However, as is evident now, we were caught unawares. Mutated strain of the virus took India in its stride as we were yet to work out a robust vaccination strategy. To curb the spread and manage the health emergency getting out of control in view of paucity of beds, oxygen and ventilators, a large number of states-imposed lockdowns and other restrictions which continue till date. 

As is normal under such circumstances, the economy bears the brunt and that is what seems to have happened. The fragile economic recovery seen in the second half of FY21 seems to have gone derailed. Consumer confidence has hit a new low as shown in a recent survey. Different rating agencies and multilateral organizations have downwardly revised the growth projections for the current fiscal year. From a bullish 11-13% growth (in view of base effect), the projections are now for growths in single digits only.

Needless to say, the pitch for economic revival is queered.  But, curiously, as Covid infections come off from the peak levels and the recovery rates go up, a new kind of confidence is building up. The infection rates are coming down with as much alacrity as they had peaked.

Certainly, there is no room for any complacency as premonitions of a third wave have already been made. However, the vaccination strategy to inoculate a large number of Indians by the end of the year holds much hope. It has been observed that those countries that have already inoculated over 50% of their population have witnessed much less morbidity and mortality rates.

What also holds out hope are a range of high frequency indicators which show the resilience of the Indian economy and the entrepreneurship that shines through whenever an opportunity is provided. The economic growth in the fourth quarter of last fiscal has been better than expected. From a contraction of 24.4% and 7.4% in the first and second quarters, the economy turned around in the third one with 0.5% growth and ended the year with 1.6% growth in Q4.

There are a range of other indicators too. Industrial performance measured by IIP grew by 22.3 percent in March. Merchandise exports grew by 197 percent in April. The output of eight core infrastructure sectors grew by robust 7% in March. Manufacturing PMI has remained at a high of over 55 in March and April. GST revenue collection set a new record of Rs. 1.4 lakh crore in April.

If the tyre  production data for FY21, as released recently, is anything to go by, Tyre Industry will continue to put the wheels of economy in motion against all odds. No doubt, Tyre Industry's overall numbers are down in FY21. However when looked closely, there is ample evidence that points to the resilience  in the sector. Truck & Bus (T&B) tyre production, the bellwether of economy has turned in better performance in FY21 over FY20. And this despite the fact that April’20 was a washout in view of nationwide lockdown. Both T&B and Passenger Car tyre production touched significantly higher figures in March this year with T&B tyre production crossing 20 lakh numbers, a historic high.

FY21 will also go down as a landmark year when Radial Truck & Bus tyre production equalled that of Bias tyre production. Tyre exports from India have charted an upward trajectory in the second half of previous fiscal as the stability was achieved in the exports markets.

Forecast of a normal monsoon (third in a row) and the upcoming festive season can provide much-needed impetus to the economy if vaccination drive accelerates and Covid appropriate measures are followed strictly.

No doubt, the situation is still in a flux, and it is too nascent to gauge the true impact of the second wave on economic growth.  But ramping up the vaccination drive and inoculating the entire adult population as early as possible will help.

And there is a major shift again in the vaccination policy. As this column gets on the editor’s desk, the federal government has decided to provide free coronavirus vaccines to states for inoculation of all above the age of 18.

FY 21 could not live up to the expectations that most Indians had. Hope the next year will. (TT)

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American tyre brand General Tire is marking 111 years since its founding on 29 September 1915, when William O’Neil and Winfred Fouse established the General Tire and Rubber Company in Akron, Ohio. What started as a regional tyre maker has evolved into an internationally recognised brand, especially noted for durable tyres suited to SUVs, off-road vehicles and pickups. Since 1987, the company has operated as part of Continental.

The brand’s history tracks closely with the growth of the North American automotive sector. During the 1920s, General Tire earned attention for its ‘General Balloon Jumbos’, which helped push tyre technology forward. As operations grew, the company widened its international reach and became a supplier to major vehicle manufacturers.

William O'Neil, Founder of General Tire

General Tire and Continental first connected in March 1949 through a cooperation agreement covering the exchange of technical expertise and know-how. By the late 1950s, General Tire had opened a tyre testing facility in Uvalde, Texas, then regarded as the largest of its kind worldwide. Continental’s 1987 acquisition opened a new chapter, giving the parent company a global production and sales network for the first time while allowing General Tire to pair its American heritage with worldwide development and manufacturing strength.

Today, the portfolio spans applications from the Grabber GT Plus road tyre and Grabber Cross A/S all-season tyre to the Snow Grabber Plus winter tyre and the Grabber AT3 Plus and Grabber X3 off-road models, all reflecting performance, reliability and American heritage. For the anniversary, General Tire introduced the next-generation Grabber AT3 Plus, an all-terrain successor to the Grabber AT3 with better snow traction, improved wet-road grip and a tread pattern built for demanding off-road use.

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Dunlop Motorcycle Europe is set to support a star-studded rider roster at this weekend’s FIM Motocross of Nations (MXoN) in Ernée, France, aiming to cap another standout motocross season. The tyre range available to competitors includes the sand-focused Geomax MX14 for loose surfaces, the intermediate Geomax MX34 and the Geomax MX54, which has become the preferred choice across a wide range of intermediate and hardpack tracks.

The company will supply tyres to 32 riders representing 16 nations, drawing talent from the FIM Motocross World Championship, North America’s Supercross and Pro Motocross series and other competitions. The event follows last weekend’s season-ending MXGP of Australia, with many of the sport’s top names returning to action in pursuit of the Chamberlain Trophy.

Dunlop has built a formidable recent record at the MXoN, having equipped riders from every winning nation over the past four editions. Team Australia took consecutive victories in 2024 and 2025, Team France claimed the title in 2023 and Team USA won in 2022. This year, Australia arrives with an entirely new lineup in Jed Beaton, Alex Larwood and Aaron Tanti, while the United States fields an all-Dunlop trio led by three-time 450 cc AMA Supercross champion Cooper Webb, joined by Julien Beaumer and Levi Kitchen.

For France, MXGP runner-up Romain Febvre spearheads the Dunlop contingent and is joined by fellow Kawasaki Racing Team rider Mathis Valin. Two-time MXGP World Champion Jorge Prado will represent Spain alongside newly crowned MX2 World Champion Guillem Farres. A host of other leading MXGP and MX2 competitors will also run Dunlop, including Camden McLellan for South Africa, Liam Everts for Belgium, Pauls Jonass for Latvia and Jeremy Seewer for Switzerland.

The MXoN serves as a fitting finale to a season of significant success for Dunlop across European and North American series. In the United States, Ken Roczen captured his first 450 cc AMA Supercross title on Dunlop, extending the brand’s streak of winning every AMA Supercross and Pro Motocross championship since 2010.

In the FIM Motocross World Championship, Guillem Farres secured the MX2 crown and led Triumph Racing to a one-two finish with teammate Camden McLellan. The pair combined for 11 of 19 Grand Prix victories. In MXGP, Romain Febvre finished runner-up, while Kiara Fontanesi narrowly missed a historic seventh WMX title, winning at Foxhills in July and adding three second-place finishes.

Wim Van Achter, Motorcycle Motorsport Manager EMEA, Dunlop Motorcycle Europe, “The fact that so many top riders continue to choose Dunlop Geomax tyres underlines the Geomax range’s performance credentials. We work closely with top riders to develop new Geomax products, using their feedback to refine our tyre technology. Our most recent innovation, Geomax MX54, makes the Geomax range our strongest and most versatile motocross range yet, drawing on our knowledge from winning top professional championships. With its broader scope, it could be the tyre of choice for Ernée’s traditional hardpack clay circuit this weekend.”

Eddy Seel, MXGP Event Leader, Dunlop Motorcycle Europe, said, “We are honoured that Dunlop Geomax tyres are the products of choice for 32 of the world’s most talented riders representing 16 different nations. The level of competition is always high at MXoN, but Dunlop has a history of success. Our riders have already proven the performance and reliability of the Dunlop Geomax range all season long, so we’re ready to continue with that this weekend. Allez!”

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TyreSafe, UK’s leading tyre safety charity, has launched its annual Tyre Safety Month by cautioning UK motorists that confidence in their vehicles’ stopping ability may be misplaced. Research indicates that although 83 percent of drivers feel fully in control of stopping distances, merely 6 percent know the additional distance required to halt in wet conditions at motorway speeds.

The study reveals that 94 percent of drivers underestimate how sharply stopping distances grow in rain, with many erring by substantial margins. This mismatch between perceived and actual risk spans every UK region, pointing to a nationwide problem involving driver awareness and vehicle preparedness.

In response, TyreSafe advises routine tyre checks, especially before seasonal shifts and heavier rainfall. Motorists are urged to remember the ACT principle – air pressure, condition and tread depth – and to act before they react.

Stuart Lovatt, Chairman, TyreSafe, said, “Many drivers and riders believe they are in control – but that confidence is often misplaced. Stopping distances in wet conditions can be far greater than expected, and tyres play a critical role in that equation. If your tyres are not properly maintained, your ability to stop safely is significantly reduced – no matter how confident you feel behind the wheel.”

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Scandinavian Enviro Systems AB (publ) has secured a second extension of its company reorganisation, with the Gothenburg District Court approving a further three-month period lasting until 27 November 2026. The company has been under reorganisation since 27 February 2026, when the court initially granted the process. An earlier extension had already pushed the deadline to 27 August 2026 before this latest decision.

In its ruling, the District Court noted that Enviro has submitted a draft reconstruction plan and secured the necessary financing for it. The court also found that the company has taken other required measures, leading it to conclude that exceptional grounds exist to justify continuing the reorganisation beyond the ordinary timeframe.

Enviro now plans to ask the court to order plan negotiations and schedule a plan hearing as soon as possible. At that hearing, affected parties will be placed into groups and permitted to vote on whether to adopt the reorganisation plan. Details of the hearing date and participation instructions will be announced via press release and the company's website. Unless plan negotiations are ordered earlier, a reorganisation may last at most one year, or 15 months from the initial decision in such cases.

Fredrik Aaben, CEO, Enviro, said, "The District Court's decision gives us the opportunity to continue the intensive work of completing the company reorganisation. We have taken several important steps forward and are now working purposefully to establish a strong and long-term sustainable Scandinavian Enviro Systems. The strong interest in Enviro's technology persists, both with regard to licensing and other forms of collaboration. We are firmly committed to completing the reorganisation and building a strong industrial company based on our world-leading technology.”

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