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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DRC (Doctors of Rubber Compounding) is set to participate in the 2026 edition of Tire Technology Expo, a premier European event focused on tyre manufacturing materials and technology. The exhibition will take place in Hannover, Germany, from 3 to 5 March 2026.

Bringing over four and a half decades of expertise as a specialist custom compounder, DRC supplies advanced rubber compounds to tire producers worldwide. These formulations are designed for various tyre components, such as treads, sidewalls, innerliners and other technical parts. Beyond developing compounds and offering large-scale mixing capabilities, the company also manufactures semi-finished tyre-related goods, including calendered rubber and retreading materials. DRC provides comprehensive support throughout the entire process, from the initial formulation stage to final application, backed by in-house testing and scalable production to guarantee consistent quality, processing efficiency and supply reliability.

Attendees are invited to visit Stand C114 in Hall 20 to engage with the DRC team, explore custom compound development, address specific performance criteria for tyre materials and learn more about their full range of compounded and semi-finished products.

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Left Lane Auto, a tyre retail and automotive services provider based in Champaign, Illinois, has expanded its footprint through a new partnership with Don Foshay's Discount Tire & Alignment. The Maine-based business operates six locations offering comprehensive vehicle repair and maintenance and is the latest addition to Left Lane’s growing portfolio, which is backed by private equity firm Bertram Capital. The financial details of the deal have not been released.

Founded in 1982 by Don Foshay Sr with a single shop in South Portland, the company has since grown to include six locations and a team of more than 75 employees. Over the years, the business has earned multiple industry accolades while building a strong reputation under its established local brand. Its service offerings are extensive and include tyre sales and installation, wheel alignments, preventive maintenance, diagnostics, transmission work and repairs to exhaust, cooling and belt systems for a wide range of vehicles. The organisation has also invested in modern diagnostic and repair technology to support its commitment to dependable service.

This acquisition represents a significant milestone for Left Lane, bringing its total number of owned stores to over 80 since its inception in 2021. It also marks the first transaction completed following the strategic partnership announced between Left Lane and Bertram Capital in late 2025.

Parham Parastaran, CEO, Left Lane, said, "We are excited to have the opportunity to carry on the strong legacy and operation that the Foshay family has built in Maine, which will serve as a strong entry point into the state for our platform. We plan to retain all upper management and employees across all locations and are excited to continue to grow both the Don Foshay's brand and the broader Left Lane platform's presence across the New England area."

Don Foshay Jr said, "We had multiple buyers to pick from but found that Left Lane Auto was the best match for our team and our customers going forward. The further we've gotten into the transition, the happier we are with that decision."

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Sun Auto Tire & Service, one of the largest independent tyre and automotive service providers in US, has strengthened its position in Alabama by completing two acquisitions that add four service locations to its statewide network. One of the acquired businesses, Bay City Tire & Wheel, enhances the company’s Gulf Coast coverage and joins existing Alabama operations such as Fausak Tires and Vannoy's Tires under a unified platform. Known locally for its dependable and customer-focused approach, Bay City Tire & Wheel has built strong trust with drivers in its community.

The second acquisition includes Black’s Tire & Auto Save, comprising three shops in northeast and central Alabama. This purchase extends Sun Auto’s service footprint into new areas across the state and reinforces its broader strategy of expanding throughout the Southeast. Together, these additions increase Sun Auto’s ability to serve a wider range of customers while deepening its regional presence.

All newly acquired locations will function within the Sun Auto Network, gaining access to centralised systems, enhanced training and operational tools aimed at sustaining long-term success. At the same time, each shop will retain its local identity and continue delivering the personalised service that customers have come to expect. With more than 550 locations nationwide, Sun Auto continues to grow by supporting established local brands and upholding consistent service standards across all markets, helping drivers travel with confidence wherever they go.

Michael Loa, Regional Vice President, said, "We're proud to continue growing in Alabama and serving drivers across the state. By welcoming these respected companies and their teams into the Sun Auto Network, we're strengthening our ability to deliver consistent service standards and help more guests Drive Confidently throughout the Southeast."

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Hankook Tire has entered into a substantial long-term Pay as Nominated Power Purchase Agreement (PPA)with GoldenPeaks Capital, a rapidly expanding independent renewable energy producer in Europe. This strategic partnership marks a major advancement in bolstering renewable energy procurement and supporting the decarbonisation of Hungary's industrial landscape while also representing GoldenPeaks Capital's largest PPA undertaking in the country to date.

The decade-long accord will see GoldenPeaks Capital deliver a total of 430 GWh of electricity, derived from a 30 MWp photovoltaic installation in Hungary. This volume of clean power is sufficient to meet the annual electricity needs of approximately 28,700 residents and is projected to result in yearly CO₂ savings of around 10,107 metric tonnes. For Hankook Tire, this initiative is integral to its ongoing global sustainability strategy, directly contributing to its worldwide carbon reduction goals and underscoring its dedication to environmentally responsible manufacturing practices.

Recognised internationally for its superior tyres and advanced material innovation, Hankook Tire is progressively broadening its environmental efforts through the adoption of enduring renewable energy procurement strategies across its production sites. Guidance throughout the negotiation and implementation process was provided to Hankook Tire by World Kinect Energy. Concurrently, GoldenPeaks Capital continues to solidify its footprint in Central and Eastern Europe, dedicated to facilitating the sustainability ambitions of major industrial players like Hankook Tire through dependable, scalable and high-quality PPA frameworks.

Daniel Tain, Founder and President, GoldenPeaks Capital, said, “This PPA reflects another milestone within our full commitment to shape Hungary’s clean energy future. It also highlights our capability to deliver innovative and tailored renewable energy solutions, enabling industrial off takers to enhance energy budget certainty while accelerating their transition to green electricity.”

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