The Indian Car of the Year (ICOTY) and Indian Motorcycle of the Year (IMOTY) awards for the year 2025 were presented by JK Tyre at the Levitas Lounge in New Delhi. Mahindra Thar Roxx won the title of Indian Car of the Year 2025, whereas the Aprilia RS 457 was unanimously selected as the Indian Motorcycle of the Year 2025.

Prominent journalists, members of the automobile community and leaders of the industry graced the occasion. Since it was ICOTY's 20th anniversary, this year's event was very noteworthy. The awardees were given their prizes by Dr Raghupati Singhania, Chairman & Managing Director, JK Tyre & Industries, ICOTY Chairman Dhruv Behl, IMOTY Chairman Kartik Ware, and distinguished jury members.

The ICOTY jury established the ‘Premium Car Award’ in 2019 to address the expanding availability, acceptability and appeal of a broad variety of luxury vehicles from different manufacturers in the Indian market. Mercedes-Benz E-Class was acknowledged as the deserving champion for 2025. Given the changing automotive industry and the government's growing emphasis on electric cars, the 'Green Car Award' was instituted in 2021 to recognise the manufacturers' contributions to the mobility of the future. The 2025 Green Car Award was given to MG Windsor.

A rigorous examination procedure was applied to the cars and motorcycles nominated for this year's ICOTY and IMOTY awards. The candidates were assessed in four categories by 28 jurors with over 400 years of combined work experience from top auto magazines. In order to identify the winners, the judges thoroughly examined each vehicle's features, taking into account elements including cost, fuel economy, design, comfort, safety, performance, usefulness, technological innovation, value for money and suitability for Indian driving conditions.

Dr Singhania said, "The ICOTY and IMOTY Awards stand as a testament to the remarkable achievements in India's dynamic automotive landscape. These esteemed accolades celebrate excellence and innovation, reflecting the industry's unwavering commitment to progress. Over the years, the Indian automotive sector has demonstrated remarkable strides, solidifying its position as a global leader. At JK Tyre, we are proud to contribute to this legacy and recognize the dedication and ingenuity that drive this industry forward.”

Behl said, “The 20th edition of ICOTY is certainly a memorable one. ICOTY, the Green Car Award by ICOTY and the Premium Car Award by ICOTY are, far and away, the most coveted awards in the Indian automotive industry. Over the past two decades, ICOTY has set itself apart as being the most credible and respected awards in the industry. The 21-member ICOTY jury has a cumulative experience of 408 years, and it’s an absolute honour for me to be Chairman of such an illustrious jury. I’d like to congratulate all the winners for bringing cutting edge technology and design to our roads in their respective segments.”

Ware said, “The 18th edition of IMOTY saw competition as tough as it's ever been. The finalists were some of the best machines India has ever seen, their capabilities ranging across the wide spectrum bookended by performance and innovation and everything in between that a motorcycle must possess. However, there can only be one winner, and the Aprilia RS 457 is a deserving one for the special feelings it brings to Indian riders. A big thanks to my fellow jury members for making my first time out as IMOTY chairman as smooth as possible. And an equally big thanks to JK Tyre for supporting IMOTY since its inception. One more fantastic motorcycle joins the ranks of IMOTY winners!”

Nalinikanth Gollagunta, CEO – Automotive Sector, M&M Ltd, said, “We would like to thank the esteemed ICOTY 2025 jury for honouring the Mahindra Thar ROXX with this coveted award. This recognition reaffirms the global benchmarks of design, engineering and manufacturing excellence we have pursued. The Thar ROXX represents a passion for charting new adventures – an ethos that resonates with enthusiasts everywhere. We remain deeply grateful to our customers, whose love and trust continue to fuel our commitment to deliver unforgettable driving experiences.”

Diego Graffi, MD and CEO, Piaggio Vehicles Private Limited, said, “In a year graced by exceptional motorcycles, the Aprilia RS457 has emerged as a true standout. The IMOTY 2025 jury has bestowed upon the Aprilia RS457 the title of 'Indian Motorcycle of the Year’, a resounding affirmation of its unwavering commitment to speed, agility and Italian design. We are immensely proud to witness the Aprilia RS457 receive this well-deserved accolade. This recognition serves as a powerful testament to the dedication and passion exhibited by our team in crafting a motorcycle that truly embodies the spirit of Aprilia – speed, agility and Italian design.”

Santosh Iyer, MD & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India, said, “The Long Wheelbase E-Class remains the most desirable luxury sedan for the discerning Indian luxury car customer. Highly advanced and personal than ever before, the Long Wheelbase E-Class is an unmatched combination of luxury, sheer comfort, ground-breaking technology, digital intelligence and superior driving dynamics, making it the unanimous choice as India’s most admired luxury sedan. The coveted ICOTY Premium Car of the Year is a firm testament to the Long Wheelbase E-Class’ unparalleled luxury stature in the luxury car market. I dedicate this honour to the entire Mercedes-Benz India team, who made multiple 'India-specific' enhancements to the car, making it highly suitable for the Indian conditions, exceeding even the most demanding customer requirements. The ICOTY Premium Car of the Year honour for the Long Wheelbase E-Class salutes the innovation, pioneering spirit and brand legacy that customers associate Mercedes-Benz with, inspiring us to create superior customer experience."

Rajeev Chaba, CEO Emeritus, JSW MG Motor India, said, "The MG Windsor is the right product at the right time with the right pricing and packaging. It is certainly a disruptor in the segment, redefining consumer perceptions about EVs. The strong sales momentum since its launch highlights the evolving preference of consumers. The MG Windsor ticks all the boxes of their consideration sets, especially the value for money it delivers. The MG Windsor is all the more special to us because it has been successful in debunking myths around higher acquisition cost of EVs through path breaking initiatives such as Battery-As-A-Service and lifetime battery warranty. The interplay of all these factors has helped MG Windsor to emerge as the Green Car of the Year at the coveted ICOTY 2025. I would like to thank all our customers for their unwavering support, the esteemed jury at ICOTY and everyone at JSW MG Motor India who have worked relentlessly to make this achievement possible."

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A new joint venture, UniPyrum, has been established by Pyrum Innovations AG and the independent tank farm operator UNITANK Holding GmbH, with the ambition to build a European network for processing end-of-life tyres. Based in Hamburg, the venture will be managed by a dedicated team overseeing the expansion of multiple advanced recycling facilities. The initial blueprint calls for the development of five to 10 such plants across strategic European locations, beginning with several sites in Germany.

Each new facility will feature a modular setup, starting with a minimum of three modern thermolysis reactors. This configuration allows a single site to process at least 22,000 tonnes of scrap tyres annually, with the flexibility for future capacity increases based on local demand. For the launch, three initial target regions have been selected, with comprehensive preliminary work on engineering and business planning already completed. A UNITANK facility in Emleben, Thuringia, is under strong consideration as the first operational location, and the partners are preparing to initiate approval processes imminently.

UNITANK, which holds a 51 percent majority stake in the partnership to Pyrum’s 49 percent, is actively securing the venture’s commercial foundations. This involves concurrent negotiations to establish reliable supply chains for feedstock tyres and to secure offtake agreements for the recycled output. The collaboration combines Pyrum's proprietary technology with UNITANK's industrial logistics expertise to accelerate the rollout of this recycling infrastructure.

Jan Vogel, CEO, UNITANK Group, said, “We are delighted to take a decisive step forward in our longstanding and trusting partnership with Pyrum by establishing this joint venture today. In addition to our core business in the tank storage sector, this creates a new business area with strong growth potential that is independent of the energy transition. The combination of Pyrum’s leading technology and our extensive experience in operating critical infrastructure in the energy sector opens up exciting opportunities for the future. The aim is for the new joint venture to rapidly develop and operate a network of used tyre recycling plants in Germany and neighbouring countries.”

Pascal Klein, CEO, Pyrum Innovations AG, said, “Since our initial memorandum of understanding with UNITANK, we have worked intensively together to further develop our partnership. We are delighted to reach this important milestone today. Following the positive funding approval in Greece and the recently signed shareholder agreement with SUAS, the founding of the joint venture with UNITANK represents the next important step in finally accelerating the construction and operation of new plants. UNITANK’s many years of experience in operating critical infrastructure and its diverse technical and logistical expertise complement our technology perfectly. Together, we are significantly increasing Europe-wide recycling capacity for end-of-life tyres and actively promoting the circular economy.”

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Sri Trang Agro-Industry Public Company Limited (STA), under the leadership of Executive Director Chalermpop Khanjan, has entered a strategic partnership to advance sustainability through innovation. The company participated in a ceremony to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Chiang Mai University and five other leading industrial sectors. This collaboration is dedicated to promoting the development of knowledge, research and innovation, firmly aligning with STA's commitment to sustainability and its core Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) values.

The partnership’s specific objectives include advancing joint research, supporting specialised training programmes and strengthening collaborative networks to directly address climate change. A key focus is the transfer of technology and environmental innovations, including climate adaptation solutions, to be applied across business, government and community sectors to drive tangible, shared learning. This initiative reinforces STA’s mission to generate long-term value for all its stakeholders, including farmers, local communities, customers and consumers.

Concurrently, an industrial panel discussion titled ‘Innovations Toward Industrial Sustainability’ was held. Dr Saranthinee Mongkolrat, Sustainability Division Manager at STA, delivered a presentation on ‘Carbon-Smart Natural Rubber: Turning Plantations into Long-Term Carbon Sinks’. Her session underscored the critical role of natural rubber plantations in carbon sequestration and their contribution to a more sustainable industrial future.

Through this integration of expertise, technology and cross-sector collaboration, Sri Trang Group continues to drive its long-term sustainability mission. The Group is committed to consolidating its position as a global leader in the green natural rubber industry, thereby fostering balanced growth and supporting sustainable development on both a national and international scale.

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In a strategic move to deepen its engagement in the Middle East, Hankook Tire, along with Al Dobowi Tyre Company, the official distributors of Hankook in UAE since 1978 under Al Dobowi Group, has entered a three-year official partnership with the celebrated football club Al Ain FC, effective January 2026. The alliance was formally inaugurated at Al Ain’s Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium. This collaboration aims to significantly elevate Hankook’s premium brand stature on a global scale by connecting with the club’s vast regional fanbase and leveraging prominent marketing channels, such as stadium LED advertising.

Al Ain FC, founded in 1968 and currently leading the 2024/2025 season, is the most decorated club in the UAE, boasting numerous domestic and continental titles. Partnering with such an institution provides Hankook a powerful platform to reinforce its market leadership. The sponsorship strategy includes exclusive initiatives like a VIP Hospitality Program and the Ainawi Membership season cards, designed to foster closer sales relationships and deliver distinctive experiences to stakeholders across the region.

This partnership builds upon Hankook's established efforts to cultivate a premium image in the Middle East and Africa, underscored by the introduction of its high-performance Ventus evo tyre series and its role as an original equipment supplier for luxury automotive brands in the local market. Simultaneously, Al Dobowi Group continues to enhance its advanced service infrastructure, aiming to surpass customer expectations at every touchpoint and further strengthen consumer engagement alongside Hankook.

Jong Woo Kim, Vice President – Middle East & Africa Regional HQ, Hankook Tire & Technology, said, “We are delighted to enhance communication with local customers and consumers and expand brand touchpoints through this partnership with Al Ain FC, a representative club of the UAE. Based on our global technical leadership, we will continue to share Hankook Tire’s premium value across the Middle East.”

Surender Singh Kandhari, Chairman, Al Dobowi Group, said, "Al Ain FC is a symbol of success, and we are honoured to join this journey. This partnership brings together three brands standing for performance and long-term commitment."

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Citira, a Sweden-based company specialising in circular tyre management, has announced a definitive strategic step in its ambition to become a leading, integrated provider in the Northern European circular tyre ecosystem with the acquisition of Tyrefix. The agreement, executed on 20 January 2026 and expected to close imminently, secures a robust and scalable operational foundation for Citira in the United Kingdom, representing a core pillar of its geographic expansion.

Tyrefix is renowned for its four decades of specialised service excellence. The company operates a nationwide fleet delivering on-site tyre management, repair and replacement exclusively for off-highway and earthmoving machinery, a sector where equipment uptime, worksite safety and service reliability are non-negotiable for its industrial clientele.

This transaction is fundamentally value-driven. It provides Citira with immediate access to Tyrefix’s established national network, its deeply entrenched customer relationships and its unique mobile service expertise. The integration of this proven model is anticipated to generate significant commercial synergies and cross-selling opportunities across Citira’s broader portfolio, enhancing service offerings for all customers.

Post-closure, Tyrefix will continue its operations under the trusted Tyrefix brand, preserving its customer-facing identity and its experienced management team, including Oliver Johnson, Jon Pitman and Steve Bareham, who will transition to become co-owners within the Citira group. The transaction facilitates a full exit for the current investment company, Literacy Capital, and other minority shareholders, transferring ownership to Citira and marking a new chapter of growth.

David Boman, CEO, Citira, said, “I am very happy to welcome Oliver, Jon, Steve and the entire Tyrefix team to Citira. Tyrefix’s model is unique and has shown great success during several decades, and still has potential for growth across current and new market segments. With Oliver at the helm, I am confident that our expansion into the United Kingdom will become another success story of Citira.”

Oliver Johnson, CEO, Tyrefix, said, “Joining Citira allows Tyrefix Group to advance our already strong market position in off-highway tyre services while providing additional solutions to minimise vehicle downtime. By becoming part of a larger organisation, Tyrefix Group gains access to additional resources and increased opportunities to accelerate our growth plans.”

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