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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Tegeta Green Planet recently took part in a two-day Circular Economy Hackathon at Senaki Tech Park, an initiative funded by the Georgia Innovation and Technology Agency (GITA). The gathering sought to connect the circular economy and waste management fields with technological innovation, with organisers working to pinpoint urgent industry challenges and craft workable technological solutions, prototypes and business models in response.

For Tegeta Green Planet, an Extended Producer Responsibility organisation, pursuing such technological routes matters greatly, since effective waste handling, resource reuse and the real-world application of circular economy principles call for up-to-date, intelligent technological methods and flexible systems. Team members contributed by joining a panel discussion, guiding participants through the project development stage, and finally choosing their preferred team.

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TyreSafe, UK’s leading tyre safety charity, has joined forces with Mat MacDonald, the West Midlands Road Safety Commissioner, in a bid to raise greater awareness of how tyres contribute to keeping road users safe. The collaboration draws on TyreSafe’s longstanding expertise in tyre safety education alongside MacDonald’s broader road safety remit.

MacDonald, the UK’s first Road Safety Commissioner, works with partners across the West Midlands to improve road safety and reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on the region’s roads. His wider background includes experience as an NHS doctor supporting victims of road collisions and a previous role as chair of Better Streets for Birmingham, a group established to campaign for safer and better connected public spaces in the city.

TyreSafe maintains that tyre safety must form an integral part of this work. Tyres are a vehicle’s only point of contact with the road, playing a critical role in braking, steering and grip, yet condition, pressure and tread depth can be overlooked by drivers, increasing the risk of collisions and breakdowns. Through the collaboration, both parties aim to reinforce the importance of tyre safety as part of a wider commitment to safer journeys and preventing avoidable harm.

The charity is encouraging every road user to follow its ACT approach, which covers air pressure, condition and tread. Drivers are advised to check pressures regularly in line with manufacturer recommendations, look for cuts, cracks, bulges, embedded objects and uneven wear, and ensure tread depth is legal and suited to the vehicle. Such checks should form part of routine maintenance, with professional advice sought if concerns arise. TyreSafe continues to promote practical steps through work with road safety organisations, emergency services, industry partners and public bodies.

MacDonald said, “Traffic collisions can change lives in an instant on our roads, wiping out futures and leaving behind unimaginable trauma for witnesses and survivors. Safe vehicles are one of the key pillars of the system we’re trying to create, in which no-one is killed or seriously injured as they travel. That’s why I’m so proud to be supporting TyreSafe’s work in this area, raising awareness of the risks associated with illegal or poorly maintained tyres and encouraging road users to take practical steps to ensure their vehicles are safe and roadworthy. Checking your tyres before you drive is a small act, but there’s no doubt it could prevent your journey from ending in a devastating tragedy.”

Stuart Lovatt, Chairman, TyreSafe, said, “We are delighted to be working with Mat MacDonald to strengthen the focus on tyre safety as a fundamental part of road safety. Tyres are often overlooked, despite being critical to a vehicle’s ability to brake, steer and maintain grip. Our aim is to make tyre safety an everyday consideration for every road user, rather than something people think about only when a problem arises. Partnerships are essential to reaching more people with clear, practical advice that can help change behaviour and reduce risk. By working together, we can reinforce the message that checking your tyres takes only a few minutes, but those checks could make all the difference.”

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FALKEN, a tyre brand under Dunlop Tyre Europe GmbH, has renewed its partnership with the International Handball Federation (IHF), extending its sponsorship to cover both the 2027 and 2029 IHF Men’s Handball World Championships. The agreement was brokered by SPORTFIVE, the IHF’s exclusive commercial agency for worldwide media and marketing rights through 2031.

The renewed deal continues a cooperation that began with the 2019 World Championship and persisted through the 2023 and 2025 tournaments. FALKEN served as official event partner for the 29th edition in 2025, gaining visibility through LED advertising boards and goal-area signage that reached millions of fans globally and reinforced its standing as a sporty upper mid-range tyre provider.

Shared values of precision, performance, reliability and the pursuit of excellence underpin the collaboration, qualities the brand describes as essential both on the handball court and on the road. The extension signals FALKEN’s commitment to international handball as a communications platform.

The 30th IHF Men’s World Championship will be held in Germany from 13 to 31 January 2027 across Munich, Stuttgart, Magdeburg, Kiel, Hannover and Cologne under the motto ‘Where Handball is Alive’. Through 2029, FALKEN aims to build long-term, authentic sporting partnerships and bring its brand values to a global audience.

Dr Hassan Moustafa, President, International Handball Federation (IHF), said, “I am pleased to confirm the continuation of our partnership with FALKEN for the IHF Men’s World Championships in 2027 and 2029. FALKEN has been part of our tournament for several years, and the extension of this partnership underlines our shared commitment to performance and excellence, values that define both our sport and the FALKEN brand. I would like to thank FALKEN for its continued trust in the IHF and in the Men’s World Championship and look forward to welcoming the brand back to our courts in Germany and again in France and Germany for the upcoming tournaments.”

Markus Bögner, Managing Director and President, Dunlop Tyre Europe GmbH, said, “Our shared values, the successful partnerships of previous years and the FALKEN brand’s deep roots in sport provide a strong foundation to continue our commitment. We are delighted to partner with the IHF Men’s Handball World Championships in 2027 and 2029 and look forward to the excitement and entertainment it brings fans. The extension of our partnership with the IHF enables us to further expand our presence on a global stage and connect with millions of enthusiasts all around the world.”

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Kumho Tire USA has marked a successful return to off-road racing in the 2026 season, with its three sponsored drivers securing multiple class podium finishes. Mark Duval, Stephen ‘Woody’ Rose Jr and Eric Wikle all competed on KUMHO Road Venture MT71 mud-terrain tyres, which are engineered for the varied terrain and harsh conditions of competitive off-road courses.

Duval, driving the #4810 entry, claimed the 4800 Class title in the Valley Off Road Racing Association Season Championship after winning all four events in the series. He completed the campaign without a single puncture on his KUMHO tyres. Rose, in the #22 vehicle, earned the Ultra4 Western Regional Series Championship in the 4800 Class, recording one victory and two fourth-place finishes across four demanding races.

Eric Wikle, piloting the #406 entry, took first place in the Rock800 Legends class at the 2026 Casey Folks Vegas to Reno race. He navigated the rigorous 505-mile Nevada desert course, which was run in reverse for the first time in the event's history, with racers competing for the quickest time from Reno to Las Vegas.

The Road Venture MT71 features increased block stiffness for enhanced on- and off-road handling, a high-void tread pattern with a zig-zag and dual-pitch design for maximum off-road traction and mud and stone ejector bars between the shoulder lugs to prevent damage and aid self-cleaning. The drivers' results demonstrate Kumho Tire's commitment to high performance and durability across its Road Venture light truck and SUV tyre range.

Ed Cho, CEO, Kumho Tire USA, said, “We are extremely proud of the success of our drivers this season, which is a testament to the strength and performance of our Road Venture MT71 tyres. Key product insights gathered from these races will be integrated into the next generation of all-terrain tyres to ensure that racing-grade innovations reach everyday drivers.”

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