Nokian Tyres plc has been awarded the prestigious Key Flag symbol by the Association for Finnish Work for its flagship Hakkapeliitta winter tyres and Hakka summer tyres.

The Key Flag, a nationally recognised emblem, is granted to products manufactured or services produced in Finland that contain a minimum of 50% domestic content based on break-even cost.

“We are proud of our Finnish heritage and our northern knowhow which is represented in our premium Nokian Tyres Hakkapeliitta and Nokian Tyres Hakka products,” said Ville Nikkola, Head of Sales, Finland at Nokian Tyres. “The Key Flag symbol is a sign of Finnish work and very well known among consumers. We are extremely happy to be able to present it next to our tyres manufactured in Finland for Nordic drivers.”

The Hakkapeliitta winter tyres and Hakka summer tyres are both developed and produced at Nokian Tyres’ factory in Nokia, Finland. The company’s global research and development centre is also located at the site, and both products undergo rigorous testing in Finland, including winter trials at the Ivalo test facility in Lapland.

This recognition is the latest in a series of Finnish quality accolades for the company. Nokian Tyres has previously received the Key Flag for its heavy machinery tyres, wheels, and retreading materials. Additionally, its truck and bus tyres carry the Design from Finland label, underlining their Finnish design pedigree.

Founded in 1898, Nokian Tyres began manufacturing tyres in 1932. The company introduced the world’s first winter tyre in 1934, followed by the first Hakkapeliitta-branded passenger car winter tyre in 1936. Since then, the brand has become a hallmark of Nordic winter driving.

“The Nokian Tyres Hakkapeliitta winter tyres, as well as the Nokian Tyres Hakka summer tyres,, are designed to withstand the challenges of their northern home: the harsh winters with ice and snow as well as the summer months from the first sub-zero mornings of the spring to the heavy rainfalls of autumn,” Nikkola added.

Nokian Tyres emphasised that both product lines are still made in the same factory in Nokia as their early predecessors. Over the decades, the plant has been modernised and now runs on electricity sourced entirely from CO2-free sources. Most of the steam used in the facility also comes from CO2-free fuels. Since 2015, the factory has sent no waste from tyre production to landfill.

The company has further strengthened its sustainability credentials by obtaining the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) PLUS for the Nokia passenger car tyre plant. The certification enables the integration of sustainable raw materials into tyre production at the facility.

“The Nokian Tyres Hakkapeliitta winter tyres are already a legend of Nordic winter roads and are, just like the Nokian Tyres Hakka summer tyres, still made within the same factory walls in Nokia as their predecessors in the 1930s,” Nikkola concluded.

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ZC Rubber made a significant impact at the 2025 SEMA Show by introducing two innovative tyres set to join its ARISUN lineup in 2026. The company unveiled the AVARIS EV, a model dedicated to the growing electric vehicle sector, and the AGGRESSOR WP21, an all-weather tyre built for the challenging climates of the northern US and Canada. These launches highlight ZC Rubber's strategic focus on developing specialised products for distinct driver needs in the North American market.

Catering specifically to electric vehicles, the AVARIS EV tackles the core demands of EV ownership. Its construction is fortified to support the substantial weight and instant power delivery of electric models, promoting durability and stable handling. Beyond robustness, the tyre is fine-tuned for efficiency and comfort, featuring a design that minimises rolling resistance to extend driving range and a tread pattern that ensures a quiet, smooth ride for occupants.

For drivers confronting snowy winters and variable conditions, the AGGRESSOR WP21 serves as a comprehensive year-round solution. It masterfully blends wet and dry road stability with genuine winter traction. Its tread design efficiently channels water and provides a confident grip on dry pavement while also incorporating features like dense siping and a rugged asymmetric pattern for reliable performance on snow and ice. This capability does not come at the expense of comfort or longevity, as it also employs noise-reducing technologies and a durable compound for a quiet ride and long tread life.

Henry Shen, Deputy General Manager, Zhongce Rubber Group, said, “Our focus in North America is clear: solve real needs with the right products. This year we showed a more complete portfolio. ARISUN strengthens our EV coverage and raises all-weather confidence for colder regions, while commercial solutions across ARISUN, WESTLAKE and GOODRIDE round out the portfolio for fleets. We’re combining innovation with local support, supply and service, and we’ll grow with our partners as we head towards the 2026 rollout.”

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The 2025 FIA World Rally Championship's penultimate round, the FORUM8 Rally Japan, concluded on 9 November, setting the stage for a dramatic season finale. The event, supported by exclusive tyre partner Hankook Tire, presented a formidable challenge with its narrow, twisting tarmac stages in the mountains of Aichi and Gifu prefectures. Drivers contended with constantly changing conditions, from shifting grip levels on sun-dappled roads to reduced visibility from fog and rain, all made more treacherous by damp, leaf-covered asphalt.

Hankook’s tire technology was central to navigating these demanding conditions. The company supplied its Ventus Z215 and Ventus Z210 tarmac rally tyres, which provided the critical grip and control needed for success. The Ventus Z215 delivered sharp handling and responsive cornering on dry sections, while the Ventus Z210 excelled in the wet, offering outstanding water dispersion and reliable traction on slippery surfaces.

This technical partnership underpinned a thrilling victory for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing’s Sébastien Ogier, who secured his sixth win of the season by a narrow margin of 11.6 seconds. This result tightens the drivers' championship, moving Ogier to within three points of his teammate Elfyn Evans and leaving the title fight completely open.

All eyes now turn to the inaugural Rally Saudi Arabia, the first WRC event in the Middle East in over a decade. Scheduled for 25–29 November in the Jeddah region, the season finale will introduce a starkly different challenge. Crews will face extreme heat, abrasive surfaces and a mix of high-speed desert plains and rocky tracks, where tyre durability and cooling performance will be decisive factors in crowning the 2025 champion.

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Iochpe-Maxion said its wheels division, Maxion Wheels, will expand its light vehicle aluminium wheel business in South America, including moving existing production assets to Brazil and acquiring a majority stake in Argentina’s Polimetal.

The company said it has purchased a 50.1% shareholding in Polimetal, a long-standing supplier of aluminium wheels to automotive manufacturers in Argentina. The transaction will be submitted to the local competition authority for approval.

“Passenger car sales continue to rise across South America, with our wheels business, especially light vehicle aluminum wheels, continuing to gain share in Mercosur,” said Pieter Klinkers, President and CEO of Iochpe-Maxion.

“To address this growing market and corresponding aluminum wheel demand, Maxion Wheels is implementing three strategic initiatives. First is the utilisation of our global operations, together with our domestic forces in Brazil, to support the immediate additional demand. Second is the redeployment of existing global assets to our two Brazilian light vehicle aluminum wheel plants in Santo André and Limeira. And lastly and most strategically, we are proud to announce a formal partnership in Argentina through Polimetal. They have been a long-term strategic- and well-respected supplier of aluminum wheels to OEMs producing in the local market,” he added.

The redeployment of equipment will expand production capabilities at Maxion’s Brazilian plants, the company said, in a move expected to bolster supply to carmakers across the region.

Klinkers said the company’s measures are aimed at ensuring service levels and output keep pace with demand. “We are confident our strategic actions in South America are putting in place the level of service and high-quality wheel output our customers need to meet both their short- and long-term demands,” he said.

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Dunlop Tyres South Africa has appointed Marcia Noxolo Veronica Mayaba as its new commercial director, effective November 2025, as the company moves to sharpen its strategic execution in sales, retail, marketing and technical services.

Mayaba, one of South Africa’s most prominent automotive executives, brings decades of leadership experience and a resume marked by industry firsts including becoming the country’s first Black female CEO in automotive retail. Her previous roles span senior positions at Eqstra Fleet Management, Isuzu Motors South Africa, Lindsay Saker VW and Audi and Barloworld’s multi-brand operations.

The move forms part of Dunlop’s medium to long-term growth agenda as it competes for market share in a tightening industry landscape.

Lubin Ozoux, CEO of Dunlop Tyres South Africa said: “Marcia brings a distinctive  blend of empathy, strategic insight, and commercial acumen. Her passion for developing people, her deep understanding of the automotive ecosystem, and her commitment to ethical leadership align perfectly with Dunlop’s purpose-driven culture. We’re so excited to welcome her to the leadership team and look forward to the impact she will make in driving our business and dealer partnerships forward.”

Mayaba framed the appointment as both professional and personal, citing the automotive sector as a platform for economic mobility. “Dunlop embodies heritage, integrity and resilience, values that deeply resonate with me. My first meeting with Lubin and the Exco immediately felt like a fit a culture anchored in people, continuous improvement and long-term sustainability. Joining Dunlop is not just a career move; it’s a continuation of my purpose to build stronger, values-based ecosystems within the automotive landscape,” Mayaba said.

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