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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NEXEN TIRE has unveiled a major marketing push across United States designed to lift brand visibility among everyday drivers and sports fans alike. The initiative merges high-profile sports arena placements with hands-on retail strategies, aiming to reach consumers through stadium screens, in-store displays and moving advertisements. Company officials see this broad approach as a key step in deepening connections with the American market, which remains the world’s largest for tyre sales.

A central piece of the effort involves digital LED advertising inside nine Major League Baseball stadiums spread across four different US regions, ensuring exposure to both live crowds and television audiences. The company has also purchased commercial time on more than 10 sports networks to stretch its national reach. Beyond baseball, NEXEN TIRE will extend its existing sponsorship of the National Hockey League’s Anaheim Ducks, adding ribbon boards and exterior billboards at the team’s home rink and training facility.

On the retail side, the manufacturer is placing banner and digital advertisements at over 3,000 locations throughout North America, including major big-box chains and specialised tyre stores. A separate truckside advertising campaign will put branded wraps on delivery vehicles operated by key dealer partners, turning highways and local roads into moving billboards. The North American region already generates 22 percent of NEXEN TIRE’s total revenue, a figure representing roughly 40 percent growth since 2021, with larger diameter tyres of 18 inches and above now accounting for half of all regional sales due to rising demand for trucks, SUVs and premium vehicles.

The company has further strengthened its position by broadening its retail distribution network, launching new tyre models, attending industry gatherings like the SEMA Show and hosting test drive events for dealers. With this latest brand investment, NEXEN TIRE expects to accelerate its growth trajectory and lock in a more permanent presence across the North American market.

Brian (Yoonseok) Han, CEO, Nexen Tire America, said, "The core of this strategy is making NEXEN TIRE a natural part of American consumers' everyday lives, from stadiums to stores to the roads they drive on each day. By combining sports marketing with retail activation in a comprehensive campaign, we expect to accelerate growth in the North American market."

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Dunlop Tire Corporation (DUNLOP) has entered a strategic partnership with the International Auto Film Festa (IAFF), now in its fourth year as a global hub for automotive cinema. All future references to the event from 2026 onward will carry the title ‘International Auto Film Festa - Powered by DUNLOP’, marking a significant branding shift.

The Tokyo-based festival has quickly become a unique cultural celebration blending automobiles, filmmaking and creativity. Filmmakers worldwide are invited to submit original short films of up to 15 minutes, covering car culture, cinematography, animation, artificial intelligence and motorsport. As the official title partner, Dunlop will help expand the festival’s international footprint, rooted in shared values of innovation, performance and storytelling.

All 12 judges have already cast their votes for this year’s winners. The award ceremony and party for the International Auto Film Festa - Powered by DUNLOP will take place on 25 April in Tokyo’s Roppongi district.

Yoshiyuki Shimizu, Founder, IAFF, said, “We are truly honoured to welcome Dunlop, a global brand, as our title partner. IAFF is not merely a short movie competition but a new cultural platform where automobiles and cinema merge. With Dunlop's strong support, we are confident that, together with creators and their works from around the world, we can vividly portray the future of automotive culture from Japan, a major automotive nation.”

Akito Makino President and CEO, Dunlop Tire Corporation, said, “Dunlop supports the International Auto Film Festa, which aims to showcase the appeal and potential of automotive culture through film, and has decided to sponsor this film festival. As a company that supports the evolution of mobility and the emotions of people, we will continue to contribute to the development of diverse values and culture surrounding automobiles.”

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Pirelli has announced a technical update for the Moto2 class ahead of the World Championship’s European season opener this weekend in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. The Italian tyre manufacturer will supply riders with a new rear development tyre designated F0192. This specification shares the same structural design as the existing supersoft SCX but introduces an alternative compound aimed at enhancing wear resistance and delivering more consistent performance over race distances.

Following its initial rollout at the United States Grand Prix, the standard supersoft SCX remains available for this round, enabling Moto2 competitors to conduct a direct back‑to‑back comparison with the new compound variant. Both rear supersoft options may be paired with the standard soft SC1 and medium SC2 front tyres. With the addition of the development tyre, each intermediate class rider will have access to up to ten rear tyres across the weekend.

For the Moto3 category, the championship’s entry class will rely on proven, reliable solutions. Riders will use the soft SC1 and medium SC2 compounds for both front and rear positions. These specifications have a successful track record in Jerez, as demonstrated last year when José Antonio Rueda claimed victory with a medium SC2 front and a soft SC1 rear.

Giorgio Barbier, Pirelli Motorcycle Racing Director, said, “On the occasion of the Spanish GP, scheduled for this weekend at the Circuito de Jerez - Ángel Nieto, we have decided to provide Moto2™ riders with a new rear development specification, the F0192. Compared to the standard supersoft SCX, it retains the same structure but features a new compound. This solution should improve wear while also delivering more consistent performance over race distance.

“The Jerez circuit is an excellent testing ground for evaluating new soft solutions, as it does not have highly abrasive asphalt and, at this time of year, temperatures are usually warm enough to allow the use of particularly soft options. In addition to this new solution, riders will of course also have access to the standard SCX, enabling a direct comparison between the two tyres under the same track and weather conditions, providing us with the most accurate feedback possible. The supersoft was already used as a race tyre last year and proved well suited to the characteristics of this circuit, so it is simply a matter of understanding which of the two alternatives will be preferred by the riders.”

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The Tyre Recovery Association (TRA) has warned that UK’s circular economy goal will remain out of reach if waste tyre processing continues to move abroad. Environment Agency data shows enhanced verification measures introduced last October have a compliance rate below two percent, a figure the TRA described as deeply concerning. Without a fundamental shift in policy and enforcement, a closed-loop system cannot be realised.

Exporters are systematically ignoring the new rules. Of 4,189 waste tyre shipments since 1 October 2025, only 54 post-shipment forms were completed correctly, a compliance rate of just 1.3 percent. The vast majority of UK’s annual 300,000 tonnes of tyre exports end up at illegal batch pyrolysis plants in India. The TRA called this both an environmental failure and an economic loss, as the UK ships abroad the very feedstock needed to power its own circular economy.

While the UK treats waste tyres as a disposal problem, the domestic sector holds 150,000 tonnes of licensed but idle processing capacity. The TRA argued that with enforceable regulation and proper oversight, the industry could expand significantly, creating skilled jobs and generating high-value secondary materials at home instead of losing them overseas.

Shredding tyres reduces environmentally harmful disposal and unlocks new value streams. Shredded tyres are strategic feedstock for sustainable aviation fuel, advanced continuous pyrolysis, recovered carbon black for new tyre manufacturing and rubberised asphalt for long-life roads. The TRA urged immediate regulatory action to stop uncontrolled exports and activate dormant domestic processing capacity without further delay.

Peter Taylor OBE, Secretary General, Tyre Recovery Association, said, “The Environment Agency’s transparency is very welcome, but the figures are an indictment of those tyre export brokers who continue to operate without conscience. To see a compliance rate of just 1.3 percent is ultimately depressing, these measures are a long way off having any meaningful impact.

“New measures need to be introduced so that EA can fulfil their statutory duty; until then, the export chain simply continues to abuse their goodwill. We must face the hard reality. Shred is the only immediate route to a circular economy and sustainable future for British operators. Unless we mandate that tyres must be mechanically processed into shred before they leave our shores, we will continue to fuel pollution abroad while our domestic recycling assets wither.

“Our neighbours and competitors are realising the opportunity from secondary materials. We continue to export the UK’s future in the back of shipping containers, while the rest of the world builds a circular economy. If the UK does not move to a shred-only mandate, we will be left behind.”

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