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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Sri Trang Agro-Industry Public Company Limited (STA) was among 16 industrial organisations recognised for climate action during a recent Bangkok seminar. The event, held on 18 August 2026 at the Thailand Institute of Justice, marked the conclusion of the ‘Project to Promote Greenhouse Gas Emission Target Setting for the Industrial Sector towards Net Zero using the Science Based Target Approach (Phase 3)’, organised by the Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization and Thammasat University's Center of Excellence in Energy Efficiency.

STA participated in developing a Net Zero Pathway aligned with updated certification criteria. The sustainability team shared insights on embedding Net Zero objectives into operations, highlighting management and employee roles in advancing the environmental agenda. A formal certificate was presented to Dr Saranthinee Mongkolratthe, the company's Sustainability Division Manager.

STA targets a 23 percent reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030 from a 2024 baseline, aiming for Net Zero by 2050. Initiatives include energy efficiency improvements, renewable energy adoption and emission reduction plans across factory and group levels. Digital technology and artificial intelligence are deployed for carbon management, enabling performance monitoring and data analysis to support long-term decisions.

STA is also developing low-carbon natural rubber throughout its supply chain to meet global demand for sustainable products. The company's project involvement and recognition demonstrate its commitment to translating targets into action, positioning the business for low-carbon growth while contributing to Thailand's national sustainability objectives.

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Titan International is set to deliver a comprehensive experience for attendees at the 2026 Farm Progress Show, running from 1 to 3 September 2026. At Booth #24S, the company will showcase its extensive portfolio of off-highway tyres and tracks, offer exclusive savings opportunities and provide interactive tools designed to help farmers evaluate the financial benefits of its Low Sidewall Technology. The booth will also serve as a hub for meeting prominent agricultural personalities and supporting future farming leaders through a charitable initiative.

Visitors to the Titan booth can take advantage of a promotional offer providing USD 200 off a qualifying tyre purchase of USD 1,000 or more. Company representatives will be on-site to discuss eligible brands and products and to assist with the redemption process. Additionally, farmers are invited to use the interactive LSW Payback Calculator to assess the potential return on investment for their specific operations. Titan notes that in most scenarios, these tyres can pay for themselves in less than 18 months.

The booth will feature appearances by well-known figures from the agricultural and racing worlds. NASCAR driver and eighth-generation watermelon farmer Ross Chastain is scheduled to appear on Wednesday from 9 am to 12 pm, offering attendees a chance to see his racecar and discuss his farm's use of Titan and Goodyear tyres. Throughout the show, social media personalities will also be present, including the Welker Family and Cole the Cornstar, who will showcase their equipment and discuss their experiences with Titan products.

A highlight of the show will be the first-ever Farm Progress After Hours event on 2 September. Hosted in partnership with Van Wall Equipment and John Deere at Booth #24S, the evening will feature a concert by Iowa country artist Jason Brown and a pyrotechnic drone light show. The event is included with show admission and will commence after the exhibition booths close for the day.

Titan is reinforcing its commitment to rural communities through a tyre raffle benefiting Iowa FFA chapters. Attendees can purchase raffle tickets from FFA students at the booth for a chance to win a set of four tyres, with winners able to choose from Carlstar, Titan or ITP branded products. Proceeds from the raffle will be distributed to participating Iowa FFA chapters, supporting the next generation of agricultural leaders.

As a one-stop shop for off-highway wheel and tyre solutions, Titan will display products from its family of brands, including Goodyear Farm Tires, Carlstar and ITP. With over 40 product lines and 100 tyres on display, the booth aims to provide solutions for various equipment needs.

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PT Bridgestone Tire Indonesia (Bridgestone Indonesia), a subsidiary of Japan’s Bridgestone Corporation, marked its golden anniversary with a formal ceremony in Jakarta on 24 August. The event served as a platform to acknowledge the critical role played by various partners and stakeholders in the company’s five-decade journey within the nation.

The commemorative gathering was honoured by the presence of Minister of Trade Budi Santoso, alongside representatives from the Indonesian government, the automotive industry association GAIKINDO and a broad network of clients and business associates. This assembly of industry leaders underscored the strong collaborative ecosystem that has been fundamental to the company's operations.

Bridgestone’s operational history in Indonesia dates back to 1976 with the establishment of its first production facility in Bekasi. The subsequent opening of a second plant in Karawang in 1999, which includes a global-standard proving ground, significantly enhanced production capacity and technical capabilities to meet rising domestic and regional demand. Presently, the company serves diverse market segments, including passenger, commercial and specialty tyres, by integrating global manufacturing standards with local market insights.

Looking ahead, Bridgestone Indonesia is intensifying its commitment to advanced technologies and sustainable mobility, exemplified by the 2026 local supply of B-Silent tyres for a global automaker’s electric vehicles. Building on its robust local research, design and manufacturing foundation, the company aims to further leverage its global network to deliver safer and more efficient solutions. As a key market for Bridgestone Corporation, which operates in over 150 countries, Indonesia remains central to the company’s regional strategy, with a steadfast focus on fostering long-term value for the nation's economy and automotive sector.

Budi Santoso, Minister of Trade of the Republic of Indonesia, said, "We extend our appreciation and congratulations on Bridgestone's 50th anniversary in Indonesia. We are highly receptive to future investment and collaboration opportunities involving Indonesian investors and Bridgestone. The Government of Indonesia remains open to receiving ongoing input and engaging in strategic discussions aimed at strengthening domestic market dynamics, maximising global export opportunities and advancing investment policy proposals.”

Nobuyuki Tamura, Member of the Board, Representative Executive Officer, EAST CEO, Bridgestone Corporation, said, "As Bridgestone Indonesia celebrates its 50th anniversary, we are proud of the strong foundation built together with our employees, customers and partners over the past five decades and deeply grateful to all of our stakeholders for their longstanding trust and support. Indonesia is both an important market and a strategic manufacturing and export base within Bridgestone's global network. Guided by our unchanging Mission, 'Serving Society with Superior Quality’, we remain committed to growing together with Indonesia and creating greater value for customers and society in the decades ahead."

Mukiat Sutikno, Managing Director, Bridgestone Indonesia, said, "Over the past five decades, Bridgestone Indonesia has grown alongside the country's automotive industry, supported by the trust of our customers, partners and communities. As we look ahead, we will build on this strong foundation by deepening our local capabilities, responding to the evolving needs of the market and delivering solutions that make mobility safer, more efficient and more sustainable. Our commitment to Indonesia remains as strong as ever, and we look forward to continuing this journey together with our stakeholders.”

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The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. has initiated the full-scale deployment of a proprietary generative artificial intelligence system, which became operational in August 2026. This advanced platform employs Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) technology to sift through the company’s extensive internal repository of technical documentation. The primary objective is to furnish development engineers with rapid and precise access to critical information, thereby streamlining decision-making processes in areas such as material innovation and tyre design.

This system represents a significant expansion of Yokohama Rubber’s existing HAICoLab AI framework, first established in October 2020. While the company had previously introduced AI tools for predicting rubber properties, generating novel compounds and assisting mould design, a persistent challenge remained in efficiently navigating the vast collection of regulatory texts, manuals, reports and case studies that constitute essential domain knowledge. The new generative AI system was developed specifically to address this gap, enabling swift retrieval of pertinent data aligned with specific development goals.

In practice, engineers pose questions tailored to their project’s specific context and the AI searches for the most relevant information from internal records to formulate its answers. To further refine accuracy, an integrated AI agent interprets the user’s intent and autonomously cycles through planning, information retrieval and evaluation steps. Moreover, the system provides direct links to the original source documents, allowing staff to confirm the validity of the AI-generated responses and incorporate them into their analytical and strategic work. This functionality effectively integrates accumulated technical knowledge into the HAICoLab-driven development environment.

Concurrent with these technological advancements, Yokohama Rubber is actively cultivating digital transformation personnel proficient in utilising the HAICoLab platform. The company remains committed to enhancing the system’s capabilities and leveraging its internal data and intellectual assets to foster the creation of innovative products, processes and services moving forward.

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