Smart mobility is as relevant as ever, with growing urbanisation rates in almost all countries across the globe. But the concept isn’t new. At least I recall reading about the future of driving when I was very young, and a university project concluded that in the future, cars would be able to connect to each other and slide onto some sort of rail system when driving on the highway, so nobody would have to worry about steering or speeding when covering the long stretches of the journey. Not surprising, the project couldn’t have been more wrong in its conclusion. But why didn’t it work? It would have reduced accidents, pollutant emissions, road wear and maintenance costs, and it would have probably been quite easy to develop guiding chips and software to let cars in and out of the chain.

Well, the answer is simple, and is proven by the fact that car sales are still going up worldwide in spite of an ever-growing range of alternative transportation methods available to the buyers: freedom. As global wealth keeps increasing, all societies can recognize that the first luxury people growing out of poverty take is to buy a car, in many cases even before considering taking out a mortgage to buy a house. Why do they do that? Obviously to signal their increased wealth to the people around them (it’s harder to show if your house is bought or rented), but also to enjoy the freedom of being able to go exactly where they want to go and when. In these corona times being able to move about without bumping into others in public transportation is of course also an important factor. If this wasn’t the case, car sales would be dropping rapidly. Public transportation is cheaper, if you compare it to total cost of ownership of a car it’s easy math, and in many cases it’s also faster and easier. Plus, you can be productive getting some work done or enjoying a good rest when you don’t have to sit at the wheel in a traffic jam.

For those who care about global warming and reducing the environmental impact, there’s even further incentive to get rid of the car, but still, this is not what we see in the new car sales figures – although you could argue that some people buy a new car because it pollutes less than the old one.

Bicycles

With all the new technology, it will be very interesting to see how smart mobility will be implemented in cities across the globe, and if it will change the trend for good. After all, it’s be big cities with massive population numbers that will make a difference for the planet. If we look at a city like Copenhagen, it has for many years focused on being the world’s best city to ride a bicycle in, and it has implemented many innovative structures allowing cyclists to zip from one place to another in a matter of minutes with minimal need to stop along the way. Some places bridges have been built just to cater to cyclists. No doubt you can get around faster and cheaper in Copenhagen if you ride a bike than by any other means of transportation.

Another thing that is becoming increasingly interesting in the big cities is the drone technology, now we have seen Chinese firefighters putting out high-rise fires using drones controlled from the ground, and many places they have also begun working as parcel or food delivery agents. But is there a viable case to argue that we will all be flying in private drone vessels instead of driving in cars in the coming decade? I wouldn’t bet my money on it. First of all, it would take long until the general public would trust a drone manufacturer enough to not fear dropping to the ground or being flung into a building or another drone mid-air at any moment. Second of all, they would most definitely run on electricity, which we know from electric cars means very heavy batteries and/or short operation times. Probably in colder regions you would also struggle with much lower performance during winter, and possibly weather conditions not allowing them to take off.

That’s another nightmare scenario – to be caught in a thunderstorm or hailstorm up in the air.

Naturally, the ultimate challenge would be that everyone would basically need to have a pilot license to operate them, and air traffic control would be an entirely new concept in this scenario. We have all seen movies like Stars Wars or The Fifth Element where flying vehicles somehow get into invisible lanes and layers, but it’s hard to see how that can go from fiction to reality.

Urban hubs

So, how can consumers most likely have their desire for freedom fulfilled within a smart mobility concept? Most likely by creating urban hubs or city line parking facilities, so it’s easy to take the car to, from, or between cities, but not inside them. At these hubs, you would park the car and jump on the next shuttle to anywhere in the city, or even ride a bike that you brought with you. Designing these hubs, along with ample green areas in the cities, is the only way that any city planner can create the grounds for real smart mobility, and not take people’s freedom away from them. Then the only thing left is to address the issue of the environmental impact caused by passenger cars, both combustion engine emissions and tyre pollution from wear during use and waste management at end of tyre life.

Tyre manufacturers don’t seem to be making huge changes to the technology yet, except for a few innovative products like the Michelin Tweel – and the ultimate challenge is of course that the vehicle so far has to be in contact with the road surface to move and handle satisfactorily. It’s hard to imagine any tyre concept where rubber against the road surface isn’t involved, and it’s also hard to imagine any tyre manufacturer supporting such a project, given the massive investments they have in their production equipment, which isn’t easy to readjust to put out something else. Well, at least not any serious manufacturer – there was a Chinese plant that stopped producing tyres this year to start producing face masks instead because of corona demand, but that probably says something about the quality of both products coming out of that factory, and it makes me very interested in reading their mission statement.

Ultimately, for tyre manufacturers to start investing in any game changing product development, we would have to see a development like we have seen with British Tobacco actually advertising against smoking – which is very much in line with the trends of the day but doesn’t seem rational from a business perspective. So, to conclude, I’ll venture a bet that we won’t see any drastic changes in how much smarter our mobility options will become until we either see a scenario that will allow people to experience the same level of freedom as owning a car, drastically reducing the environmental impact from driving and tyre waste, and/or creating cities where it utterly doesn’t make any sense to drive instead of hopping on the city’s smart mobility system, whatever that might turn out to be.

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Citira has announced the acquisition of A&P Gustavsson Däck i Småland, a well-established tyre shop in Tingsryd, Småland. This transaction adds a key service point in the region and significantly strengthens Citira’s presence across southern Sweden.

Founded in 1985, A&P Gustavsson Däck has built a lasting reputation over four decades through high-level service for both heavy vehicles and passenger cars. Anders Gustavsson, who joined the business in 1985, became Shop Manager in 1995 and took full ownership in 2008, shaping the shop into a trusted local institution. His deep community ties have made the business a valued presence beyond just tyre services. Following the transaction, Anders will become a co-owner of Citira.

Linus Engberg, an employee since 2013, will assume the role of Shop Manager after the deal closes, ensuring continuity in daily operations and service standards. The shop will remain at the same premises with the same team, now backed by Citira’s resources and network to support further growth.

David Boman, CEO, Citira, said, "We are very pleased to welcome Anders, Linus and the team to Citira. The tyre shop has an impressive history and a genuinely strong local presence. That kind of trust, built over many years, is exactly what we look for when growing our network. We look forward to supporting the continued development of the business in Tingsryd and the surrounding region.”

Gustavsson said, "Joining Citira is the right next step for the business. It has been a privilege to serve this community for so many years, and I am confident that with Linus leading the team and with Citira's backing, the tyre shop will continue to thrive and deliver the service our customers deserve.”

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The Tire Recycling Foundation (TRF) has officially announced the finalists for its first-ever Circle of Change Awards, a national programme designed to honour individuals, organisations and teams advancing tyre recycling and circular economy leadership. The winners are scheduled to be revealed on 14 May 2026, during the Tire Recycling Conference Awards Luncheon in Denver, Colorado. This year’s conference carries the theme ‘Tread Boldly: Advancing Tire Recycling Through Collective Innovation’.

The pool of finalists spans state-led programmes that have developed scalable and self-sustaining markets for recycled tyres, as well as engineering breakthroughs integrating tyre-derived materials into roads, stormwater systems and urban redevelopment projects. Collectively, these nine initiatives illustrate the expanding innovation and rising demand for tire-derived products across United States.

The awards are structured into four distinct categories, each addressing a critical component of tyre circularity. These include tyre recycling processes, the design and manufacturing of recycled materials, market development for those materials and the complete end-of-life tyre value chain. Together, the finalist projects underscore the creativity and positive momentum shaping the domestic recycled tyre industry.

In the Circular Economy Trailblazer Award category, Colorado and North Carolina were recognised. Colorado has utilised a waste tyre rebate programme and market-development grants to reduce stockpiles and illegal dumping while boosting demand for tyre-derived fuel and moulded products. North Carolina implemented a legislative model that stabilises upstream recycling reimbursements for counties and expands incentives for rubber-modified asphalt applications.

The Innovation in End-Use Technology Award features three honourees. Bolten & Menk constructed a stormwater best management practice system using 210,000 recycled tyres for the city of Woodbury, Minnesota. LHB Engineering and the St. Paul Port Authority applied 30,000 cubic yards of tyre-derived aggregate in underground stormwater retention to redevelop the former Midway Stadium brownfield site. Liberty Tire Recycling, partnering with Atlanta DOT, the University of Georgia, and The Ray, launched an asphalt heat-island pilot to improve pavement durability and study climate and equity benefits in an urban corridor.

For Market Development Excellence, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources leveraged rubber-modified asphalt to resurface park roads and parking areas, creating consistent material demand. A Michigan multi-partner effort led by EGLE has scaled recycled tyre applications from pilot projects to hundreds of lane-miles through advanced specifications and coordinated research.

The Value Chain Collaboration Award recognised Bolder Industries and Pirelli Tire LLC for a traceable closed-loop system converting scrap tyres into certified recovered carbon black for new tyre production, alongside Phibro rCB for restarting an idle pyrolysis facility and qualifying recycled materials for tyre manufacturing. An independent panel of industry experts scores all entries based on innovation, measurable impact, scalability and category alignment, with honouree mentions possible at the judges’ discretion.

Stephanie Mull, Executive Director, Tire Recycling Foundation, said, “At the heart of tyre recycling is a simple but powerful challenge: reframe waste from an endpoint into a catalyst for societal value. This year’s nominees show how far we’ve come in turning end‑of‑life tyres into valuable materials that strengthen infrastructure, support communities and protect the environment and remind us that important work still lies ahead.”

Dick Gust, President, Tire Recycling Foundation Board, said, "The Circle of Change Awards recognise bold action and innovation. We honour the innovators, state leaders and collaborators demonstrating that tyre recycling unlocks real solutions and transformation. Each finalist exemplifies what’s possible when visionary action aligns with smart policy and sustained commitment.”

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Prinx Chengshan has introduced its latest ultra-high-performance tyre, the Austone Meijie, through a charity test-drive event held in Kunming on 26 and 27 April. Centred on the theme ‘Cherish Every Moment with Love’, the initiative brought together dealers and store representatives to blend cutting-edge tyre technology with social responsibility. The new tyre was highlighted throughout as the group embarked on a mountainous journey focused on rural education support.

The charity effort targeted left-behind children, addressing both educational and daily needs as part of Prinx Chengshan’s broader corporate social responsibility commitments. Volunteers travelled to Jibi Primary School in Zhongshu Town, Luxi County, where 80 percent of students are boarders and nearly half of all families come from poverty-registered or low-income households. The convoy delivered stationery kits, sports equipment and backpacks to fill resource gaps at the campus.

Beyond material aid, the event fostered personal connections and emotional warmth, with the Austone brand philosophy of cherishing every moment put into practice. The new tyre played a key role in safeguarding the journey across city streets, highways and winding mountain roads. Participants gained direct experience of the Austone Meijie’s handling, durability and comfort throughout the convoy’s travels.

Professional test-drive sessions at Kunming Yujia Auto & Motor Sports Park further demonstrated the new tyre’s capabilities. In dry braking tests, the Austone Meijie delivered confident control and immediate response. The tyre’s high-grip tread compound and wide longitudinal grooves tackled wet surfaces by ensuring stable lane changes even through standing water. The new tyre provided unwavering lateral support and precise steering throughout the journey.

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The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company reported a net loss of USD 249 million for the first quarter of 2026, as weaker consumer demand and higher raw material costs weighed on performance across key markets.

The US tyre manufacturer posted net sales of USD 3.9 billion for the quarter, down from USD 4.3 billion a year earlier, while tyre unit volumes fell to 34 million from 38.5 million.

Goodyear reported a loss of USD 0.86 per share, compared with net income of USD 115 million, or USD 0.40 per share, in the same period last year. Adjusted net loss widened to USD 112 million from USD 11 million a year earlier.

“The first quarter reflected a challenging environment, marked by weak consumer industry demand in both OE and replacement across the majority of our key geographies,” said Mark Stewart, Chief Executive and President of Goodyear.

“Despite a weak environment, our first quarter results were in line with our expectations and reflect our commitment to drive value for our brands in the marketplace, where we offer world-class differentiated products and services.”

Stewart said rising raw material costs linked to the conflict in the Middle East and continued pressure on industry demand would require further action to strengthen the company’s cost structure.

Segment operating income fell to USD 95 million from USD 195 million a year earlier. The decline reflected lower volumes and inflationary pressures, partly offset by benefits from the company’s Goodyear Forward restructuring programme, favourable price and raw material mix, and a tariff-related adjustment.

The Americas business reported first-quarter sales of USD 2.1 billion, down 17.5 percent from the previous year. Replacement tyre volumes declined 23.2 percent amid weak market conditions in North America, increased promotional activity and the planned rationalisation of lower-tier products.

Segment operating income in the Americas fell to USD 37 million from USD 155 million a year earlier.

In Europe, the Middle East and Africa, net sales rose 6.7 percent to USD 1.4 billion, supported by currency movements and price mix, despite lower tyre volumes and the sale of the Dunlop brand. Segment operating income improved to USD 1 million from a loss of USD 5 million in the prior year.

Asia Pacific reported sales of USD 455 million, down 4 percent from a year earlier due to weaker original equipment demand in China. However, segment operating income rose to USD 57 million from USD 45 million, supported by pricing and restructuring benefits.

Goodyear said its Goodyear Forward transformation programme delivered USD 107 million in benefits during the quarter.

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