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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Building upon the foundation of their joint venture, UniPyrum, Pyrum Innovations AG and UNITANK Holding GmbH are advancing their collaboration into a concrete implementation phase. A key milestone has been reached with the signing of a high six-figure engineering and consulting agreement between Pyrum and UniPyrum, which also serves as the joint venture's inaugural order. This contract, for which an initial payment has already been made, focuses on the approval process and basic engineering for the partnership's first tyre recycling plant. The selected site is an existing UNITANK tank farm in Emleben, Thuringia, a location chosen for its excellent logistical access and established infrastructure.

This facility in Emleben represents the initial project within a broader vision to develop five to 10 such plants across Germany and Europe. The UniPyrum management team has begun its strategic work, securing preliminary funding and holding meetings to coordinate operational steps and site development. A primary focus of this early phase is the systematic identification and evaluation of strategic locations for subsequent projects.

To propel the ambitious pipeline forward, the venture's immediate priorities include selecting sites for the next two German plants and commencing the requisite planning and approval procedures. To manage this expansion effectively, UniPyrum plans to recruit specialised personnel, ensuring that the development of all projects progresses both efficiently and on schedule. This structured approach marks a significant transition from planning to active execution for the partnership.

Pascal Klein, CEO, Pyrum Innovations AG, said, “With the signing of the engineering contract, we are setting a decisive milestone together with UNITANK for the implementation of our first joint venture plant in Europe. The plant in Emleben is another driver of our growth strategy in Germany and lays the foundation for the widespread introduction of our pioneering recycling technology and the supply of system-critical raw materials produced from waste to Europe.”

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Tyres Europe has announced that Brisa and Marangoni have become Full Members of the association, strengthening the European tyre manufacturing industry's collective presence.

Commenting on the development, Livio Magni, President, Tyres Europe, said, “We are pleased to welcome Brisa and Marangoni to Tyres Europe. Their joining reflects the importance of a strong and united industry voice at the European level, particularly at a time of increasing regulatory complexity and transformation for the tyre sector.”

Adam McCarthy, Secretary General, Tyres Europe, said, “The joining of Brisa and Marangoni reinforces the diversity and expertise within Tyres Europe, particularly in retreading and circular economy solutions. We look forward to working closely together on key EU policy files affecting competitiveness, sustainability and innovation in the tyre industry.”

Cenk Koçdor, Chief Growth Officer, Brisa, said, “Being part of such an influential platform that shapes the future of the industry at both European and global levels always makes us happy and proud. Through this full membership, we will contribute to the dialogue on regulations and market dynamics while strengthening our market intelligence to deliver greater value for our customers. With our capabilities, we will help reinforce the strategic role of tyres within a sustainable mobility ecosystem and support the industry’s readiness for the future.”

Vittorio Marangoni, President, Marangoni, said, “We are proud to regain our status as a Full Member and look forward to contributing to the European tyre industry during this challenging period. We will also be happy to share with Tyres Europe our specific expertise in the circular economy of tyres.”

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Toyo Tires has once again been recognised for its commitment to sustainability through its inclusion in several prominent ESG investment indices. This marks the seventh consecutive year the company has been selected as a constituent of the FTSE4Good Index Series, a global benchmark for strong environmental, social and governance practices. Furthermore, Toyo Tires continues to be listed on the FTSE JPX Blossom Japan Index for the sixth year and the FTSE JPX Blossom Japan Sector Relative Index for the fourth year, both of which highlight leading Japanese companies in ESG performance.

These indices, created by FTSE Russell, employ rigorous evaluation criteria across areas such as climate change, corporate governance, health and safety and anti-corruption. The FTSE JPX Blossom Japan Index identifies top ESG performers from the Tokyo Stock Price Index (TOPIX), while the Sector Relative Index provides a sector-neutral view, emphasising companies with relatively strong ESG engagement within their industries and a demonstrated commitment to the low-carbon transition.

This ongoing recognition stems from Toyo Tires’ foundational Sustainability Management Policy, which positions ESG at the core of all corporate activities. The company is dedicated to the integrated advancement of its business objectives and its sustainability initiatives. Through this approach, Toyo Tires strives to foster a sustainable mobility society on a global scale.

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Linglong Tire organised the Linglong Winter Experience 2026 in the Austrian Alps in early February. This event gathered nearly 40 European tyre retailers for a comprehensive programme blending professional driving with product immersion. Nestled at 1,030 metres in Salzburger Land, the scenic Stegergut winter driving park provided the ideal terrain. Its challenging handling courses, expansive dynamic areas and circular tracks formed the perfect proving ground.

Guided by expert instructors, participants took the wheel of Toyota GR Yaris and GR Supra models, chosen specifically for their drift capabilities. Embracing the playful spirit of ‘one more drift’, the agenda focused on refining advanced driving techniques and mastering controlled drifts on the icy circuits. Over 120 kilometres of driving allowed every attendee to push their limits, hone vehicle control and indulge a passion for performance driving. Each training car was equipped with the new Linglong Sport Master Winter tyre in size 225/40 R18 92W. This model marks a milestone as the first Linglong tyre developed in Germany and manufactured solely in Europe, following its ‘good’ rating from the respected German publication auto motor und sport last autumn.

Beyond the adrenaline-fuelled driving, the experience included a detailed workshop showcasing Linglong’s latest products and upcoming marketing strategies. The schedule was balanced with traditional Alpine hospitality, featuring a serene horse-drawn sleigh ride through snowy vistas and a hearty meal in a classic mountain hut.

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