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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JK Tyre is preparing to step up exports from India to the United States as a long-awaited Indo-US trade agreement moves closer to completion, even as the company continues to serve the American market through its Mexico subsidiary to navigate existing tariff structures.

Speaking at the company’s FY26 third-quarter media briefing, Managing Director Anshuman Singhania said that JK Tyre expected tyres made in India to secure a favourable position compared with imports into the US from Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries once the agreement is signed.

“We expect to be either at par or in a better position. Once there is clarity on the duty structure, we will step up exports from India to the US,” he said, adding that clarity on the agreement was expected shortly and that the company would study the fine print before acting.

For now, JK Tyre maintains its presence in the US through JK Tornel, its Mexico-based subsidiary, where passenger car tyres attract almost zero duty into the American market. Earlier, around 3-4 percent of the company’s total revenue came from exports to the US, a share that could be reinstated depending on the final contours of the trade deal.

The company is also closely watching progress on a separate trade agreement between India and the European Union, which it believes could further improve export prospects for Indian tyre makers once signed by all member countries.

A strategic hedge

JK Tornel’s role in the company’s export strategy has become more prominent amid trade uncertainties. The Mexico arm allows JK Tyre to continue servicing the US market while India-US trade terms remain under negotiation.

Singhania made it clear that JK Tyre is ‘not giving up’ on the US market. Instead, it is using geography and duty structures to its advantage while awaiting clarity that could make India a viable export base again.

The management noted that, at times, strong domestic demand makes it more prudent to prioritise India over exports to the US. However, with additional capacities coming on stream, JK Tyre expects to have greater headroom to participate more aggressively in overseas markets.

While export strategy is evolving, the company’s current momentum is firmly anchored in the domestic market.

JK Tyre reported strong traction across both OEM and replacement segments, supported by festive demand, GST-led formalisation benefits and positive rural sentiment. Domestic volumes grew 16 percent year on year.

Replacement volumes rose 11–12 percent, while OEM volumes grew between 24 percent and 27 percent, reflecting robust demand from vehicle manufacturers.

A key driver has been the rebound in the commercial vehicle (CV) segment, which had remained subdued for nearly 18 months. JK Tyre, which commands one of the highest market shares in this category, is seeing renewed traction as freight movement and trucking activity improve.

The passenger vehicle OEM segment is also witnessing healthy momentum, contributing to overall growth across segments.

Market shifts

Singhania highlighted a visible shift in market demand towards premium tyres and larger rim sizes. The company is positioning itself to benefit from this trend by expanding its passenger car radial (PCR) portfolio and developing multiple sizes for export markets, particularly Europe.

The company has secured new OEM approvals to supply tyres for electric vehicle variants such as the Hyundai Creta EV and Tata Punch EV. The newly launched Renault Duster also features JK Tyre’s 18-inch Ranger HPE tyres.

The executive indicated that premiumisation and EV-linked demand are becoming structural drivers in the passenger vehicle tyre segment.

The company has announced an investment of INR 11.3 billion to expand capacity in truck and bus radials (TBR), PCR and other segments across multiple locations. This will increase overall capacity by nearly seven percent.

This follows a recently completed INR 15 billion expansion in PCR tyres that increased capacity by around 26 percent. On this expanded base, the company will now add another 4-5 percent capacity in passenger vehicle tyres.

Company Executives noted that this capacity addition would provide additional headroom to cater to both domestic growth and export opportunities once trade conditions become favourable.

The recent merger of subsidiary Cavendish Industries (CIL) into JK Tyre, completed in December, is expected to significantly improve operating efficiency and financial flexibility.

With the integration, JK Tyre now has full access to capacities at the Laksar and Tripura plants. While these capacities were earlier consolidated operationally, company officials said that the merger would now allow better realisation of large-scale synergies.

JK Tyre will also leverage its marketing and service network for CIL products. Importantly, the parent company’s higher credit rating will result in lower interest costs for working capital and term loans previously availed by CIL, which had an A+ rating.

The company expects overhead savings, interest cost reductions and operational efficiencies to support faster expansion.

Material outlook

Addressing concerns around commodity price volatility, Singhania said that the raw material basket saw a decline of nearly one percent during Q2 and Q3.

Going forward, raw material prices are expected to remain range-bound within 1–2 percent. Even if there is a marginal rise, JK Tyre believes strong demand conditions will allow it to pass on costs without disturbing margins.

“We do not see anything that may disturb the apple cart,” Singhania said.

He also announced that the company had earned a Silver rating in the latest EcoVadis ESG assessment, placing it among the top seven percent of companies globally.

The company said this recognition reflects its performance across sustainability pillars and aligns with its vision of becoming a green company by 2050.

A record quarter

JK Tyre reported its highest-ever consolidated quarterly revenue of INR 42.35 billion in Q3 FY26, up 15 percent year-on-year. EBITDA stood at INR 5.83 billion with margins expanding sharply to 13.8 percent, a rise of 470 basis points year on year.

Profit after tax surged 3.7 times to INR 2.9 billion compared with INR 570 million in the same quarter last year. Domestic volume growth stood at 16 percent while export volumes grew nine percent, even though overall export revenues were described as flattish due to geopolitical uncertainties.

JK Tornel reported a 21 percent rise in turnover to INR 6.16 billion from INR 5.07 billion a year earlier.

Company officials attributed the margin expansion to operating leverage, execution focus and benign raw material prices.

Singhania indicated that demand visibility for 2026–27 remains strong with particular optimism for the first half of FY27. All segments including OEM, replacement, domestic and exports are expected to see growth.

For JK Tyre, the convergence of strong domestic demand, expanded capacity, merger synergies and potential trade advantages could determine whether India re-emerges as a meaningful export base for the US and Europe.

Not as a return to the past, executives suggested, but as a fresh opportunity built on scale, efficiency and a more premium product mix.

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Demonstrating its advanced SUV tyre technology to North American customers, Hankook Tire took part in the prestigious King of the Hammers off-road race in California’s Johnson Valley on 6 February. This gruelling event, which challenges drivers across desert, rock and mud, is a major North American motorsport spectacle, annually drawing over 500 teams, 80,000 spectators and millions of online viewers.

For the competition, Hankook equipped the vehicles of drivers Joel Dulac, Justin Dulac and Jacob Pacheco with its extreme-terrain Dynapro MT2 tyre. This model is engineered to provide exceptional traction, grip and durability on severe off-road surfaces. Its specialised tread pattern enhances performance on mud and gravel, while a robust V-shaped sidewall design offers protection against sharp rocks and obstacles. The tread block design also ensures stable control and comfort across both on- and off-road environments.

The Dynapro series represents SUV tire technology already validated in major North American motorsports. At last year's King of the Hammers, drivers Dulac and Pacheco achieved outstanding results using the Dynapro MT2, and at the 2024 Antigo Off-Road National, Michael Funk earned a podium finish with Dynapro tyres. Beyond performance, the tyre’s innovative design has been globally recognised, winning a Red Dot Design Award in 2020.

Hankook Tire is actively strengthening its North American market presence through innovation and its premium unified brand. Beyond sponsoring teams at events like King of the Hammers, the company engages customers at major automotive exhibitions such as the SEMA Show and Overland Expo. It further amplifies its technology-driven brand image through partnerships in sports and entertainment, including its role as an Official Tire Partner and Founding Partner of the US-based Tomorrow Golf League (TGL) presented by SoFi.

Looking forward, Hankook intends to solidify its global market leadership by leveraging performance data from its involvement in over 70 motorsports events worldwide, such as the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship and the FIA World Rally Championship. This strategic use of real-world racing insights will advance the development of its core ultra-high-performance tire technologies.

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Linglong Tire hosted its second Chinese fan event with Chelsea Football Club early this year in Chongqing, reinforcing its role as the club’s global tyre partner. The gathering attracted a wide range of guests, partners and media, who joined Chelsea icon Gianfranco Zola for an engaging experience. Located in central China, roughly 1,500 kilometres west of Shanghai, Chongqing is a dynamic metropolis of 32 million people and a vital commercial hub, reflecting the progressive spirit both Linglong Tire and Chelsea embody.

Linglong Tire’s Vice President, Guo Kuntao, inaugurated the event by reviewing key milestones of the partnership, established in 2024. He emphasised the natural alignment between the two brands, noting shared commitments to innovation, excellence and high-quality standards. Attendees then enjoyed various interactive opportunities, such as taking digital photos with virtual backgrounds featuring Chelsea stars and Stamford Bridge, collecting autographs from Zola and participating in digital football matches. Throughout the event, Linglong highlighted its newest tyre products, underscoring that safety and quality remain central to its development philosophy.

The celebration culminated in a public viewing of Chelsea’s Premier League match against Brentford, where fans united in song and cheered the team’s comfortable 2-0 home victory. By organising ‘The Famous CFC’ event in Chongqing, Linglong Tire not only showcased its international brand strength but also deepened its influence in the Chinese market, creating lasting impressions among fans and potential customers. Moving forward, the company plans to expand such activations to additional cities across China, further energizing its sports marketing initiatives and supporting the growth of football culture nationwide.

Zola said, "It is an honour for me to represent Chelsea Football Club at the Linglong Tire event today. This collaboration reflects Chelsea's commitment to fans worldwide, particularly in strengthening relationships with the passionate fan community in China. Many thanks to Linglong Tire for supporting the club. I hope everyone has a wonderful time in Chongqing."

Kuntao said, "We take this opportunity to sincerely thank the fans for their love for Chelsea and their trust in Linglong Tire. In the future, we will continue our efforts to strengthen the passion and joy of football through further events."

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Nokian Tyres has launched its ‘Carve the Corners’ contest, offering hockey fans in United States and Canada a chance to win a trip to the 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship. The promotion runs from 6 February to 20 March. Entrants can visit a dedicated page on the company’s website for their opportunity to win an all-expenses-paid experience. This includes airfare, lodging and tickets to the semifinal games in Zurich, Switzerland, on 30 May. One winner will be randomly selected from each country, each receiving a trip for themselves and a guest.

The tournament itself, for which Nokian Tyres is an Official Sponsor for a two-year period, takes place from 15 to 31 May. It is the world’s largest annual winter sports event, featuring 64 games where 16 top national teams compete for the World Champion title, captivating millions of viewers. Beyond the grand prize, the contest page allows participants to predict the tournament’s overall winner and leading scorer, and also provides information on Nokian Tyres products.

The company is promoting the campaign extensively. Efforts include social media outreach on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Threads, where followers can find competition updates, driving tips and hockey-related content. Nokian Tyres is also working with its network of tyre dealers and hockey media across both countries to raise awareness. This broader campaign involves dealer showrooms, podcast discussions and various grassroots channels. Additionally, a separate contest is available exclusively for tyre dealers, offering them a chance to win tickets to the championship, promoted through the company’s dedicated dealer communications.

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