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 was represented by its director, Shalva Akhvlediani, at the 4th IRF Europe & Central Asia Regional Congress & Exhibition, convened by the International Road Federation (IRF Global). The three-day gathering assembled specialists possessing international and regional expertise, alongside public and private sector delegates and researchers, to deliberate on pressing matters concerning road infrastructure development.

Sustainable, Smart and Safe Roads for Sustainable Economic Growth served as the congress's central theme. Akhvlediani took part in a session titled ‘Sustainable Road Infrastructure: Climate Risks, Emissions and Long-Term Efficiency’, which examined methods for reinforcing the resilience and sustainability of road infrastructure across its complete lifecycle, spanning planning, design, construction, maintenance and renewal.

Climate change adaptation, low-carbon materials, circular economy approaches and environmental efficiency featured among the session's principal subjects, together with solutions guaranteeing road infrastructure's durable, long-term performance. Akhvlediani shared Tegeta Green Planet's expertise and outlook, noting that the company's operations accord directly with circular economy principles by converting waste into resources and advancing responsible waste management.

Operating within Extended Producer Responsibility, Tegeta Green Planet occupies a significant role in Georgia's collection and management of specific waste streams, including used tyres, waste oils and automotive batteries. This practical experience illustrates how circular economy principles can be embedded in real business and infrastructure solutions. Congress discussions additionally addressed international experience exchange and practical approaches for strengthening infrastructure resilience, environmental efficiency and long-term durability.

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NEXEN TIRE has strengthened its Australian logistics footprint by opening a new distribution centre in Perth, Western Australia’s largest hub city. The move extends the company’s supply network beyond its existing east-coast bases in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, creating a more comprehensive nationwide distribution system.

The Perth facility is expected to improve product availability for dealers and consumers across Australia. By enhancing local inventory management, NEXEN TIRE aims to shorten logistics lead times and respond more quickly to shifts in market demand, thereby boosting its competitiveness in the fast-growing Australian market.

Beyond logistics, the tyre maker has introduced its Shop Branding programme to Australia, applying a unified visual identity to partner stores through signage, interiors and displays centred on its signature purple. NEXEN TIRE has also continued sports marketing efforts as an official sponsor of A-League club Sydney FC since the 2024/25 season, with the partnership running through the 2026/27 campaign beginning October 16.

Australia remains a strategic market for NEXEN TIRE, with its local subsidiary posting revenue growth of more than 50 percent year-on-year in the first half of this year, more than double the same period in 2024. Combining distribution expansion with locally tailored marketing, the company plans to deepen engagement with Australian consumers, drawing on expertise gained from supplying original equipment tyres to global premium automakers.

John Bosco (Hyeon Suk) Kim, CEO, NEXEN TIRE, said, "With the opening of this distribution centre, we have secured a foundation to supply our products more reliably beyond the east coast. We will strengthen both our distribution network and brand marketing to continue expanding our presence in the Australian market."

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TyreSafe, UK’s leading tyre safety charity, has entered into a new partnership with Mission Zero, a prominent quality standard within the road fleet sector. The collaboration is designed to help organisations enhance compliance, lower risk and advance shared goals for safer, cleaner and more responsible road transport.

Mission Zero offers a structured framework for fleets pursuing zero collisions, emissions and prohibitions, centred on a comprehensive legal compliance audit alongside recognised industry best practice. Its credentials are formally acknowledged across major infrastructure and transport programmes, including Transport for London’s Work-Related Road Risk requirements, HS2, Sizewell C, National Highways and CLOCS.

TyreSafe already collaborates with several of these bodies, including National Highways and CLOCS, reinforcing tyre safety’s place within broader fleet safety and compliance efforts. Its expertise has likewise gained national recognition, featuring in the government’s developing approach to work-related road safety and the creation of a National Work-Related Road Safety Charter.

Under the partnership, the two organisations will jointly assist fleet operators in recognising how effective tyre management supports safer vehicles, stronger compliance and reduced occupational road risk. Combining expertise, resources and industry engagement, they aim to help organisations build safer fleets, prevent incidents and foster a more sustainable road transport future, reflecting TyreSafe’s ongoing commitment to collaboration across the transport, enforcement and fleet sectors and to keeping tyre safety central to the journey towards Vision Zero.

Nick Caesari, CEO, Mission Zero, said, “Tyre safety is a fundamental part of managing risk within any fleet operation. Mission Zero is focused on helping organisations move beyond compliance and adopt a proactive approach to safety, and working with TyreSafe allows us to strengthen the guidance and support available to operators. Together, we can help businesses understand the important role that safe, well-maintained tyres play in preventing incidents and achieving their wider road safety goals.”

Stuart Lovatt, Chairman, TyreSafe, said, “We are pleased to partner with Mission Zero and support its ambition to help organisations achieve higher standards across fleet safety. Tyres are one of the most important safety-critical components on any vehicle, yet they are often overlooked as part of wider compliance and risk management strategies. By working with Mission Zero, we can help more operators recognise that effective tyre management is a vital part of achieving safer fleets and reducing work-related road risk.”

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Kuraray America, Inc. (KAI) demonstrated its community commitment through volunteer service and financial support at the 77th annual Pasadena Livestock Show & Rodeo. The Kuraray Foundation of America (KFA), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, contributed USD 5,000 to the event, funding local youth programmes.

Over the rodeo's nine-day run, eleven KAI employees dedicated more than 350 volunteer hours to health, safety and security operations. Leveraging their professional expertise, these volunteers identified and mitigated onsite risks, staffed the medical tent and worked behind the scenes to ensure a safe, well-organised experience for all attendees.

Beyond safety duties, KAI volunteers supported interactive educational exhibits highlighting the connections between industry, agriculture, and sustainability. These displays allowed families to explore the farm-to-table journey and understand how various industries contribute along the way. The rodeo's fundraising efforts extend far beyond the event itself, supporting college scholarships, livestock show awards, calf scramble programmes and other agricultural education opportunities for local students.

For KFA, the sponsorship represented more than financial backing – it was a chance to invest time, expertise and resources in an organisation dedicated to the Pasadena community throughout the year. KAI expressed gratitude to the rodeo for welcoming its team and recognised volunteers David Solo, Calvin Balch, Alex Berry, Dwight Brunner, Matt Callas, Eric McDaniel, Miguel Pompa, Zachary Reynolds, Chase Stewart, Richard Bass and Tyler Free for their service, reflecting the company's dedication to being an active partner in the communities where its employees live and work.

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