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)

As part of a strategic effort to increase its presence in the region's premium original equipment (OE) market, Kumho Tire has confirmed its plans to establish its first tyre production facility in Europe by 2027.

The company has shortlisted Poland, Serbia and Portugal as possible locations for the plant, which is projected to need an investment of more than KRW1 trillion (USD 705 million). The decision is closely linked to Kumho’s ambition to strengthen its partnerships with European automakers and was revealed by Kumho Tire CEO during the South Korean premiere of Kumho's new Ecsta Sport tyre line.

Kumho has recently secured OE supply contracts with major brands such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Volkswagen Group. At the moment, Kumho runs eight tyre production plants in China, Vietnam, South Korea and the US. Its capacity to compete in the premium OE market, however, has come to be perceived as being constrained by the absence of a European production base. Through the benefits of local production, the new facility will improve response to European client requests, save freight costs and shorten delivery times, all of which will strengthen the company's partnerships.

Sentury Tire USA has opened pre-enrolment for its two associate dealer programmes (ADPs), the Delinte HYPERDRIVE Associate Dealer Program and the Landsail Elyte Associate Dealer Program, underscoring the company’s commitment to rewarding dedication and partnership to the Landsail and Delinte brands.

The ADPs, which are customised for each brand and intended to encourage dealers, will formally start on 1 June 2025. Both programmes give dealers access to special benefits, incentives and strong tools to help them expand their businesses. This involves dependable customer service, effective marketing and worthwhile financial incentives to promote dealers' success at every stage.

Beginning in Q3, dealers may earn up to USD three per tyre through the Delinte HYPERDRIVE Associate Dealer Program. Dealers can receive retroactive benefits for purchases completed in Q2 if they register before 1 June. The awards are available for all Delinte PTR, LTR and the new DV3 LMD AS last-mile delivery tyres. For all Landsail PTR and LTR tyres, independent dealers that sign up for the Landsail Elyte Associate Dealer Program can also earn up to USD three per tyre. For customers who sign up by June 1, the new LMD 100 AS last-mile delivery is also eligible for the benefits and will get the same early bird incentive for Q2 2025.

No initial order is necessary. Dealers only need to register to begin making money. According to the monthly programme rewards structure, 48 tyre purchases each month are eligible for a reward of USD one per tyre, 120 tyres are eligible for a reward of USD two per tyre and 240 or more tyres are eligible for a reward of USD three per tyre.

ENSO, a London-based tyre manufacturer engaged in the production of sustainable tyres specially designed for electric vehicles (EVs), has launched its new ENSO Premium range of EV-specific ultra-high-performance (UHP) tyres aimed at drivers of high-performance EVs such as the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y.

Specifically designed for electric passenger vehicles, the ENSO Premium range comes with A/A EU-label ratings for both energy efficiency and wet grip. The tyres are designed to provide safety, increased range and a reduced total cost of ownership. Conventional tyre designs frequently fall short of the special performance needs of electric vehicles, which include greater vehicle weight, regenerative braking and higher torque loads. By lowering tyre wear and rolling resistance, ENSO Premium takes care of these issues.

The company is an authorised provider of replacement tyres for LEVC's electric taxis and has partnered with Uber to install its tyres in high-mileage metropolitan areas. The company now plans to grow throughout Europe and North America, and with ENSO Premium, it is now offering its services to individual EV owners throughout the United Kingdom. According to ENSO, the range offers advantages including longer tyre life and fewer replacements, lower energy usage, fewer charging stops and lower CO₂ emissions and tyre particle pollution.

Gunnlaugur Erlendsson, CEO and Co-Founder, ENSO, said, “We’re plugging a long-standing gap in the tyre market by offering EV drivers a purpose-built, affordable, premium EV tyre alternative that matches the innovation of their EV.”

Kraton Corporation, a leading global sustainable producer of specialty polymers and high-value bio-based products derived from pine wood pulping co-products, has announced a general price hike in North America for its SBS, SIS and HSBC product lines with effect from 1 May 2025.

Following a careful analysis of the effects of recently implemented tariffs, related cost increases and a conclusion that the company cannot independently absorb these repercussions, Kraton is adopting these pricing hikes, according to a company statement. The company further said that it will keep an eye on the scene and reassess these measures promptly in the event that conditions and US import tariffs alter.