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)

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

 The U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) is convening its annual Tire Manufacturing Ambassadors programme this week, sending industry professionals to Capitol Hill to press lawmakers on policies supporting domestic manufacturing, road safety and sector innovation.

The two-day event, running from 24–25 June, brings together representatives from USTMA’s 11 member companies — including engineers, business managers and marketers — to meet with members of Congress and their staff. The discussions are expected to focus on key legislative priorities such as expanding tyre retreading in the U.S., advancing consumer safety initiatives, and passing a congressional resolution in support of National Tire Safety Week.

“The U.S. tyre manufacturing industry is a vibrant engine of innovation, enabling safe and sustainable mobility for consumers and businesses. Our industry is a cornerstone of the nation’s economy, supporting more than 800,000 jobs and keeping up with evolving consumer expectations on reliability, safety and environmental impact,” said Anne Forristall Luke, USTMA president and CEO.

The ambassadors, who live in the same communities where the industry operates, are set to highlight how national legislation impacts local jobs and infrastructure. USTMA members operate 55 manufacturing facilities across 16 states and contribute to a $170.6 billion annual economic footprint, the association said.

The event follows a letter sent by USTMA to Congressional leaders in February outlining the sector’s legislative agenda. The group is advocating for increased investment in tyre innovation, transparency measures for consumers, and job creation through infrastructure and sustainability-focused policies.

“Our Ambassadors represent the manufacturing workers who power the industry every day, and we are honoured by their advocacy for the tyre manufacturing industry and the communities it supports,” Luke added.

The initiative reflects USTMA’s broader push to align policymakers with the industry’s goals of maintaining global competitiveness while securing long-term growth for U.S. manufacturing.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Finnish tyre manufacturer Nokian Tyres has been recognised by TIME Magazine as one of the World’s Most Sustainable Companies 2025, ranking 98th on the prestigious global list of 500 companies demonstrating outstanding environmental and social responsibility.

The second edition of the rankings, compiled by TIME Magazine in collaboration with data firm Statista, evaluated companies based on verified sustainability commitments, including UN Global Compact membership and greenhouse gas emission reduction targets validated by the Science-Based Targets initiative.

Assessment criteria also included performance ratings from respected organisations such as CDP and MSCI, alongside evaluations of sustainable business practices, transparency, and environmental and social stewardship.

Nokian Tyres has positioned itself as a sustainability pioneer within the tyre industry, driving sustainable development both within its operations and throughout its value chain. The company’s environmental leadership dates back three decades, with its Finnish factory becoming the world’s first tyre manufacturing facility to achieve environmental certification in 1995.

“We create tyres that are safe, innovative and sustainable. Nokian Tyres has been a pioneer in sustainability in the tyre industry for over three decades. As early as 1995, our factory in Finland was the first tyre factory in the world to gain an environmental certification. We are proud of our track record and want our sustainability actions to have a meaningful impact. The most recent example of this is our new factory in Romania, the first full-scale zero CO2 emission tyre factory in the world,” said Paolo Pompei, president and chief executive of Nokian Tyres.

The company’s latest sustainability milestone is its new Romanian manufacturing facility, which represents the world’s first full-scale zero CO2 emission tyre factory, demonstrating Nokian Tyres’ continued commitment to environmental innovation in industrial manufacturing.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Chinese state-owned enterprise Sinochem has achieved a significant milestone, with its brand value surpassing 500 billion yuan for the first time, according to rankings released at the 22nd World Brand Conference in Beijing.

The World Brand Lab announced that Sinochem ranked seventh on its annual “China’s 500 Most Valuable Brands” list for 2025, with the company’s brand value climbing from 475.906 billion yuan in 2024 to over 500 billion yuan this year.

This marks the 22nd consecutive year that the Sinochem brand has secured a position on the prestigious ranking. The company’s property development arm, Jinmao, also featured prominently, placing 170th with a brand value of 74.186 billion yuan.

The World Brand Lab’s methodology evaluates brand worth through three key metrics: financial performance, brand strength, and consumer behaviour analysis, employing a “present value of earnings method” for valuation. The ranking is widely regarded as one of the most authoritative assessments in Chinese brand research.

Sinochem’s consistent performance has been particularly notable since 2004 when it first entered the top ten of the annual list. Following the establishment of China National Chemical Corporation on 8 May 2021, the enhanced Sinochem brand has maintained its seventh position for four consecutive years, demonstrating sustained growth in brand value and international market recognition.

The company attributed its success to implementing comprehensive brand management strategies aligned with government directives on brand development. Sinochem stated that it will continue to leverage high-quality brand building and valuable brand assets to strengthen its core functions and competitiveness, supporting the company’s long-term development objectives.

The World Brand Conference, now in its 22nd year, serves as a key platform for evaluating China’s corporate brand landscape and tracking the evolution of the country’s most significant commercial entities.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

German tyre major Continental is significantly expanding its presence in the global market for ultra-high-performance (UHP) tyres. The company states that the UHP tyres are designed for safe and dynamic driving at high speeds and are available in sizes from 18 inches.

Between 2019 and 2024, the premium tyre manufacturer increased its worldwide sales of UHP tyres in the passenger car and light truck segment by approximately 15 percent. Over the same period, the share of UHP tyre sales across all Continental brands rose from 38 to 52 percent, and to 60 percent for the core Continental brand, up from 46 percent five years ago.

Edwin Goudswaard, Head of R&D, Continental Tires, said, “For us, ultra-high-performance tyres are much more than a technological flagship product – they are a strategic driver of innovation. Their development requires engineering of the highest standard, high-tech materials and precise testing and production processes. At the same time, they demonstrate our solid position in the premium segment and significantly contribute to Continental’s economic strength.”

UHP tyres are claimed to provide excellent grip, precise steering, strong brake performance and high driving stability, primarily used on powerful vehicles such as sports cars, SUVs and luxury saloons. The global demand for UHP tyres is projected to grow by around 9 percent annually until 2029, driven by the increasing popularity of SUVs and the electrification of powertrains. Continental is experiencing particularly high demand for UHP tyres in the Asia-Pacific region, especially in China.

The German brand currently offers UHP tyres across all product segments, including summer, winter and all-season tyres. The flagship product in its UHP portfolio is the SportContact 7. Since its global launch in 2022, the SportContact 7 has won 21 out of 24 independent tyre tests, boasting a success rate of over 87 percent.

The company stated that tyre testers have praised its ‘shortest braking distances under all test conditions’ and ‘very balanced and safe vehicle handling on dry roads and even better performance on wet roads compared with the competition.’ Its precise steering characteristics, reproducible driving responses and excellent grip during sporty driving have also received acclaim.

Continental continues to invest in the development of its UHP products, fostering close collaborations with vehicle manufacturers and tuning specialists like AC Schnitzer and Brabus.

"These partnerships enable us to transfer ideas from the high-performance segment to the mass market,” explained Goudswaard. The High-Performance Technology Centre (HPTC) in Korbach produces high-performance tyres for powerful and technologically sophisticated passenger cars and conducts rigorous testing under realistic extreme conditions.

The SportContact 7 has received original equipment approvals for various models, including the Porsche Panamera, Maserati Levante, Audi RS6 Avant, Polestar 3, BMW 5 Series and BYD Seal. The tyre is available in 120 sizes from 18 to 24 inches and has been developed for both electric and conventional vehicles.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!