Therefore, transitioning to a green economy has sound economic and social justification. For governments, this transition would involve levelling the playing field for greener products by replacing harmful subsidies, reforming policies and redirecting public investment among others. In the private sector, this transition would involve responding to these policy reforms and incentives through increased financing and investment, skill building and innovation capacities to realise the opportunities arising from a green economy.

Automobile industry is one of the key sectors for economic growth, where sustainability is critical to ensure access to clean and eco-friendly mode of transportation. Particularly for the rubber industry, which is largely perceived as non-environmentally friendly, it is imperative to work towards adapting the green economy; largely through development of green technology and introduction of green manufacturing practices including resource decoupling - using less land, water, energy and materials to maintain economic growth and to reduce environmental impact.

Technology innovation remains a key priority. Some of the trends for automotive and tyre industries include, sustainable tyre through introduction of green material technology with further improvement in fuel efficiency (Rolling Resistance) Safety (Dry and Wet Traction), Durability (mileage) and Comfort (Noise, Vibration, Ride & Handling). Besides above, obtaining rubber material from biomass and recyclable avenues, greater use of modelling in performance prediction and tyre design, change in tyre design to tall and thin tires, especially to suit electric vehicles are of paramount importance towards the making of a green economy. In addition, technologies that include real time simulation, virtual proving ground, self-inflation technology, electrified rubber, sensor-based tyres for health assessment and fleet management can help save fuel, reduce operating cost including increased tyre life.

Use of simulation and predictive technology - Finite Element Analysis (FEA), service life prediction, etc. – are expected to contribute towards determining the reliability aspect of tyres. With the advent of high-end software, FEA tools are now extensively used for prediction of structural durability, aquaplaning, heat generation, process simulation and Noise, Vibration & Harshness (NVH). Advanced research is underway to understand the microscopic behaviour of polymer-filler interaction using new generation simulation techniques. This in turn would help to develop ultra-high-performance tyres with reduced hysteresis, improved safety and durability.

In line with the automobile industry, tyre Industry is also looking into possibilities of implementing smart manufacturing practices, which include Big Data-driven quality control, robot assisted production, self-driving logistics vehicles, production line simulation, smart supply network, predictive maintenance, machine as a service, self-organising production, additive manufacturing of complex parts and augmented work among others.

As vehicles directly impact the environment (air quality, noise levels etc.,) and tyres are integral to its functioning, a collaborative effort is required to bring about a change of thinking and a change of culture on pursuing green economy in the rubber industry.

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Dunlop Motorcycle Europe is set to back teams and riders contending for championship honours at the 2026 FIM Endurance World Championship (EWC) finale, the 89th Bol d’Or, held at Circuit Paul Ricard.

The tyre manufacturer will assist 43 teams in total, serving as exclusive tyre supplier to all 24 Superstock and 13 Production Trophy entrants. Five manufacturers will contest the Production Trophy’s second title, while six privateer squads in the open-tyre Formula EWC class have opted for Dunlop, among them the No. 6 ERC Endurance Team, which recorded a 1:52.173 best lap in Bol d’Or testing.

The season-closing 24-hour race poses a demanding mix of technical corners and fast stretches, notably the 1.8-kilometre Mistral Straight, alongside day-to-night running and traditionally changeable weather that may test both dry and wet KR allocations.

Dunlop will provide its established KR108 and KR109 slicks, plus a latest-generation medium front specification, developed as G2_01 VAL3 and validated with EWC teams in 2025 for improved durability and performance. The range targets single-lap speed and multi-stint longevity, with intermediate and wet tyres available for all conditions.

David Auerbacher, International Motorcycle Race Event Leader, Dunlop Motorcycle Europe, said, “We’re excited to return to Circuit Paul Ricard for the season finale, where both the Superstock and Production Trophy champions will be crowned. It’s been another strong season for Dunlop across all categories, as we celebrate five years as the exclusive tyre supplier to the Superstock Trophy and two years supporting the Production Trophy. Both categories have continued to grow and develop, while leading privateer teams also continue to choose Dunlop as they fight for wins and podiums in the Formula EWC class. We’re looking forward to an exciting season finale and are proud to support all the teams and riders as they battle for championship success at the biggest race of the EWC calendar.”

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The Tyre Recovery Association convened its Briefing Day 2026 at Coombe Abbey Hotel in Warwickshire, drawing more than 100 senior figures from the UK tyre recovery, retreading, retail and manufacturing sectors alongside national regulators, parliamentarians and trade bodies. The event served as a platform to press for meaningful reforms covering tyre recovery, green procurement and domestic circular resilience.

Tessa Munt, the MP for Wells and Mendip Hills, delivered a keynote address that attacked the enduring disconnect between government policy rhetoric and industrial reality. Drawing on her parliamentary work regarding end-of-life tyre exports to India and her engagement with Somerset businesses, she condemned official inaction and set out four priority areas for reform, criticising a reliance on superficial slogans while domestic capacity lies stranded.

The MP highlighted what she described as a double standard, noting that the Environment Agency imposes strict Digital Waste Tracking on compliant domestic operators while granting misplaced goodwill and deadline extensions to non-compliant overseas exporters. Before the rules were diluted, proof-of-arrival compliance stood at just 20 percent. She further noted that more than 150,000 tonnes of licensed UK recycling and remanufacturing capacity remains entirely idle while raw waste is shipped abroad.

Her proposed reforms comprised the immediate statutory withdrawal of T8 exemptions to establish an audited permit regime, adoption of the Australian shred-only export model to end whole and baled tyre exports, instant revocation of export licences for brokers failing to supply timestamped and geotagged proof of delivery and mandatory green public procurement quotas for remanufactured tyres and rubberised asphalt. The RAC Foundation's Steve Gooding also addressed the conference, explaining that a modest 10 percent rubberised asphalt target in public highway contracts would absorb all idle UK crumb capacity, reduce road noise by three to five decibels and produce longer-lasting roads. Strong participation from the Tyre Recovery Association (TRA), the National Tyre Distributors Association (NTDA), the British Tyre Manufacturers' Association (BTMA) and the Imported Tyre Manufacturers Association (ITMA) underscored growing cross-sector unity.

Peter Taylor OBE, Secretary General, TRA, said, "The TRA Briefing Day proves that the British tyre recovery sector is united, highly innovative and ready to grow. Having around 100 key players and all four leading trade associations in one room shows that our industry is speaking with one voice. If the UK’s tyre recovery sector does not grow, it will soon disappear from these shores. We are gradually making progress in getting government to understand this, but there is a long way to go. We have the domestic processing infrastructure, the technical capability and the private capital ready to build a world-class circular economy. What we lack is a regulator and a government willing to back domestic industry by ending illegal whole tyre exports and enforcing green procurement. Tessa Munt MP highlighted this in her powerful speech. We are very grateful to her, Steve Gooding and all those who spoke yesterday, as well as our sponsors Vaculug, Murfitts and KwickFit. These contributions made the event an overwhelming success. The message from industry is clear: the time for policy talk is over, we need to statutory reform."

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TyreSafe, UK’s leading tyre safety charity, has entered a new partnership with West Yorkshire Police, reinforcing a joint commitment to road safety and reducing fatalities and serious injuries across the county. The collaboration arrives amid concerning road safety figures, with 51 deaths and 1,210 serious injuries recorded on West Yorkshire’s roads in 2025.

The two organisations will work together to highlight the essential role tyres play in road user safety. Drivers will be encouraged to perform routine checks on tyre pressure, tread depth and overall condition. The initiative also supports West Yorkshire Vision Zero, which aims to eliminate deaths and serious injuries from the county’s roads.

West Yorkshire Police becomes part of a growing network of over 260 organisations partnering with TyreSafe to promote safer motoring and enhance public understanding of tyre safety. A rising number of police forces now recognise tyre safety as a vital component of their broader road safety efforts.

As the sole point of contact between a vehicle and the road, properly maintained tyres are critical for braking, steering and grip, especially in difficult conditions. TyreSafe advises road users to check their tyres monthly and before long journeys, helping identify pressure, tread and condition issues before they become safety risks. This partnership marks another significant step in TyreSafe’s mission to reduce tyre-related incidents and improve road safety across Britain.

Stuart Lovatt, Chairman, TyreSafe, said, “We are delighted to welcome West Yorkshire Police as a TyreSafe partner. The fact that 51 people lost their lives and more than 1,200 suffered serious injuries on West Yorkshire’s roads in 2025 is a stark reminder that there is still so much work to do. Road safety requires a collective effort, and partnerships such as this are incredibly important. By combining the reach and expertise of West Yorkshire Police with TyreSafe’s specialist knowledge and campaigns, we can help ensure more road users understand the simple but crucial role their tyres play in keeping themselves and others safe.”

Inspector Claire Gray, Roads Policing Support and Proactive Intercept Team Inspector for West Yorkshire Police, said, “Every death and serious injury on our roads has a devastating impact on families, friends and communities. We are committed to working with partners to make West Yorkshire’s roads safer and to support the Vision Zero ambition. Vehicle safety is an important part of that work, and tyres are fundamental to a vehicle’s ability to stop, steer and maintain grip. We are pleased to be working with TyreSafe to help raise awareness and encourage road users to take responsibility for checking and maintaining their tyres.”

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Hankook Tire has completed a significant expansion of its European manufacturing facility in Rácalmás, Hungary, marking the company's first production of truck and bus tyres on the continent. The new line, representing an investment of EUR 540 million, is scheduled to commence operations in October and has been configured to deliver more than 800,000 units annually. The first pre-production tyre from these facilities was officially unveiled at the ongoing IAA Transportation exhibition.

Previously, Hankook supplied European commercial vehicle customers exclusively from plants in Korea and China. The Hungarian line substantially reduces delivery distances, strengthening supply reliability and cutting lead times. Logistics-related carbon dioxide emissions also decline as lengthy transport routes from Asia are partially eliminated. Europe represents roughly 45 percent of Hankook's worldwide sales, making it a critical market for the tyre maker.

The Rácalmás site has received approximately EUR 856 million across three earlier expansion phases since 2007, with the third stage finishing in spring 2015. It now produces as many as 17 million tyres yearly for passenger cars, SUVs and light commercial vehicles. The fourth phase added the truck and bus tyre line and has seen around 66,000 square metres of production and support buildings constructed since 2024. More than 450 local jobs are being created. Globally, Hankook operates eight plants with capacity for up to 100 million tyres annually and employs about 20,000 people.

Designed as a highly automated facility, the new line relies on automated logistics systems, autonomous guided vehicles and real-time tracking to manage material flow and warehousing, while automated testing ensures consistent quality. Sustainability guided planning and operation through energy-efficient systems, optimised supply infrastructure and modern process controls that lower energy and water use. The plant earned ISCC PLUS certification in 2023. Production will initially centre on 22.5-inch truck and bus tyres, gradually broadening as capacity and approvals allow.

Jongho Park, President and COO, Hankook Tire Europe, said, “The expansion of our European production plant with a new line for truck and bus tyres is yet another key milestone for Hankook in Europe. The central location of the facilities in Hungary and their proximity to the core European markets is a key locational advantage. It will enable us to supply our European customers with premium commercial vehicle tyres even more reliably and quickly, and to respond to their needs with the greatest possible flexibility.”

Ho Taek Lim, Vice President and Managing Director of the plant in Rácalmás, said, “This expansion project was one of the largest industrial development projects ever undertaken at the site in Hungary. The new truck and bus tyre production facilities will transform the plant into a comprehensive production site of significantly greater complexity and with a higher level of automation.”

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