Infra Push In The Budget A Big Positive For Tyre Sector: ATMA

A sharper focus on infrastructure, including road infrastructure, through higher budgetary allocations and setting up infrastructure financing institution augur well for several sectors of the economy including those which have been affected by the pandemic-induced disruption, states Automotive Tyre Manufacturers’ Association (ATMA).

“Government’s reconsideration of Custom Duty Policy aimed at promoting domestic manufacturing is a highly welcome move. Inverted duty structure in the tyre industry has created an uneven playing field and we look forward to the new customs duty structure which will be put in place by Oct 2021”, said K M Mammen, Chairman ATMA.

Allocation of Rs 18K crore to support augmentation of public bus transport services will have a multiplier effect giving a fillip to the tyre sector as well.

Creation of a dedicated Development Finance Institution (DFI) is a very significant move as long gestation infra funding needs long term commitment. In this context, the launch of National Asset Monetisation Pipeline will augment the revenues of the government to fund new infra projects. As wheels of the nation, Tyre industry is all set with increased capacities to aid in the infra development, added Mammen.

Scrappage Policy To Fuel Demand For New Vehicles: Bridgestone India MD

It is a forward-looking budget. The outlay on healthcare and covid vaccination is in the right direction in building health infrastructure and citizen confidence, both of which are very much needed at this stage. The scrappage policy for vehicles was a long-standing demand of the automotive sector and would lead to increased demand, said Parag Satpute, Managing Director, Bridgestone India

Emphasis On Infrastructure Will Help Revive Economy: CMD JK Tyre

‘The Hon’ble Finance Minister has presented a ‘pro-growth’ budget in these unprecedented times, which will give a boost to the Indian economy which is on path to recovery. Rightly, there is a huge emphasis on infrastructure, which will help revive economy as well as generate employment. Finally, the much awaited scrappage policy has been announced, which is a welcome step.  This will increase sale of new vehicles and in turn boost tyre demand.”

“Refocus on healthcare and skill building are very critical for a healthy growth of Aspirant India. The key however is faster implementation of the various important measures announced, which will have a meaningful impact on economy,” said Dr Raghupati Singhania, Vice-President JK Organisation, and, Chairman &  Managing Director of JK Tyre & Industries Ltd.

ACMA Welcomes The Budget That Bolsters Indian Economy

ACMA, the apex body representing India’s auto component sector, expressed satisfaction on the measures announced in the Union Budget especially for the focus on health & well-being, infrastructure, inclusive growth, human Capital, Innovation & R&D and reforms in governance.

Thanking the Union Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, Deepak Jain, President ACMA, said, “The vision of an Aatma-nirbhar Bharat enshrined in the Union Budget, coupled with the ‘Sankalp’ of ‘Nation-First’ will be the bedrock to propel us further as we redefine our economy in a post-pandemic world. Significant outlay for vaccination in the country will add to the confidence of a resurgent India.”

“Announcements with regards increased spend on road infrastructure, voluntary scrappage policy, Research & Development and PLI among others, augur well for the automotive sector. Further, continued focus on building rural and agricultural infrastructure and prioritizing agriculture credit growth will have long-term positive impact on rural demand for vehicles”, added Jain. Jain further mentioned, “Increase in basic customs duty on select auto components will encourage local manufacturing of such items. It is also heartening that the budget outlay for the MSME sector has been doubled compared to last year. The auto component industry is dominated by MSME and this will provide them the necessary succour as the industry recovers.”

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The Alliance for the Future of Tires (AZuR) has confirmed its participation as a cooperation partner for the tyre material flow for an interactive event on the Digital Product Passport (DPP), scheduled for 16 June 2026 at the Bottrop campus of Ruhr West University of Applied Sciences. With the European Union planning to introduce DPP from 2028, the initiative aims to establish greater transparency, resource conservation and functional material cycles. The upcoming gathering will focus on practical applications and future prospects for industry, trade, recycling and the circular economy.

The European Union has classified tyres as a priority product group under the new Ecodesign Regulation. The digital passport will provide accessible data on a tyre’s entire lifecycle, including material composition, carbon dioxide emissions, repair history, retreading suitability and recycling methods, potentially via QR codes or radio-frequency identification technology on the tyre itself.

Significant potential exists for the tyre recycling sector. Retreaders will be able to quickly assess casing history, mileage and past repairs to determine suitability for retreading. Recyclers will gain improved material transparency regarding ingredients, additives and recycled content, thereby facilitating both mechanical and chemical recycling. Thus, the passport can support longer tyre use and more efficient recovery of valuable raw materials.

AZuR views DPP as a key step towards advancing the tyre circular economy. Several manufacturers are already working on pilot projects, including Michelin’s coordination of a scalable system through the CIRPASS-2 project, standardisation efforts by Bridgestone and Michelin via the Global Data Service Organisation and AZuR partners’ work on radio-frequency identification and digital traceability. The upcoming university event offers companies, researchers and municipalities an early opportunity to address the passport’s requirements and develop practical solutions.

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Continental marked a major milestone on 22 May 2026 during opening ceremonies for the second expansion phase of its Rayong plant in Thailand. The development includes growth for the Passenger and Light Truck Tires division and the start of radial production for motorcycle tyres.

The Rayong motorcycle tyre facility operates with fully in-house manufacturing, from rubber compounds to finished products, using modern equipment. All processes adhere to Continental’s global quality and control standards, enabling production of both radial and diagonal tyres with capacity for future expansion. A high degree of automation and automatic monitoring systems eliminate manual errors while maintaining strict quality checks at every step.

Continental’s Rayong production serves diverse riding styles, including sport-touring and adventure touring segments, with popular radial and diagonal tyre models already in production. In March 2026, the plant received IATF certification, meeting international automotive standards that guarantee continuous quality processes and supply reliability for original-equipment customers.

The expansion also reflects Continental’s sustainability commitment, with solar energy supplying about 13 percent of the plant’s electricity needs. Additionally, the project has created new jobs, strengthening the regional economy.

Christoph Ettenhuber, Head of Business Field Motorcycle Tires, Continental, said, “By expanding our facility in Thailand, we are strategically strengthening our global production structure for Continental Motorcycle Tires. Together with our established operations in our Korbach plant in Germany, we are laying the groundwork for a faster, more flexible response to market demands. Rayong is a key component of our international motorcycle tyre strategy and underscores our clear commitment to growth and state-of-the-art production processes. For our customers, this means premium quality made by Continental – no matter which continent they’re on or which roads they travel."

Sahil Agrawal, Head of Manufacturing Operations in Rayong, said, “Quality is our top priority – for our original equipment customers as well as for end consumers. Our system captures every detail: all tyres are fully traceable at every production step. Online monitoring systems such as automatic scales, profilometers and camera systems ensure that every component is within specification limits. Automation – from the green tyre spray system to automatic tool management – enables us to achieve maximum quality levels while creating an ergonomic and safe working environment.”

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Bridgestone Corporation has once again been selected as a constituent of several globally recognised environmental, social and governance (ESG) indexes, including the Dow Jones Best-in-Class World Index, the FTSE4Good Index Series, the MSCI Selection Indexes, the FTSE JPX Blossom Japan Index, the FTSE JPX Blossom Japan Sector Relative Index, the MSCI Japan ESG Select Leaders Index and the MSCI Japan Equity ESG Select Leaders Index.

The Japanese tyre giant’s continued inclusion in these rankings serves as a concrete and objective embodiment of its corporate mission to serve society with superior quality. Company leadership views the ability to sustain such ESG initiatives over many years as a distinct organisational strength.

Regarding the Dow Jones indexes, Bridgestone has been selected for the Best-in-Class World Index for four consecutive years since 2022, which recognises the top 10 percent of sustainability leaders among 2,500 major global companies. The firm has also maintained a place in the Best-in-Class Asia Pacific Index for 16 straight years since 2010.

In the FTSE Russell assessments, Bridgestone has achieved eight consecutive years of selection for the FTSE4Good Index Series since 2018, alongside the same duration for the FTSE JPX Blossom Japan Index. The company has also been included in the FTSE JPX Blossom Japan Sector Relative Index for five consecutive years since 2021. For MSCI, Bridgestone has secured three straight years of selection for the MSCI Selection Indexes since 2023 while receiving the highest AAA rating in the MSCI ESG Ratings for three consecutive years.

The company has additionally earned high marks from the international non-profit CDP, receiving an A minus rating in both Climate Change and Water Security for 2025, marking six consecutive years at the leadership level. Bridgestone also obtained an A rating in the Supplier Engagement Rating for the seventh time. Key initiatives behind these recognitions include the expansion of its sustainability business model towards carbon neutrality and a circular economy, actions supporting nature positive goals such as sustainable natural rubber and water resource management, a comprehensive due diligence system based on Plan-Do-Check-Act cycles for human rights and environmental risk and global policy execution guidelines.

Bridgestone places sustainability at the core of its management, aiming to implement and evolve its unique business model across the entire value chain from production and use to renewal and raw materials. These efforts link business operations directly to the realisation of carbon neutrality, a circular economy and a nature positive world.

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Tegeta Green Planet and Shine Energy, both affiliated with Tegeta Holding, have launched a joint educational initiative to raise environmental awareness and a sense of responsibility among young people. The project addresses modern challenges such as environmental protection and sustainable development.

Company representatives are visiting schools across Tbilisi to hold informational meetings, presentations and workshops. The programme begins with presentations, followed by interactive games and activities designed to help students retain the information. At the end of each session, participants receive symbolic gifts and prizes as motivation.

Tegeta Green Planet focuses on teaching students the principles of specific waste management, including how to properly handle used tyres, batteries and oils. The sessions explain why proper waste management is essential for environmental protection and how it connects to the circular economy. Meanwhile, Shine Energy educates young people on the importance of energy, its everyday use and why developing renewable and sustainable energy resources is crucial.

The initiative is not limited to schools. In the near future, both organisations will expand their efforts to universities, aiming to broaden awareness about environmental protection, waste management and energy efficiency. The ultimate goal is to foster environmentally responsible attitudes among the younger generation, helping build a more sustainable and conscious society.

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