Milan tyre maker’s sensor technology will map infrastructure health in Apulia region starting in July

Pirelli & C. SpA has signed an agreement with Italy’s Apulia region to deploy its smart tyre technology for monitoring road conditions, creating what the companies say will be the world’s first integrated system combining tyre sensors with visual data collection.

The partnership, announced on Monday in Bari, will utilise Pirelli’s Cyber Tyre technology in conjunction with visual monitoring systems from Universes to assess the health of the region’s road network. Fleet vehicles equipped with the combined system will begin operating in July 2025.

The Cyber Tyre system uses sensors embedded in tyre treads to collect data on road surface conditions, including roughness and asphalt irregularities. The technology processes this information through proprietary algorithms and combines it with visual data from cameras that monitor road surfaces and signage.

Data collected by the regional fleet will be transmitted to cloud-based systems and made available to regional authorities through digital dashboards. The information is intended to help prioritise road maintenance and improve safety across Apulia’s transportation network.

“Technology can save lives,” said Michele Emiliano, governor of the Apulia region. “In this case, it will be useful as a thermometer of the state of health of our roads.”

The pilot program represents the latest expansion of Pirelli’s digital tyre initiatives. The Milan-based company already has partnerships with Movyon, part of Autostrade per l’Italia, to monitor highway infrastructure, with additional projects in development.

Pirelli has been investing heavily in digital technologies as traditional tyre manufacturers seek to differentiate their products through connectivity and data services. The company’s Cyber Tyre technology allows communication between road surfaces and vehicle control systems, providing real-time information to drivers and fleet operators.

Ayvens, a European leader in long-term vehicle rental and fleet management services, will supply the regional fleet vehicles. The partnership comes at no cost to the Apulia region, according to officials.

Marco Tronchetti Provera, Pirelli’s executive vice chairman, said the agreement builds on the company’s existing research and development activities in the region. In 2022, Pirelli launched its Digital Solutions Centre in Bari, a software development facility dedicated to digital innovation and artificial intelligence applications.

“Thanks to the support of the institutions, the university world and local partners, Apulia is becoming, for Pirelli, in the digital sector, an important centre of expertise at the international level,” Tronchetti Provera said.

The Digital Solutions Center operates in collaboration with the University of Bari and Bari Polytechnic, working on projects to optimise manufacturing processes through smart systems and support digitalisation across tyre design phases.

Pirelli has indicated it is considering additional investments in the region, pending resolution of unspecified corporate matters. The company positions itself as a world leader in the high-value tyre segment and has been expanding its focus on connected and sustainable mobility technologies.

The road monitoring initiative reflects growing interest among infrastructure operators in using connected vehicle technologies to assess road conditions more efficiently than traditional inspection methods. Real-time data collection could help authorities respond more quickly to maintenance needs and potentially prevent accidents caused by poor road conditions.

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Linglong Tire has announced the upcoming expansion of its Linglong Master family with the new Dura Master Van, a tyre specifically engineered for light commercial vehicles like trucks, vans and motorhomes. Designed to deliver high mileage, low rolling resistance and optimised handling, this new line includes a dedicated variant, the Dura Master Van e, developed to meet the exact specifications of original equipment (OE) manufacturers.

The tyre incorporates advanced technologies and a robust new construction. Its optimised tread design and wider profile contribute to reduced wear and significantly greater mileage than its predecessors, the Green-Max Van and Green-Max Van HP. An innovative tread compound lowers rolling resistance for important fuel savings, while a reinforced carcass ensures a high load capacity. The design also integrates a new siping technology that shortens wet braking distances and improves handling in both wet and dry conditions.

Production for both the Dura Master Van and the Dura Master Van e will be exclusive to Linglong’s modern facility in Zrenjanin, Serbia. A total of 29 sizes, ranging from 12 to 17 inches, will be available to order from the end of 2025, with store availability beginning in spring 2026. The OE variant will be offered in two 16-inch sizes for direct delivery to automotive manufacturers after their approval.

Developed at the company’s European Development Centre in Hannover, the tyres underwent rigorous testing at tracks in Idiada, Spain, and at the Sino Asia facility in China. Linglong has also confirmed that all-season and winter versions, the Dura Master Van 4S and Dura Master Van Winter, are in development to further complete its commercial van portfolio next year.

Wencheng Liu, Head – Product Management, Linglong Tire, said, "With the Linglong Dura Master Van, we are expanding our range in the light commercial vehicle sector and offering a high-performance solution for businesses as well as private households. The tyre combines high mileage with safety and efficiency – crucial factors for cost-conscious families and entrepreneurs who use their vehicles every day."

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Ecolomondo Corporation, a Canadian leader in scrap tyre recycling technology, has finalised a joint venture and engineering agreement with Spanish renewable energy firm Alternativas Riojanas Eolicas y Solares S.L. (ARESOL) to construct four Thermal Decomposition Process (TDP) facilities across the European Union. The partnership follows a non-binding letter of intent signed in December 2024 and subsequent technical evaluations, culminating in a definitive agreement in July 2025.

The first facility will be established in Valencia, Spain, processing 20,000 metric tonnes of end-of-life tyres annually. Three additional locations will be selected based on feedstock availability, tipping fees, offtake agreements and government incentives. ARESOL brings four decades of renewable energy project expertise, including engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) capabilities, to support the deployment of Ecolomondo’s proprietary TDP pyrolysis technology.

Under the agreement, a joint venture entity will be formed, with Ecolomondo holding a 51 percent stake and ARESOL 49 percent. Governance will include two directors from each company and one independent member. This initiative aligns with Ecolomondo’s global expansion strategy, following the successful ramp-up of its Hawkesbury TDP facility and recent shipments of recovered carbon black (rCB) to key clients.

Eliot Sorella, Executive Chairman, Ecolomondo Corporation, said, “We are excited about this important partnership, and we look forward to working with the ARESOL team as part of our European rollout. We will enter the European market with a JV partner that is based locally, understands the European market and has the experience to build plants in selected sites in any city in the EU. This agreement is exactly in line with the Company’s long term strategic objective to become a global industry leader, creating sustainable products from end-of-life tyres.”

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Goodyear India said its first-quarter profit nearly tripled, boosted by higher revenue and improved margins as the tyre maker benefited from steady demand in the commercial vehicle segment.

Net profit for the three months ended 30 June surged to INR 1.41 billion from INR 487 million a year earlier, the company said in a regulatory filing.

Revenue from operations rose 8.7% to 655.2 billion rupees, driven by volume growth across passenger and commercial vehicle tyres despite competitive pricing pressures in the market.

The Ballabgarh-based company saw its operating expenses rise 7.6 percent to INR 641.9 billion during the quarter. Cost of materials consumed, the largest expense component, increased 4.4% to 267.4 billion rupees.

Employee benefit expenses climbed 12.7 percent to INR 50.5 million, whilst finance costs jumped to INR 1.3 million from INR 1.2 million in the corresponding period last year.

The company’s earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation margins improved during the quarter, reflecting better operational efficiency and pricing discipline.

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 TVS Srichakra, India’s tyre manufacturer, reported a 61 percent surge in first-quarter profit after receiving a government grant, though operating performance remained subdued amid challenging market conditions.

Net income rose to INR 181.2 million in the three months ended 30 June from INR 112.6 million a year earlier, the Madurai-based company said in a regulatory filing. Revenue from operations increased 3.1 percent to 76.17 billion rupees.

The profit surge was primarily driven by an exceptional income of INR 1.76 billion from a government grant. TVS Srichakra received an interim eligibility certificate for investment promotion capital subsidy sanctioned by the Tamil Nadu state government in November 2021, to be paid over 12 years in equal annual instalments.

“Grant income of 18.81 crores attributable towards completed useful life of eligible assets up to 31st March 2025 recognised under exceptional item,” the company said, referring to the accounting treatment of the subsidy.

Excluding the exceptional item, the company’s operating profit before tax fell to INR 67.4 million from INR 160.8 million a year ago, reflecting pressure on margins. Total expenses climbed 4.6 percent to INR 75.75 billion, led by higher material costs and other expenses.

The company, part of the TVS Group conglomerate, also incurred costs of INR 12.5 million during the quarter under a voluntary retirement scheme for employees, compared with INR 53 million for the full previous fiscal year.

TVS Srichakra’s consolidated revenue rose 3.6 percent to INR 81.94 billion, while consolidated net profit increased 93 percent to INR 128.3 million, again boosted by the exceptional income.

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