Hankook Tire announced the launch of the Smart iON AU06+ today. The Smart iON AU06+ is the first Truck and Bus Radial (TBR) tyre in the company’s iON product portfolio for premium electric vehicles (EVs) in the Korean market, claims Hankook Tire. It also happens to be the most recent addition to its iON tire family, which includes summer and winter tyres for passenger EVs.

Features of the Smart iON AU06+

In comparison to Smart City AU06
According to Hankook Tire, the Smart iON AU06+ incorporates Hankook’s innovative EV tyre technology for improved fuel efficiency, fast torque response and high load support. It is a re-branded version of Hankook’s Smart City AU06, that was launched by the company in 2020.

In order to counter characteristics like higher vehicle weight of electric buses (caused by the considerable weight of drive batteries) and high instant torque delivered to the wheels, Hankook has strengthened the grip on wet roads by about 10 percent, compared to the previous Smart City AU06 model, as per the tyre company. The load-carrying capacity has also been increased to eight tonnes, accommodating a stable driving experience even with heavy loads.

Increased mileage
Moreover, Hankook states that it has employed an abrasion resistant tread compound for improved tread life and fuel efficiency. The specially designed compound of the Smart iON AU06+ allows for uniform pressure distribution, extending the vehicle’s mileage in comparison to conventional truck and bus tyres.

In specific, when mounted on an electric bus, tests have shown that the Smart iON AU06+ increased the vehicle’s mileage by 25 percent compared to when the vehicle was fitted with the company’s regular bus tyres, claims the tyre company.

Safer driving and reduced noise
Another development goal for this new launch is to improve ride quality through optimal ride comfort and low noise. According to Hankook, in consideration of the aerodynamic aspect of the electric bus, the Smart iON AU06+ features a specifically designed tread pattern distributed along the sidewall to reduce noise. In  addition, it features a cooling system to overcome complications, such as overheating, in order to ensure a safer drive, states the tyre company.

With the launch of the Smart iON AU06+, Hankook Tire also plans to establish an extensive electric TBR tyre portfolio to include a range of tyres for different styles of driving. As per Hankook Tire, currently, there are development plans for two different electric TBR tyres in the pipeline. These also include the Hankook iON CITY designed for urban driving, and the Hankook iON FLEX for mid- to long-distance travels.

The tyre company claims that upon completion, these two new products are to be supplied in the European market. They will be available in other global markets sequentially, as further market expansions are in plan.

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Tegeta Green Planet and Shine Energy, both affiliated with Tegeta Holding, have launched a joint educational initiative to raise environmental awareness and a sense of responsibility among young people. The project addresses modern challenges such as environmental protection and sustainable development.

Company representatives are visiting schools across Tbilisi to hold informational meetings, presentations and workshops. The programme begins with presentations, followed by interactive games and activities designed to help students retain the information. At the end of each session, participants receive symbolic gifts and prizes as motivation.

Tegeta Green Planet focuses on teaching students the principles of specific waste management, including how to properly handle used tyres, batteries and oils. The sessions explain why proper waste management is essential for environmental protection and how it connects to the circular economy. Meanwhile, Shine Energy educates young people on the importance of energy, its everyday use and why developing renewable and sustainable energy resources is crucial.

The initiative is not limited to schools. In the near future, both organisations will expand their efforts to universities, aiming to broaden awareness about environmental protection, waste management and energy efficiency. The ultimate goal is to foster environmentally responsible attitudes among the younger generation, helping build a more sustainable and conscious society.

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Zeon has been recognised as a Supplier Engagement Leader in the 2025 Supplier Engagement Assessment (SEA) conducted by CDP, a United Kingdom-based international environmental nonprofit organisation. This achievement represents the first time the company has received the highest possible rating in this assessment.

The evaluation measures how corporations address climate change within their supply chains, focusing on responses to the CDP Climate Change Questionnaire across five critical areas. These include governance, emissions targets, Scope 3 emissions management, risk management and overall supplier engagement strategies.

Zeon earned the top rating for its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through supplier collaboration, a group-wide initiative, alongside continuous dialogue maintained via procurement activities. Guided by its philosophy of contributing to planetary preservation and human prosperity, Zeon remains committed to sustainable management. The company reaffirmed that it will continue working with suppliers and other stakeholders to tackle climate change and meet societal expectations.

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German chemical group WACKER has announced a price increase of up to 15 percent for its resins, dispersions and dispersible polymer powders produced at its European and US facilities. The adjustment takes effect on 1 June 2026, or as existing customer contracts permit. The move is designed to allow the company’s Polymers division to maintain high product quality, deliver technological innovations and provide superior customer service and technical support. It will also support investments aimed at securing future growth in key markets.

Rising costs for raw materials and logistics have forced the pricing measure, with the Polymers division being particularly affected. The recent conflict in the Middle East has caused significant disruptions across global commodity markets. As a direct result, prices for energy, raw materials and transportation have climbed sharply.

Despite the increase, WACKER remains focused on sustaining its commitment to customer support and long-term capability. The company underscored that the adjustment is necessary to continue meeting market demands while ensuring operational stability and future-oriented development across its focus markets.

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Pirelli North America has launched its first closed-loop circular recycling initiative, marking a significant step in the company’s broader strategy to increase recycled and bio‑based content in its tyre production. The project has received the Tire Recycling Foundation’s Value Chain Collaboration Award.

The programme recovers scrap tyres generated during Pirelli’s own North American manufacturing process. These materials are sent to Bolder Industries, which applies ISCC PLUS‑certified pyrolysis technology to produce BolderBlack recovered carbon black. Pirelli then reintroduces this material into new tyre production at its North American facilities, partially replacing virgin carbon black. The effort is part of a wider Pirelli plan to expand such industrial ecosystems across the group’s production network, aiming to valorise waste by reintegrating recovered materials into tyre manufacturing.

Beyond the award, the initiative reflects Pirelli’s broader circularity approach, which includes ongoing work to boost recycled and bio‑based material usage. The company targets over 80 percent bio‑based and recycled content in its best‑performing products and forty percent in total production by 2030.

Claudio Zanardo, CEO, Pirelli North America, said, "The Rome plant is one of the most technologically advanced manufacturing facilities in Pirelli. This initiative reflects an approach focused on increasing the use of recovered materials within existing production processes. It is part of a broader effort to gradually integrate raw materials derived from recycled resources into our products while maintaining consistency in performance and quality."

Tony Wibbeler, CEO, Bolder Industries, said, "Our collaboration demonstrates that a traceable, mass-balance approach to tyre-to-tyre circularity is not only achievable, but it's ready to scale inside a premium manufacturing environment, meeting real performance and certification requirements at every step. This is the kind of progress the industry has been working toward for many years."

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