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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ZC Rubber has unveiled plans to establish a new tyre production base in Vietnam, adding another site to its worldwide manufacturing map. The plant, occupying 344,195 square metres within IDICO Phu My II Expansion Industrial Park, is targeted to start output in 2027.

A newly created subsidiary, ZHONGCE RUBBER VIETNAM COMPANY LIMITED (ZCV), will run the operation. The company marked a developmental milestone in Ho Chi Minh City on 12 November 2026, when it obtained the investment registration certificate and formalised a land sublease with IDICO Corporation.

The Southeast Asian nation's location, trade relationships and maturing industrial base make it a sound choice for the venture, which will cater to Vietnamese and regional demand while reaching European and North American buyers. The move fits ZC Rubber's wider push to spread production across multiple countries and reinforce supply flexibility for distributors and customers globally.

Henry Shen, Senior Deputy General Manager, ZC Rubber, said, “Our overseas investments are guided by a long-term goal: to build a manufacturing network that supports our customers as their markets evolve. The Vietnam facility will give us greater flexibility to serve key markets and support our partners’ growth. We appreciate the support of the local authorities and will work closely with IDICO to deliver this project to high standards.”

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Tyres Europe has released its members’ replacement tyre sales figures for Q3 and the first nine months of 2026. Secretary General Adam McCarthy cautioned that modest nine-month gains should not obscure a weak third quarter. Consumer tyres across passenger car, SUV and light commercial dipped 1 percent in Q3 versus 2025, though nine-month volumes stayed 1 percent ahead, with all-season tyres up 13 percent in the quarter and 10 percent over nine months.

Summer tyres slipped 1 percent in both periods as demand shifted towards all-season, while winter tyres fell 11 percent in the quarter and remained 9 percent lower over nine months. Miles travelled declined again on high fuel prices and weak consumer confidence amid Middle East conflict, at about half Q2's pace, and PCLT imports into the EU27 plus UK dropped 7 percent from January to August.

Chinese imports more than halved year on year in July and August after July's anti-dumping duties. Truck & Bus tyres were stable in the quarter after strong Q2 growth and stood 4 percent higher over nine months, with freight volumes beating expectations and truck tyre imports up 26 percent. Agricultural tyres fell 34 percent quarterly and 17 percent over nine months, Moto & Scooter tyres dropped 5 percent in the quarter but stayed 2 percent higher over nine months. The full report is available on Tyres Europe's website.

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Goodyear brought generations of performance heritage to the 2026 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, where its tyres appeared on some of the event's most talked-about vehicles. The annual automotive aftermarket gathering ran from 3–6 November at the Las Vegas Convention Center, drawing builders, manufacturers, buyers, media and enthusiasts for four days centred on innovation, new products, craftsmanship, performance and emerging trends. For Goodyear, the setting was familiar territory, as racing has long served as both a proving ground and an inspiration for its street products.

A 1928 Ford Model A reimagined by TQ Customs as an F1-inspired mid-engined hot rod stood out among the featured builds. It pairs a custom chassis and roll cage with a Honda K20 engine and Porsche transaxle, riding on custom Goodyear Eagle F1 tyres sized 275/45R18. Three F-550 Super Duty trucks wore Goodyear's heavy-duty G275 MSA in 335/80R20, while the new 819-horsepower Ferrari 12 Cylindri was fitted with application-specific Eagle F1 SuperSport tyres, sized 275/35R21 front and 315/35R21 rear.

Goodyear's presence also extended through Mickey Thompson Tires & Wheels, the enthusiast performance brand within its portfolio. Mickey Thompson maintained a significant show footprint with displays in the Race/Performance section of Central Hall and the Silver Lot, showcasing products and builds spanning street, strip and off-road performance. Its SEMA programme highlighted the limited-edition Street Comp GHT Signature Series street-performance tyre, expanded Baja Boss A/T and Baja Boss M/T sizes and new MT Classic Forged wheel sizes.

The vehicles on display ranged from vintage American muscle to cutting-edge performance machines and purpose-built off-road rigs, yet they shared a fundamental drive to perform better, make a statement and become more personal.

Andrew Lau, Enthusiast Account Lead at Goodyear, said, "The SEMA Show highlights the best of the industry – emotionally charged and technology-filled and crossed with dramatic and eye-catching, which is where Goodyear and our dynamic portfolio really shine. For cars worth bragging about, we make tyres worth bragging about! Our Goodyear Eagle lineup fits the ever-growing supercar market, which we see growing especially as more enthusiasts get their hands on these cars at a range of price points. And it wouldn’t be SEMA without giant trucks and extreme lift kits, where we saw Mickey Thompson and Goodyear tyres shown off in a dramatic fashion.”

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Yokohama Tire has partnered with Tread Lightly! for the Protect What Moves You fundraiser, running through 30 November. Consumers who donate can enter to win GEOLANDAR tyre prize packs or a full set of tyres. Proceeds support trail stewardship, responsible recreation and keeping public lands open.

According to Yokohama’s Senior Manager of Corporate Communications Melissa Aguirre, each USD 10 donation earns one entry for a GEOLANDAR prize pack, while donations of USD 100 or more earn one entry for a set of Yokohama tyres. The initiative complements Yokohama’s environmental ‘Caring for our Communities’ partnerships, which include Surfrider North Orange County and the California State Parks Foundation.

Aguirre said, “We’ve been an official partner of Tread Lightly! for three years and have collaborated on several stewardship projects across the country to improve access, restore trails and protect natural resources for off-road enthusiasts and outdoor adventurers. The Protect What Moves You campaign will definitely help with those efforts.”

James Boyd Jr., Executive Director of Tread Lightly!, said, “We’re grateful for Yokohama Tire’s continued partnership and commitment to protecting the places we all love to explore. Through our work together, we’ve made a meaningful impact on trails and public lands across the country. The Protect What Moves You fundraiser gives outdoor enthusiasts an opportunity to support responsible recreation and hands-on stewardship while helping ensure these places remain accessible for future generations.”

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