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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Ironman Tires, a brand owned by Hercules Tire and Rubber Company (HTR), a wholly owned subsidiary of American Tire Distributors, has unveiled the iMOVE Sport G2, a next generation all season ultra-high-performance tyre crafted for modern sport sedans, performance crossovers and select electric vehicles. This launch responds directly to shifting demands in the automotive market.

Building on the original iMOVE Gen2 A/S, the new model features an advanced tread compound, a refined tread pattern and better durability. It offers confident traction on both dry and wet roads, extended tread life and a quieter, more comfortable ride. Priced competitively, it helps dealers gain ground in the rapidly growing Tier 4 performance tyre segment. The asymmetrical tread layout balances precision handling with daily comfort, using large outer shoulder blocks for cornering stability and a continuous centre rib for straight line control. Strategically placed 3D siping and angled grooves push water away from the contact patch to improve wet and light snow traction, while a variable pitch tread sequence cuts road noise for commutes or long trips.

A new generation rubber compound reduces heat buildup and extends tread life by managing frictional heat and optimising rubber density, which also boosts fuel efficiency. The tyre is EV ready, designed to handle the higher torque and weight of electric vehicles. Available in 17 sizes for 18- to 21-inch rim diameters, 16 sizes will arrive by early May, with the first eight ready now. Several emerging sizes new to the Ironman lineup give dealers fresh sales opportunities.

Competitive pricing and dedicated merchandising support help dealers grow their share in the value-oriented performance tyre segment while maintaining strong inventory and fill rates. The iMOVE Sport G2 comes with a 5-year limited protection policy covering workmanship and materials, road hazard protection and a 50,000-mile (approximately 80,467-km) warranty.

Keith Calcagno, Chief Strategy Officer, Proprietary Brands, American Tire Distributors, said, “The ultra‑high‑performance tyre market has evolved rapidly as vehicles become more powerful and more refined and as demand grows for tyres that can meet the unique requirements of electric vehicles. The iMOVE Sport G2 delivers the performance drivers expect while helping dealers boost inventory flexibility and capture more market share.”

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GRP Ltd, a leading manufacturer of reclaimed rubber, engineering plastics and repurposed polyolefins, has announced the retirement of Virendra Rathod, President of Marketing and Business Development, effective 31 March 2026. Following his retirement, Rathod will no longer be part of the company’s senior management personnel, said the company in its BSE filing.

During a board meeting held on 27 March 2026, the directors formally took note of Rathod’s retirement and recorded their appreciation for his valuable contributions throughout his service with GRP Ltd. His departure marks the conclusion of a significant chapter in the company’s marketing and business development functions.

In a separate leadership change, Jyoti Sancheti has resigned from her role as Company Secretary and Compliance Officer, effective from the close of business on 7 April 2026 to pursue external opportunities. Consequently, she will also step down from additional responsibilities, including Compliance Officer under the SEBI Prohibition of Insider Trading Regulations, Nodal Officer under IEPF rules and the authorised person for determining event materiality and stock exchange disclosures under SEBI Listing Regulations.

GRP Ltd has confirmed that the process to appoint a new Company Secretary is underway and will be completed within the prescribed timeframe.

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Niutech Environment Technology Corporation (Niutech), a China-based company specialising in continuous pyrolysis technology for recycling waste tyres, plastics and oil sludge, marked a major milestone on 24 March 2026 as its majority owned subsidiary, Shandong Hesheng Environment Technology Co., Ltd., broke ground on a significant expansion. This project will add 100,000 tonnes of annual tyre pyrolysis capacity, raising Hesheng’s total processing volume from 60,000 to 160,000 tonnes per year. With this increase, Hesheng becomes the world’s largest operation for collecting, processing and comprehensively utilising scrap tyres through pyrolysis technology.

At the heart of this expansion is Niutech’s latest generation of high capacity, continuous intelligent pyrolysis equipment, which delivers better performance in per unit output, system reliability and automation compared to conventional designs. These improvements are expected to reduce operating costs per tonne and strengthen the overall financial viability of the project. Solving the challenge of large scale, uninterrupted commercial pyrolysis has long been a central goal for the industry. This project proves Niutech’s progress not only in advanced equipment development but also in making continuous pyrolysis practical for widespread industrial use.

On the product quality side, Hesheng has drawn on Niutech’s research capabilities to steadily improve the consistency and performance of its pyrolytic outputs. The tyre derived oil has already earned international certifications, giving it access to demanding global markets. At the same time, through ongoing technical innovation, the pyrolysis carbon black is being upgraded towards standardised, higher value applications. These efforts directly address customer needs for uniform quality, reliable handling and strong application specific performance.

With the circular economy gaining speed worldwide, major tyre producers, chemical companies and material buyers are seeking greater volumes of high-grade pyrolysis oil and carbon black. Once the expanded facility is online, Hesheng will be equipped to meet that demand with stable, large-scale supply of dependable recycled materials. Niutech has also stated that it will continue using its public company strengths in technology and capital to drive further equipment upgrades and broader deployment of pyrolysis systems, supporting global waste tyre recycling and low carbon development.

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Sun Auto Network has expanded its footprint in Southern Indiana and the Greater Louisville market with Carmerica in Sellersburg, Indiana, officially becoming part of the network on 6 April 2026. This integration strengthens Sun Auto’s regional presence while bringing new resources to the local shop. Carmerica will retain its full range of automotive services, including tyre replacement, alignments, brake work, oil changes and preventative maintenance, ensuring that loyal customers continue receiving the same trusted care.

Under Sun Auto’s guidance, Carmerica now benefits from enhanced tools such as round the clock online appointment scheduling and digital vehicle inspections. These additions are backed by Sun Auto’s Driver Commitment, which emphasises clarity, confidence and genuine customer care. The acquisition reflects Sun Auto’s broader growth strategy of partnering with established operators in markets with strong long-term potential and easy customer access.

With over 575 locations nationwide, Sun Auto Network stands as one of the largest independent tyre and automotive service platforms in the country. By combining trusted local brands like Carmerica with the scale and support of a national organisation, Sun Auto continues to build a network rooted in both community reputation and operational excellence.

Rob Kingery, Regional Vice President, said, "This acquisition reflects a disciplined approach to expanding in high-opportunity regional markets where we can build density and deliver a consistent, high-quality experience. Sellersburg helps us deepen our presence in Southern Indiana and better support drivers throughout the Greater Louisville area."

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