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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Hankook Tire has secured the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC) PLUS for its Jiaxing Plant in Zhejiang Province, China. This globally recognised voluntary certification verifies the sustainability of bio-based and recycled materials while ensuring full supply chain transparency. The certification imposes strict verification standards across every stage, from raw material sourcing and manufacturing to the final product output.

The Jiaxing facility’s achievement marks the company’s fourth ISCC PLUS certification. Hankook first earned the distinction for its Geumsan Plant in 2021, becoming the first in the tyre industry to do so. The Rácalmás Plant in Hungary followed in 2023, and the Daejeon Plant received certification in 2025. With this latest addition in China, Hankook has significantly expanded its sustainable manufacturing network across both Asia and Europe.

The Jiaxing Plant has enhanced its production capabilities by increasing the use of sustainable materials and optimising processes. It has established a stable system for products incorporating bio-based and recycled inputs, operating a quality management system based on the mass balance approach. Under its circular economy strategy named E.Circle, Hankook continues to raise the share of sustainable materials. For example, the iON evo tyre, supplied as original equipment for the Porsche Taycan, contains around 45 percent sustainable materials, while the iON GT for the European replacement market has raised that share to up to approximately 77 percent.

Hankook is also applying sustainable materials to tyres used in the FIA World Rally Championship and the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, reinforcing its technology leadership in global motorsports. Through open innovation with global partners, the company is advancing low-carbon raw materials. Its sustainability efforts have earned it inclusion in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices World and the highest EcoVadis rating. Looking ahead, Hankook plans to transform the Jiaxing Plant into a key sustainable manufacturing hub in China while continuously upgrading production systems across its global facilities to strengthen supply chain sustainability and ESG competitiveness.

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Giti Tire has marked 26 consecutive years of global motorsport involvement, using high‑pressure racing environments as a live testing ground for engineering innovation and tyre durability. The company’s long‑term commitment spans professional circuits and extreme off‑road terrain, driven by the principle that true performance depends on control, confidence and stability rather than power alone.

Strength combined with intelligence defines the Giti brand, symbolised by the elephant. On the racetrack, this philosophy translates into continuous refinement of tyre performance through every corner and every surface challenge, turning competition into a real‑world technology laboratory.

Over the past 26 years, Giti has competed in a wide range of international disciplines. Since 2009, the company has been a regular participant in the Giti 4x4 Extreme Series, where gruelling off‑road conditions push endurance and durability to their limits. These experiences have directly advanced all‑terrain and SUV tyre technologies.

For the past decade, Giti has also taken part in the legendary Nürburgring endurance races in Germany, one of the world’s most punishing circuits. Insights gained there have improved high‑speed stability, heat management, grip and wet‑weather handling. Giti’s presence extends across Asia and Europe through partnerships with professional racing teams and technical specialists.

Motorsport serves Giti as a catalyst for safer and smarter consumer tyres. Every challenge from desert heat to ice, gravel and rugged terrain accelerates research into durability and high‑speed performance. Technologies proven in racing are later adapted for everyday drivers, reinforcing the company’s focus on sustainability and continuous improvement.

Looking ahead, Giti remains committed to investing in engineering and global racing partnerships as automotive electrification and mobility needs evolve. To commemorate the 26‑year milestone, the company has released a special video highlighting key moments and technological achievements, underscoring that its motorsport journey is not simply about winning races but about pushing boundaries with resilience and precision. Click here  to watch the video.

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Kumho Tire USA has formalised a new long-term partnership with the Georgia Department of Veterans Service and the Georgia Veterans Service Foundation through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding. The agreement aims to serve approximately 680,000 veterans and their families across the state, uniting private industry, state government and a nonprofit organisation under a shared commitment to supporting those who have served in the military.

Under the newly established collaboration, Kumho Tire USA and the Georgia Veterans Service Foundation will work together to identify and deliver programmes designed to create meaningful impact for Georgia’s veteran community. While specific initiatives have yet to be announced, they will be revealed as the partnership continues to develop. The alliance reflects a sustained, active approach to veteran support rather than one-time gestures.

The partnership first drew public attention earlier this year during Kumho Tire Night at State Farm Arena, where Georgia Veterans Service Foundation representatives were honoured as Co-Captains before an Atlanta Hawks game against the Boston Celtics. That moment, occurring ahead of the NBA matchup, symbolised the mutual respect and recognition now codified in the formal agreement.

Edmund Cho, CEO, Kumho Tire USA, Inc, said, "At Kumho Tire USA, we believe that doing business in America means giving back to America. We are honoured to stand alongside the GVSF in this commitment, and we look forward to building something lasting together for Georgia's veterans."

Dr Patricia Ross, Ed.D. (Col, USAF Ret.), Commissioner, Georgia Department of Veterans Service, said, "Georgia's veterans have earned our unwavering support, and partnerships like this one are exactly how we deliver on that promise. We are proud to welcome Kumho Tire USA as a committed partner alongside GVSF, and we look forward to the meaningful work ahead for the veterans and families we serve across this state."

Joe Higgins, Board Chair, Georgia Veterans Service Foundation, said, "The Georgia Veterans Service Foundation exists to connect Georgia's veteran community with the resources and support they deserve, and that work is always stronger when the private sector steps forward as a true partner. We are grateful for Kumho Tire USA's commitment and excited about what this three-way collaboration will make possible."

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Sun Auto Tire & Service has expanded its Midwest footprint by acquiring the Main Street Tire & Auto location in Virden, Illinois. The transaction took effect immediately, and the newly acquired store will become part of the Sun Auto Network before rebranding under the Plaza Tire Service name.

Plaza Tire Service, a Midwest institution known as the ‘Quick Change Artist’ for more than six decades, will see its Illinois presence strengthened through this addition. The move broadens regional service coverage by integrating a trusted community shop with the extensive resources of a national network. Customers at the Virden location will continue to benefit from familiar local relationships while gaining access to enhanced operational support, advanced technology and customer-focused tools.

The Virden site offers a full range of automotive care, including major tyre brands backed by Sun Auto’s price match guarantee, alignments, brake service, oil changes, batteries, diagnostics and preventative maintenance. This acquisition marks the 16th Plaza Tire Service location in Illinois and supports Sun Auto’s ongoing expansion across key Midwest markets.

Rob Kingery, Regional Vice President, Operations, said "Virden represents an important opportunity to continue growing the Plaza Tire Service brand in Illinois. This location allows us to expand our reach while reinforcing the operational strength and consistency our network is known for."

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