity firm CAI Capital Partners since 2003, previously held senior investment banking positions at Raymond James Ltd. and RBC Capital Markets. Her governance experience includes directorships at Teck Resources Ltd., where she chaired the Audit Committee, and BC Hydro Corporation, where she led the Audit and Finance Committee.

"We are pleased to nominate Paolo Ferrari and Tracey McVicar to our Board," said Element Board Chair Kathleen Taylor. "Paolo and Tracey bring integral skills, perspectives, and experience, and we are confident they will be tremendous assets to the Company. We would also like to thank our outgoing Board members, Andrew Clarke and Arielle Meloul-Wechsler, for their valuable support and contributions to Element."