What may change and what may not

It is impossible to predict in advance which changes will stick, and how much and to what extent our lives will change, but it is safe to say that the changes that will persist are those that make our lives safer, healthier, and more efficient.

Mask wearing may be the most visible change that persists, and not just cheap surgical masks or bandanas. In many big, design-conscious cities the mask is already becoming more a fashion statement, a new feature of the personal decoration of city life that permeates these places. Masks may become walking billboards for commercial ads or political statements. Masks, visors and facial protection will be integrated into the uniforms of public workers, delivery people, police, firefighters, and security guards.

All public places – schools, theaters, shopping malls offices and mass transit will be reconfigured for physical distancing. Restaurants, cafes and gymnasiums, those that survive the pandemic, will have fewer patrons, as their tables and equipment will have been designed for physical distancing. Attendees of at large venues, such as sports venues, may continue to be subjected to have their temperatures checked.

The way we worked by going to the “office” has changed and many will continue working from home. This means reduced need for large office buildings. Still, growing urbanisation will continue. In the past, urbanisation has overcome the devastating Black Plagues, cholera and even the recent Spanish Flu which killed as many as 50 million people worldwide between 1918 and 1920. Each and every time, the economic power of cities — their ability to foster innovation and productivity by pulling together the talent of workers — has been more than enough to offset the destructive power of infectious disease. However, the current digital era may achieve similar outcomes without people clustered together in an urban setting.

On an individual consumer level, more shopping will move to online transactions with courier services delivering goods – so, brick-and-mortar shopping venues will see reduced business.

The pandemic has had a swift and severe impact on the globally integrated automotive industry and has placed intense pressure on an industry already coping with a downshift in global demand as well as the cost of shifting towards electrification. So, look for a changed industry with increased merger & acquisition activity.  

So, change is here to stay, and businesses need to pay special attention to signals being sent by consumers’ changing behavior. 

Anyway, when the pandemic and all its related crises finally ebb and we are on the road to recovery in a few months or a couple of years from now, we will have the opportunity to look back and see what has changed!

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Goodyear is all geared up for the European Le Mans Series season finale, the 4 Hours of Portimão, supplying its Racing Eagle tyres across LMP2, LMP2 Pro/Am and LMGT3. The Autódromo Internacional do Algarve hosts the decisive round, with its dramatic elevation shifts and technical layout through the Algarve hills expected to produce moderate tyre wear over four hours.

In LMGT3, the Medium specification could enable single-stint strategies, letting competitors maximise pace throughout. For LMP2 and LMP2 Pro/Am, the same Medium compound is built to deliver the consistency needed for double-stint running.

With championships undecided in all three categories, tyre strategy will prove pivotal. LMGT3 leaders Iron Lynx hold just three points over TF Sport, while United Autosports lead Forestier Racing by Panis by 13 in LMP2. The LMP2 Pro/Am top four sit within six points, AF Corse setting the pace.

Portimão also closes the second season of Goodyear Racing's newest Eagle Medium LMP2 specification, now well understood after extensive European Le Mans Series use and two Le Mans outings. It marks the final LMGT3 run for the current Eagle before a more sustainable generation arrives in 2027. Goodyear Racing Eagle tyres additionally feature this weekend at Charlotte in NASCAR and Brands Hatch's British Touring Car Championship finale.

Stephen Bickley, Goodyear Endurance Program Manager, said, “Portimão is a fitting place to bring the European Le Mans Series season to a close. The undulating circuit combines dramatic elevation changes with high-speed corners and more twisty, technical sections, so we expect moderate levels of tyre wear and degradation. It looks like a hot and sunny race awaits us on Sunday, but should wet weather arrive, teams do have Goodyear Racing Eagle wet tyres available.

“It is significant that the LMGT3 field will use our current Goodyear Racing Eagle slick specification for the final time in the series this weekend. Next season, we will introduce a new generation of tyres with 66 percent sustainable-material content, continuing our focus on performance at the highest level of endurance racing.”

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Maxion İnci Wheel Group, a joint venture between Maxion Wheels and İnci Holding, has inaugurated Formare Türkiye alongside the Iochpe Foundation of Brazil, the İnci Foundation and Manisa Celal Bayar University. A ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the opening of the new Formare Learning Center in Manisa. Originally established by the Iochpe Foundation in Brazil over three decades ago, Formare is a professional qualification initiative that merges classroom instruction with practical industrial experience, aiming to improve the prospects of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Türkiye becomes the first European nation to implement the programme and the fifth country overall, following Brazil, Mexico, India and Argentina. This launch is seen as a significant move towards boosting youth employability, social inclusion and hands-on learning in the country. It also underscores Maxion İnci Wheel Group's capacity to bridge industry, academia and society within the region.

The selection of Türkiye for this expansion was driven by its robust industrial sector, the presence of six manufacturing plants in Manisa, a well-developed vocational education system and the dedication of all partners to Formare's social mission. The initiative demonstrates the Iochpe and İnci Foundations' shared resolve to create opportunities for young people by reinforcing the link between education and employment. Formare Türkiye tailors the programme's established approach to local conditions, delivering benefits to students, businesses and the wider community.

The inaugural group consists of 16 students between the ages of 18 and 23, drawn from Manisa Vocational School of Technical Sciences and the Department of Machinery and Metal Technologies. Nine of these participants are young women, highlighting Formare's dedication to advancing female talent in technical disciplines. The one-year programme concludes with a participation certificate and combines technical instruction with socio-emotional development, preparing students for corporate expectations. The curriculum was created with Manisa Celal Bayar University and approved by the institution, while the Manisa Organized Industrial Park contributed insights into sectoral requirements. Educators include Maxion İnci Wheel Group staff, external trainers, İnci Foundation volunteers and university academics.

Pieter Klinkers, President and CEO, Iochpe-Maxion, said, “Formare Türkiye reflects our belief that business success must go hand in hand with creating opportunities for our youth and the communities where they live. By bringing together the experience of the Iochpe Foundation, the local strength of Maxion İnci Wheel Group and the academic contribution of Manisa Celal Bayar University, we are helping young people gain the skills and confidence they need for the future.”

Mustafa Zaim, Chairman of the Board of Maxion İnci and Maxion Jantaş, said, “Formare Türkiye is a meaningful example of how industry can contribute to the future by investing in youth. At Maxion İnci Wheel Group, we are proud to support a programme that gives young people the opportunity to gain practical experience, build professional confidence and take stronger steps into working life. We believe this collaboration will create lasting value for our students, our region and our country.”

Claudio Anjos, President, Iochpe Foundation, said, “For more than three decades, Formare has shown how education, practical experience and volunteer engagement can open new paths for young people. The launch in Türkiye brings this proven model into a new context, enriched by the partnership between Maxion İnci Wheel Group and Manisa Celal Bayar University. It is also an opportunity for us to share the experience built in Brazil while continuing to learn from each community where Formare grows.”

Ece Elbirlik Ürkmez, Energy Source, İnci Foundation, said, “As a foundation with 41 years of experience, we are committed to expanding opportunities for young people to become active and productive members of society through education. We believe that education is one of the most powerful tools for creating lasting social impact. Formare Türkiye is particularly meaningful to us as it gives young people the opportunity to discover their potential, gain hands-on experience and step into working life with greater confidence. We are proud to support this collaboration and contribute to a programme that creates value for young people, industry and society.”

Prof Dr Oktay Üçer, Acting Rector, Manisa Celal Bayar University, said, “As Manisa Celal Bayar University, we value Formare Türkiye as a strong step in bringing academic learning closer to the needs of industry. By combining classroom education with practical experience, the programme will help our students develop the skills and perspective required for their professional future. We are pleased to be part of this collaboration, which also strengthens university-industry cooperation in our region.”

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Tegeta Green Planet opened the Light Vehicle Diagnostics course at Tegeta Academy with a presentation for attendees aged 17 to 33. Beyond their chosen vocational field, participants learned about automotive waste management and environmental responsibility.

Shalva Akhvlediani, the organisation’s director, outlined its activities and goals while emphasising Extended Producer Responsibility. The session examined how the automotive sector connects to environmental duty and why used tyres, waste oils and automotive batteries must be collected and managed properly.

Tyre management and RECSOL featured prominently. Attendees traced a used tyre’s path from collection to recycling and learned how waste becomes a source of new resources. RECSOL, Tegeta’s tyre recycling plant, is a significant infrastructure project in used tyre recycling, processing tyres into materials for various uses and supporting circular economy principles.

A core aim is a system where waste is not an endpoint but the starting point for new resources, which requires infrastructure alongside greater public awareness and information on proper disposal. For participants, the meeting linked professional education with environmental awareness, stressing that future automotive professionals should understand this responsibility early.

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Tyres Europe, alongside ACEA (the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association) and CLEPA (the European Association of Automotive Suppliers), has dispatched a joint communication to EU decision-makers concerning the possible broadening of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to cover downstream goods. The move comes as trilogue discussions approach.

Tyre producers form part of an automotive value chain already bearing carbon-related expenses for steel and aluminium manufactured within Europe. The proposed expansion would draw additional products into the mechanism’s remit before the existing framework has demonstrated its effectiveness. Resulting costs and administrative requirements would land on downstream manufacturers, tyre makers included, with signatories cautioning that a conceptually sound regulatory effort could become an operational and financial strain.

Endorsing the mechanism’s aims, the signatories nonetheless urge a proportionate scope that shields the entire value chain from carbon leakage while preventing that risk from being pushed further downstream. They advocate extending the mechanism only where a material carbon-leakage danger is evidenced, and request that policymakers ease compliance demands, including via more fitting default values mirroring real production routes.

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