Ready or not, autonomous vehicles (AVs) are on the way! The Level 5 autonomy, known as "anytime, anywhere" technology that can drive a vehicle under all conditions without a driver, is ways off. However, Level 4 autonomy is already here, enabling vehicles to operate in full self-driving mode, and not needing human interaction in most circumstances. The driver, however, must remain available to take over control if needed, yet the driver would be able to sleep temporarily! Level 4 autonomous vehicles are currently plying in limited geographic areas.

Trucking Industry to Lead AV Usage

Presently the trucking industry is enjoying a significant business growth, but facing a shortage of drivers. Hence, the industry envisions a model where self-driving trucks will handle those long, lonely highway miles while leaving the first-mile pickup and last-mile delivery to the traditional human drivers. This model will shift short-distance regional driving to non-AVs, while the long-haul driving will be done by AVs.

Still, it’s going to be a long time before a full-scale and broad adoption of AVs happens across the trucking industry. The shift to Level 4 autonomous trucking will likely be a gradual, symbiotic shift over the course of the next decades. Fleets will want to know how their maintenance needs will change with autonomous trucks. They will have to develop relationships with new technology partners and will have to train their workforce differently. Fleets need to know what to expect when something goes wrong. For instance, what happens when a truck gets the inevitable flat tyre and has to pull off to the side of the road? “If a vehicle does not have an active driver to ensure that the tyres are safe during use, safety needs to be ensured in another way”, said Mika Penttila, Head of Digital Technology for Nokian Tyres. Tyres are an integral part of a vehicle’s safe operation. When machines, rather than humans, are responsible to observe and manage driving parameters, tyres also need to be smart! “No matter how smart your vehicle is, tyres are the only link between the vehicle and the road”, said Jukka Kasi, Senior Vice President of Products & Marketing for Nokian Tyres.

Hence, there is a need for sensors embedded in, or connected to, tyres. Industry experts believe that smart tyres will be commonplace within five years at the latest. Bridgestone Americas is ready to integrate its “smart-sensing” tyre technologies to enable safer, more sustainable autonomous operations. When information received from tyres is combined with weather data, for example, the vehicle’s on-board information system can form a picture of prevailing driving conditions and adjust the driving accordingly. Tyre sensors can also monitor tyre wear, inflation pressure, and temperature inside the tyre. For example, an increase in the inside temperature may be an early indication of tyre damage, allowing it to be addressed before it causes a dangerous situation on the road.

New Alliances to Promote AVs

Bridgestone Americas recently announced it has made a minority investment in Kodiak Robotics, a leading U.S.-based trucking company that is using autonomous trucks. The partnership will allow Bridgestone to integrate its smart-sensing tyre technologies and fleet solutions into Kodiak’s level 4 autonomous trucks. The companies will also pilot future autonomous and smart tyre technologies to further enhance vehicle intelligence for a safer, more efficient, and more sustainable mobility future.

“Automated vehicles offer a number of benefits to commercial fleet customers and society, including safer roads with fewer unexpected incidents, and upwards of 20 percent savings in fuel and efficiency,” said Paolo Ferrari, President & CEO of Bridgestone Americas. “Advancements in tyre-centric technologies are critical to unlocking greater innovation in mobility, while also delivering significant sustainability benefits. This investment will enable Bridgestone and Kodiak to work together to co-develop advanced mobility solutions with speed and precision that will revolutionize commercial trucking,” according to Mr. Ferrari.

Kodiak has plans to deploy driverless trucks in the next few years with full vehicle intelligence to implement safe, efficient and sustainable autonomy. Bridgestone’s suite of cloud-based technologies leverage connected vehicle data to help predict tyre health and maintenance, as well as optimize tyre lifespan. Kodiak and Bridgestone will work together to advance self-driving trucking technology, from tyres and sensors to predictive maintenance.

Asia represents a $1.5 trillion freight market, and South Korea's third-largest conglomerate, SK Inc. announced a partnership to bring Kodiak’s self-driving technology, to the Asia-Pacific (APAC) markets. In addition, the companies will work together to provide fleet management services for customers in Asia. "Our partnership with Kodiak will help accelerate the commercialization of self-driving trucks in Asia," said Jungho Shin, executive vice president of SK Inc. "Kodiak's industry-leading technology and SK's unrivaled reach in S. Korea and across Asia make this a natural partnership. We look forward to working with Kodiak to make autonomous trucking a reality around the globe."

No doubt, many more partnerships between tyre manufacturers, technology companies and the trucking industry are needed to achieve full autonomous vehicles. (TT)

Apollo Tyres Ltd has secured a one-season shirt-sleeve sponsorship agreement with AS Monaco, one of French football's most successful clubs, to increase awareness for its premium Vredestein brand.

This partnership will leverage Ligue 1's ranking as the fifth most watched football league in the world to raise awareness of Vredestein's award-winning products among a large audience in France and abroad. On November 22, AS Monaco's home league game against Brest will have the new sleeve branding for the first time. The Vredestein brand will be heavily promoted at Stade Louis-II for the 2024–2025 season, including on player sleeves and LED screens around the field. Exclusive social media initiatives will further help make the brand prominent, reaching a large and interested audience.

Yves Pouliquen, Vice President – Commercial, Europe, Apollo Tyres, said, “This partnership is an exciting opportunity to strengthen Vredestein’s presence in one of our key markets. AS Monaco’s rich history and commitment to excellence mirror our focus on performance and innovation. We look forward to building a successful relationship with the club and celebrating its achievements this season.”

Thibaut Chatelard, Marketing and Revenue Director, AS Monaco, said: “We are delighted to welcome Apollo Tyres and its Vredestein brand to the family of AS Monaco partners. This collaboration makes sense in view of the values we share, such as the constant pursuit of performance and excellence. There’s no doubt that this new support will be precious for the rest of our season, which promises to be thrilling.”

Nexen Tire, a leading global tyre manufacturer, has launched the Nexen N´Blue S tyre, adding to its range of summer tyres and providing drivers with advanced safety, energy efficiency and superior driving stability in wet and dry conditions.

Developed using highly dispersed silica and equipped with an optimised structural design, the Nexen N´Blue S tyre provides reduced road noise and improved driving stability. The tyre features an innovative tread compound, formulated with hydrophilic fillers and microstructure-controlled polymers, and provides lower rolling resistance and exceptional dry and wet grip. The tyre also excelled in test results by demonstrating an 11 percent improvement in wet braking distance compared to its predecessor.

Apart from providing excellent performance, the Nexen  N´Blue S also scores high on the sustainability index. The tyre provides an eco-friendly solution for environmentally conscious drivers by minimising fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. The Nexen N´Blue S summer tyre is available in 58 sizes, which makes it compatible with different types of vehicles.

Kumho Tire Vietnam Co., Ltd. is all set to expand its investment project in Binh Duong province of Vietnam, with the phase 3 of expansion commencing in early 2025. This was discussed at a recent meeting between Vo Van Minh, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee (PPC), and Kim Hyun Ho, General Director of Kumho Tire Vietnam Co., Ltd.

The meeting was held on 13 November at the Administrative Centre of Binh Duong province, as per an official statement. Apart from the company’s investment till date and the planned investment for phase 3, the two also discussed about the challenges and obstacles regarding procedures and processes to have more land funds to expand the manufacturing plant, along with taking measures to tackle the obstacles. Kim Hyun Ho also conveyed to the PPC Chairman that Kumho Tire Vietnam Co., Ltd. belongs to South Korea's Kumho Tire Group and is currently ranked 10th in the car tyre manufacturing industry.

The company had invested in a tyre manufacturing plant in My Phuoc 3 Industrial Park in 2007 with a total initial investment of USD 308 million, which was supplemented by another USD 300 million in 2021. This extended the factory scale to six hectares and increased the production capacity to 12.5 million tyres annually. With the expansion in early 2025, the company will raise its total investment to USD 908 million and increase the factory's production capacity to 17 million tyres annually. The expanded capacity is expected to be operational by early 2026.

Yokohama-ATG, a leading manufacturer of all-terrain and off-the-road tyres, has expanded its Galaxy MFS 101 SDS range of forklift tyres with the launch of white, non-marking tyres.

The Galaxy MFS 101 SDS range consists of puncture-proof SDS tyres with extended wear limits designed for high-intensity working shifts and long durability. These are premium, solid rubber tyres developed for tough demands, a long service life and high driving comfort. The addition of white, non-marking tyres is specifically aimed at clean working environments.

Marked by a 3-stage construction process, the forklift tyres feature reduced heat build-up, effective shock absorption and minimised vibrations. The pattern design guarantees a smooth ride and good steerability thanks to its continuous centre lug and circumferential grooves. Furthermore, the flat walls and wide flat profile offer excellent stability when using a forklift for vertical stacking. The tyres are also equipped with anti-slip steel beads for improved rim fitment

In a case study on a CAT 2.5-tonne forklift that was used for handling heavy pallets on asphalt, the Galaxy MFS 101 SDS outshone the competitors with impressive performance. The tyre delivered an approximate 900 working hours before replacement against competitors’ 500 working hours.