Pirelli's Cyber Tyre has been distinguished as the Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) Innovation of the Year at the 2025 AutoTech Breakthrough Awards. This accolade, presented by the Tech Breakthrough platform, recognises leading advancements in the automotive technology sector. The Cyber Tyre system represents a significant step forward as the first intelligent tyre capable of directly gathering data, processing it through Pirelli's proprietary algorithms and communicating the information in real-time to the vehicle's electronic systems. This integration enhances driving dynamics, safety and connectivity with broader digital infrastructures.

The technology functions through sensors embedded within the tyre tread that monitor critical parameters including pressure, temperature, load and wear. After this data is processed, it is relayed to the vehicle's control unit, allowing for the optimisation of electronic stability control, anti-lock braking systems and traction control. Developed in collaboration with Bosch Engineering, the system is seamlessly incorporated into the vehicle's electronic architecture.

Beyond improving the performance of individual vehicles, the Cyber Tyre enables communication between vehicles and with road infrastructure. This V2X capability supports the development of smart cities by providing data that can improve urban mobility planning, issue warnings about road conditions, interact with traffic signals and enhance fleet management. Such features are vital for the progression of autonomous driving technologies. Currently available on several high-end vehicles, the technology is being expanded to other premium platforms, with a recent agreement confirming its future integration into Aston Martin's luxury models.

AutoTech Breakthrough stated, “Cyber Tyre is a key technology for the future of smart mobility, which includes autonomous driving, connected vehicles and the digitalisation of infrastructures. By integrating intelligence directly into the tyre, Pirelli Cyber Tyre makes transport systems safer as well as sustainable and data-driven.”

Piero Misani, CTO, Pirelli, said, “This recognition highlights the value of Cyber Tyre, which gives the tyre a new role in the revolution currently taking place in mobility. In Software-Defined Vehicles (SDV), the availability of precise real-time data is essential: our technology enables, for the first time, the transmission of detailed information to the vehicle’s electronics regarding the tyre’s status and road surface conditions, improving safety, performance and efficiency. The system has already been adopted on high-end vehicles, with the goal of extending its application to an increasingly wider audience and to different functionalities towards other systems thanks to V2X connectivity.”

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Hankook Tire & Technology reported a sharp rise in first-quarter operating profit, supported by stronger sales of electric vehicle tyres and replacement tyres across key markets including Europe, Korea and China.

The South Korean tyre maker said consolidated revenue for the three months to March reached USD 3.63 billion, up 7 percent from a year earlier, while operating profit rose 42.9 per cent to USD 345.9 million.

Sales in the group’s tyre business increased 9.3 percent year-on-year to USD 1.75 billion. Operating profit in the division rose 31.1 percent to USD 298.6 million, representing an operating margin of 17.1 percent.

The company said demand for original equipment tyres supplied to electric vehicle and hybrid models, alongside higher replacement tyre sales, supported performance despite continued uncertainty linked to tariffs and elevated oil prices.

Hankook Tire said tyres measuring 18 inches and above accounted for 49.1 percent of total passenger car and light truck tyre sales in the quarter, up 2 percentage points from a year earlier. Electric vehicle tyres represented 29.6 percent of original equipment passenger car and light truck tyre sales, an increase of 6.6 percentage points year-on-year.

The company expanded original equipment tyre supply during the quarter for both internal combustion engine and electric vehicle models produced by Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Ford.

Hankook Tire said it currently supplies original equipment tyres to about 50 automotive brands across roughly 300 vehicle models, including Porsche.

The company also continued to expand its iON electric vehicle tyre range, which now covers about 300 specifications from 16-inch to 22-inch tyres.

Its thermal management subsidiary Hanon Systems reported first-quarter sales of USD 1.88 billion, up 5 percent year-on-year, while operating profit rose more than fourfold to USD 66.3 million.

Hankook Tire said it continued to expand production capacity at its Tennessee plant in the US and its Hungary facility in Europe as part of efforts to strengthen global supply capabilities.

The company said it aims to raise the proportion of high-inch tyres to 51 percent and electric vehicle tyres to more than 33 percent of passenger car and light truck original equipment tyre sales.

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Hankook Tire, the exclusive tyre supplier to the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, supported all competitors during the 2026 Hankook Berlin E-Prix. The double-header at Tempelhof Airport Street Circuit featured Hankook’s iON Race tyre, which was pushed to its limits by the venue’s rough concrete surface and a fast, 15-corner layout. Rounds 7 and 8 of Season 12 unfolded across two days on the 2.374-kilometre anticlockwise circuit, where tyre preservation and energy efficiency became critical success factors.

The abrasive concrete apron at Tempelhof forced drivers to carefully manage degradation, while the Turn 2 ATTACK MODE zone added a recurring strategic puzzle. Hankook’s iON Race rubber delivered steady grip and predictable handling as track conditions shifted between Saturday and Sunday. The double header demanded consistent tyre behaviour, with teams adjusting to changing rubber build up and surface temperatures over the two race days.

Nico Müller secured his first Formula E victory in Round 7, holding off Nick Cassidy and Oliver Rowland through disciplined energy management. In Round 8, Mitch Evans produced a remarkable comeback from last on the grid, passing Oliver Rowland and Pascal Wehrlein with a late decisive move to take the win. Both performances highlighted the tyre’s balance of durability and performance under racing stress.

Off track, the Berlin weekend drew large crowds to Hankook’s Fan Village, where interactive displays featured iON tyres on electric vehicles. The brand also partnered with DS Automobiles to debut the DS N°7 model. Following the Tempelhof races, the Formula E season now heads to Monaco for the next rounds on 16 and 17 May.

Manfred Sandbichler, Senior Director of Hankook Motorsport, said, "The Berlin double-header confirmed the resilience of the iON Race under some of the most demanding surface conditions in Formula E. Running two races at Tempelhof provided valuable insight into how the tyre responds to sustained abrasion across a full race weekend. The competitive racing and strategic variation across both days reflected the tyre’s ability to operate within a broad performance window, and these insights will support ongoing development alongside the championship."

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Liberty Tire Recycling, North America’s largest tyre recycling company, has published its 2024 Sustainability Report, detailing continued advancements towards a circular economy. Over the course of the year, the firm collected more than 215 million end-of-life tyres and reclaimed over 4.7 billion pounds (approximately 2.13 billion kg) of rubber, which was transformed into recycled products for infrastructure, manufacturing and energy recovery.

The report highlights measurable environmental and safety gains alongside company growth and acquisitions. Liberty achieved a 1.5 percent year-over-year reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, an 81.1 percent end-market utilisation rate representing a 2.7 percent increase from 2023 and notable safety improvements including a 23.87 percent drop in the Total Recordable Incident Rate and a 29.25 percent reduction in the Preventable Vehicle Accident Rate.

Beyond operational metrics, Liberty donated more than USD 150,000 to charities and completed over 75 community projects. A key partnership with Blessings in a Backpack led to the packing of 5,250 meal kits for children, reinforcing the company’s broader commitment to social responsibility alongside its environmental and safety achievements.

Thomas Womble, CEO, Liberty Tire Recycling, said, “At Liberty, we don’t just recycle tyres – we partner with others to build a better future. Whether it’s a global manufacturer, a local retailer or a city government, our partners trust Liberty to help them meet their sustainability goals and do right by their communities. This report is a reflection of what responsible growth looks like – when innovation, impact and partnership work hand in hand.”

Amy Brackin, Senior Vice President – Sustainability, Liberty Tire Recycling, said, “Our work is grounded in action and accountability. As the only North American tyre recycling company to publish a sustainability report, we’re setting the standard for transparency in our industry. From emissions management to zero-waste goals, we’re proving that it’s possible to grow responsibly – moving more material up the value chain, investing in our people and rethinking how tyres can create value long after they leave the road.”

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Pirelli has confirmed that India will be the central theme of its 2027 calendar, marking a historic first for the publication. For the first time since the calendar’s inception, two distinct photographers have been commissioned to work on the project: Norwegian artist Sølve Sundsbø and celebrated Indian master Raghu Rai. Deep sorrow has followed Rai’s recent passing, felt profoundly by his family and those who collaborated with him. In the three months before his death, Rai had been fully dedicated to developing an original photographic series rooted in his heritage and personal vision of India.

Pirelli and the Rai family have pledged to complete Rai’s contribution to the calendar. Stepping into his role with honour is his daughter, Avani Rai, an internationally acclaimed photographer in her own right. She will work to faithfully realise her father’s artistic intentions for the series, ensuring his creative vision endures.

Alongside this effort, Pirelli has gladly invited Sundsbø back for a second consecutive year, following his work on the 2026 edition. His signature sensitivity and innovative aesthetic will combine with Avani Rai’s intimate knowledge of her father’s craft and her own personal experience of India, offering two compelling and complementary perspectives on the country.

Avani Rai said, “The work my father created for Pirelli was a tribute to India – bringing together his lifelong vision with a more contemporary expression of its people and diversity, something he was always deeply drawn to. I cannot bear the thought of it remaining unrealised. Bringing it to life feels deeply personal, as if I am stepping into his gaze and the way he saw India through his camera. Photography was his gift to me – not just as a craft, but as a way of seeing – and in that we found a quiet, profound connection. Carrying this forward feels like a way of staying close to him, of keeping a part of him alive within me.”

Sundsbø said, “It’s a great honour to be invited again to contribute to the Pirelli Calendar. I am very pleased to do so alongside Avani Rai and pay tribute to her father’s legacy. It’s a momentous opportunity to explore India. We will both do our utmost to celebrate the country and Rai’s memory with this collaboration.”

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