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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Continental has significantly broadened its Gravity mountain bike tyre lineup by introducing 13 new combinations, thereby offering riders extensive customisation options for aggressive trail riding, enduro racing and downhill disciplines.

The expanded portfolio now includes novel size, casing and compound pairings for the Argotal, Kryptotal Front, Kryptotal Rear and Xynotal models. Additional Trail Soft and Enduro SuperSoft variants are available for 29-inch and 27.5-inch wheels, while the trusted mixed-conditions tread remains accessible for 20-, 24- and 26-inch sizes.

This strategic enlargement underscores Continental’s dedication to providing gravity riders with tailored flexibility in balancing grip, control, durability and rolling efficiency. The Enduro casing with SuperSoft compound offers peak traction for demanding trails, whereas the Trail casing with Soft compound delivers a stable and durable option for aggressive riding.

Alexander Haenke, Product Manager for MTB & Gravel at Continental Tires, said, “MTB riders have very different needs depending on where and how they ride. With these 13 new tyre combinations, we are giving riders even more ways to find the perfect balance of grip, control and durability for their individual setup. Whether they are racing enduro, pushing their limits on technical trails or simply looking for maximum confidence on the descents, our expanded Gravity range offers the performance and flexibility they need.”

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AZuR partner Hofdmann Runderneuerungstechnik GmbH, based in Wittmund, has announced a significant expansion of its operational capabilities. The company, already well-known for its cold retreading services, is now integrating hot retreading for truck tyres into its production portfolio. This development follows the recent extension of the firm’s ECE R109 approval, and the first batches of hot-retreaded commercial vehicle tyres are already in production and entering the market.

This strategic move broadens Hofdmann’s technical expertise within the retreading sector and reinforces the tyre circular economy across Germany. As a longstanding member of the AZuR network, the company contributes deep knowledge in tyre repair, casing management and retreading processes. The addition of hot retreading complements the prevalent cold retreading method used in the commercial vehicle industry, offering enhanced options for specific tyre designs and applications, while both methods aim to extend the lifecycle of premium casings.

By diversifying its production programme, Hofdmann demonstrates that industry players are actively investing in retreading technologies and strategically scaling existing operations. This expansion not only bolsters the sector’s competitive position but also ensures a more reliable supply of retreaded tyres for fleet operators and commercial end-users. The process involves meticulous inspection of high-quality used casings before applying a new tread, significantly prolonging tyre usability prior to eventual material recovery or recycling.

The company’s capacity growth coincides with broader AZuR initiatives, including a recently launched European project group designed to strengthen collaboration among businesses, research bodies and value-chain stakeholders. With approximately 90 network partners, AZuR continues to pioneer solutions for maximising tyre usage and recovering raw materials. Hofdmann’s latest investment underscores that retreading remains a vital and enduring component of this sustainable industrial evolution.

Christina Guth, Network Coordinator of the Alliance for the Future of Tires (AZuR), said, “Every investment in retreading strengthens the European tyre circular economy. By expanding its hot retreading capabilities, Hofdmann is broadening its offering and creating additional opportunities to keep high-quality commercial vehicle casings in circulation for longer. This sends an important signal to the entire industry.”

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Citira, a Sweden-based company specialising in circular tyre management, has announced the acquisition of First Däckstop i Lomma, a prominent service point located just north of Malmö in southern Sweden. This transaction significantly bolsters Citira’s expanding service coverage in the region, securing a crucial location along the E6 highway and in close proximity to Malmö. The establishment is recognised for its rapid, premium-quality service and a customer-friendly atmosphere.

The local operation will remain under the continued management of Patrik Nilsson, retaining the existing team and premises while benefiting from Citira’s broader resources and network for future growth. Jonas Åkesson and Patrik Nilsson, who together cultivated the service point’s strong reputation for customer loyalty and referrals, will acquire co-ownership stakes in Citira as part of the agreement.

Urban Tibbelin, Head of Sweden at Citira, said, “What stands out with First Däckstop is how efficiently Jonas and Patrik run things, without ever losing the personal touch that makes customers feel welcome. That's the kind of culture we want more of in Citira, and it will serve our customers in Skåne well.”

Patrik Nilsson of First Däckstop said, “Joining Citira feels like finding a group of like-minded colleagues who share our approach to service. Jonas and I are proud of what we've built here, and we're looking forward to what comes next.”

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Apollo Tyres reported consolidated revenue of INR 73.98 billion for the quarter ended June 30, 2026, marking a 13 percent increase from INR 65.61 billion a year earlier, as steady growth in India and resilient performance in Europe supported the top line.

Operating profit stood at INR 8.68 billion, broadly unchanged from the same period last year, while net profit rose sharply to INR 3.49 billion from INR 0.13 billion, which had been affected by restructuring and impairment costs linked to its Netherlands plant.

Total income for the quarter was INR 74.56 billion, while profit before tax came in at INR 4.68 billion. 

The company reported total expenses of INR 70.12 billion, with raw material costs accounting for INR 40.90 billion and employee benefit expenses at INR 9.63 billion, underlining continued cost pressures across operations.

Profit before exceptional items and tax was INR 4.44 billion, while exceptional items had a negative impact of INR 0.24 billion during the quarter.

Regionally, revenue from the Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa (APMEA) segment reached INR 55.29 billion, while Europe contributed INR 20.39 billion, reflecting stable demand across key markets.

The company said Indian operations recorded steady growth, while European operations remained resilient despite a challenging business environment.

Onkar Kanwar said the company delivered “healthy revenue growth” supported by demand across segments and high-capacity utilisation. “We continue to pursue profitable growth by strengthening execution, enhancing operational efficiency and staying closely aligned with customer requirements,” he said.

The company also announced the resignation of its chief financial officer, Gaurav Kumar, who will step down to pursue other opportunities. He said it had been “terrific to be part of the incredible journey at Apollo Tyres” and that he hoped to have contributed during his tenure.

Neeraj Kanwar said Kumar had played a critical role in the company’s growth over two decades and wished him well for the future.

Apollo Tyres said it is in the process of appointing a new chief financial officer.

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