Just concluded 2021 will stand out as a defining year for the tyre industry in India as it embarked upon an ambitious initiative – Charting a path to greater raw material security by attaining self-reliance in natural rubber (NR) availability.

The journey to become self-reliant is not new for the Indian tyre industry. The industry was amongst the first ones to become self-sufficient much before the slogan of being Atma Nirbhar was coined. For years, India has been producing practically all the tyres it requires making it one of the few countries that are self-dependent in tyre manufacturing. Much before a vehicle is rolled out, the tyre Industry is ready with the fitments having worked out specifications and standards to the minutest details.

While India has developed globally competitive tyre manufacturing capabilities, realising the vision of being Atma Nirbhar necessitates achieving self-sufficiency of the entire value chain in view of strong backward and forward linkages.

In this context, the ATMA NR project, launched during the year, attains all the more importance. Natural rubber is a key raw material for the Indian tyre industry. Unlike the global scenario where the ratio is skewed in favour of synthetic rubber, Indian industry stands out for its unique preference for NR.

However, NR demand has been outstripping domestic supply and the gap is widening. Going forward, the situation may become more challenging for the NR Consuming interests. Imports may not be sustainable considering the strategic importance of NR as raw material and also in view of large outflows of foreign exchange that the Government has been trying to discourage.

As one of its kind initiatives that could hold a template for several other raw material intensive sectors, the NR Project is designed to implement the scheme for developing a substantial 200,000 hectares of rubber plantations in the North Eastern states financially supported by major tyre companies, represented by ATMA with technical support and coordination by the Rubber Board.

This collaborative project in PPP mode involving tyre majors, Rubber Board and financing institutions is a landmark initiative where the consuming industry would be contributing directly to the development of plantation.

The project took off early in the year with a visit to the North East (Tripura, Meghalaya & Assam) by top leadership from ATMA Member companies along with Dr KN Raghavan, Executive Director of Rubber Board in February 2021 to get a first-hand understanding of ground level situation and connect with state leadership and policy makers.

Minister for Commerce & Industry (CIM), Government of India Piyush Goyal has been the prime motivating force, mentoring the project at every step right from the inception. A meeting convened by the Minister in the month of June 2021 discussed threadbare the launch of the project and the road ahead. The CIM proposed a meeting with the chief ministers of North-Eastern states to take them on board, seek their full support and fast track the project. The CIM even offered to speak to the CMs to inform them about the wider benefits of the NR Project for their respective states.

Since availability of planting material locally in North East states was a challenge, plans were made to transport the saplings from Kerala to the North East by rail. Few thousand saplings were initially sent as a pilot which reached Guwahati in good condition.

 It was an emotional moment for all the stakeholders in natural rubber sector, when the first full consignment was sent by a special train 'Bharathappuzha - Brahmaputra Rubber Express', to Azara, Guwahati, from Thiruvalla Railway Station on 10th July 21. It carried 1.33 lakh rubber saplings packed in specially designed cartons. These saplings were distributed in the NE states for planting in the identified areas.

Eventually, Biplab Kumar Deb, Chief Minister of Tripura formally launched the NR Project under Chief Minister's Rubber Mission on 14th August 21 at Pathaliaghat in Sepahijala district of Tripura and the project is shaping up well ever since.

 India has emerged as a front runner as the world pursues alternatives to China in the field of manufacturing. Given the spirit of entrepreneurship backed by the policy reforms, the country is poised to play its due role in the global supply chains.

At the same time, the need for raw material security cannot be over emphasised as India looks to become the manufacturing hub of the world. It goes to the credit of the Government that it has shown keen interest in enabling policies to encourage domestic manufacturing, including tyre and allied sectors.

The fact that the ATMA NR Project could see the light of the day under the shadow of ongoing pandemic says a lot about the commitment of all the stakeholders to fight against odds. That surely augurs well for raw material security and sustainability as we welcome the New Year.

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TyreSafe, UK’s leading tyre safety charity, has forged a new alliance with Donna Jones, the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, as part of its ongoing drive to strengthen road safety and curb tyre-related incidents nationwide. The partnership reflects the organisation's wider commitment to working with policing and other stakeholders to reduce preventable harm on UK roads.

Jones has placed road safety at the heart of her agenda, prioritising action against dangerous driving, tougher enforcement and a reduction in deaths and serious injuries on local roads. The scale of the challenge is clear from figures covering October 2024 to September 2025, during which 1,286 people were killed or seriously injured across the two areas. A dedicated Roads Policing Tasking Team, unveiled by Jones in March 2026, now targets dangerous driving and high-risk collision hotspots, focusing on the Fatal Five: speeding, drink and drug driving, mobile phone use, seatbelt non-compliance and careless driving.

In TyreSafe's view, illegal and badly maintained tyres – alongside general vehicle upkeep – deserve greater prominence within a joined-up road safety strategy that builds on existing enforcement and education programmes. The partnership opens the door to joint work between TyreSafe and the Commissioner's office on raising public awareness, encouraging responsible driving and supporting efforts to prevent avoidable road incidents. It also highlights how enforcement, education and prevention can work together, helping motorists recognise their obligations and the serious risks posed by unsafe tyres.

Crime prevention and making Hampshire and the Isle of Wight among the safest places to live nationally have also been flagged as priorities by the Commissioner. TyreSafe intends to use the partnership to back broader road safety work in the region while deepening its collaboration with policing and other stakeholders across the country, all in support of its Vision Zero goal of eliminating harm to road users caused by illegal and poorly maintained tyres.

Jones said, “Tyre safety is an essential part of keeping our roads safe. Illegal and poorly maintained tyres can put drivers, passengers and other road users at serious risk, and it is important that we do more to raise awareness of these dangers. I welcome the opportunity to work with TyreSafe to help educate drivers, encourage regular tyre checks and support efforts to prevent avoidable collisions. By working together on education, prevention and enforcement, we can help make Hampshire and the Isle of Wight’s roads safer for everyone.”

Stuart Lovatt, Chairman, TyreSafe, said, “Working with police forces and Police and Crime Commissioners is an important part of our ambition to reduce tyre-related incidents and make our roads safer. Our four strategic goals set out the changes we believe are needed, from improving enforcement and driver education to strengthening the evidence available to policymakers. We welcome the opportunity to work with Donna Jones and her team to explore how we can support greater awareness of tyre safety and encourage practical action to address the risks posed by illegal and poorly maintained tyres.”

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Kumho Tire USA continues to strengthen its position as a major supplier to automakers worldwide, now providing original equipment tyres to over 40 vehicle platforms across nine brands in North America, including Nissan, Hyundai, Kia, Audi and Volkswagen. The expansion reflects growing confidence among manufacturers in the company's engineering and product quality.

The tyre maker was recently chosen as the exclusive OE supplier for Hyundai IONIQ 5 vehicles joining Waymo's next-generation robotaxi fleet in the United States. Such autonomous fleets require tyres that maintain consistent performance across thousands of miles of continuous use, with durability, efficiency and ride comfort proving essential. The Crugen EV HP71 was developed to meet both the demands of high-utilisation fleets and the specific requirements of electric vehicles.

Kumho also secured OE supply deals for select Nissan Rogue and Frontier models sold across North America, extending its longstanding relationship with the automaker. The Rogue will carry the Crugen HP71 all-season touring tyre, while the Frontier will be fitted with the new Road Venture HT all-season highway-terrain tyre, strengthening Kumho's foothold in the SUV and pickup segments.

The Crugen HP71 offers quiet, comfortable driving with year-round capability for CUV and SUV owners, using wide circumferential grooves and micro-serration technology for wet traction and hydroplaning resistance. Its EV variant accommodates heavier electric vehicles, reduces rolling resistance, handles instant torque and incorporates K-Silent sound-absorbing foam. The Road Venture HT, built for pickups and SUVs, delivers improved wet and snow traction and a 10 percent tread-life gain over its predecessor, along with Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake certification.

Shawn Denlein, President – Sales and Marketing, Kumho Tire USA, said, “We are excited to continue strengthening our OE partnerships through new fitments with both Nissan and Hyundai. The Crugen HP71 and its EV counterpart, along with the Road Venture HT, were engineered to deliver reliable, consistent performance for SUV and pick-up drivers. These selections reflect the confidence both Nissan and Hyundai place in KUMHO's engineering and manufacturing expertise.”

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Continental has introduced a Collector's Edition of its Grand Prix 5000 S TR road tyre, a benchmark product developed alongside Tadej Pogačar, the multiple World Champion and Tour de France winner. The limited release sits within the company's ‘Share the Road’ campaign, which seeks to advance road safety, mutual respect and harmonious coexistence among all road users while delivering top-tier performance.

At the heart of the effort is ‘Pogi’, a figure the brand and Pogačar devised together. Appearing across a set of animated stories, the character conveys the central idea that the roads belong to everyone. Each limited-edition tyre package also includes a physical Pogi collectible, extending the character beyond the screen.

The 30-622 tyre carries custom Pogačar branding, including a dedicated Pogi logo and hundreds of miniature Tadej Pogačar logos worked subtly into the Grand Prix 5000 S TR lettering. It retains Continental's benchmark technologies – the BlackChili Compound, Vectran Breaker, Active Comfort Technology and Lazer Grip – and is aimed at both cycling enthusiasts and collectors.

Hannah Ferle, Road Product Manager, Continental Tires, said, “The trust placed in us by world-class athletes like Tadej is both an honour and an incentive. With the Grand Prix 5000 S TR Pogačar Edition, we wanted to bring together our race-proven road performance with a meaningful initiative. Every tyre is crafted with precision to deliver the optimal balance of speed, grip and reliability while celebrating our shared commitment to making roads safer for every rider.”

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DUNLOP has become the first-ever Presenting Partner of the Goodwood Revival, cementing its place in the event’s history after an exceptionally successful partnership at this year’s festival. The three-day event, held from 18 to 20 September, attracted 150,000 attendees from 172 countries and marked the iconic tyre manufacturer’s most prominent presence at the circuit in nearly eight decades.

The Revival provided DUNLOP with an unparalleled platform to celebrate its rich motorsport legacy and connect with a global audience of enthusiasts, collectors and industry professionals. Its presence represented a significant milestone, returning the brand to the Goodwood Motor Circuit nearly 80 years after it first supported the venue’s opening in 1948. The comprehensive activation featured a 600-square-metre exhibition stand, VIP hospitality adjacent to the pit lane and prominent event and circuit branding throughout the weekend.

At the DUNLOP stand in the Revival’s Earls Court motor show, around 25,000 visitors experienced the brand first-hand across all three days, drawn by a trio of Ford GT MkIIs that dominated the podium at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1966. Attendees engaged directly with DUNLOP’s heritage, innovation and commitment to motorsport excellence, while the event’s international turnout underscored the universal appeal of the brand’s story and its enduring position within global motorsport culture. The response from visitors was overwhelming, with the activation highlighting DUNLOP’s history and racing legacy in a unique way.

The inaugural year as Presenting Partner has established a blueprint for future collaboration, resonating with an audience that values heritage, authenticity and engineering excellence. As DUNLOP strengthens its position within global motorsport, the Goodwood Revival partnership stands as a cornerstone activation, celebrating the brand’s legendary status while positioning it as an innovator for the future.

Dennis Wilstermann, Marketing Manager, DUNLOP, said, “Our stand was consistently busy throughout the three days. The level of interest in the DUNLOP brand was remarkable, and the conversations we had with customers, fans and partners were genuinely positive. We are already looking forward to returning to Goodwood Revival in 2027. We cannot wait to return to the Goodwood Revival in 2027. This year has been a powerful reminder of why Goodwood Revival matters to DUNLOP – and why DUNLOP matters to Goodwood Revival."

Hiroshi Hamada, Manging Director, Chairman and CEO, Dunlop Tyre Europe GmbH, said, “This was our first year at Goodwood Revival as Presenting Partner, and it was an unqualified success for us. DUNLOP returning to Goodwood with such a strong presence after so many years is a story in itself – one that validates our commitment to motorsport heritage and innovation.”

The Duke of Richmond CBE DL said, “We were delighted to welcome DUNLOP as presenting partner of Goodwood Revival this year. Having been an integral part of racing here for almost 80 years, the partnership reflects a shared heritage stretching back to 1948, when it was among the original supporters of the Goodwood Motor Circuit. From DUNLOP’s hugely popular stand in Earl's Court, featuring the Ford GT MkIIs that famously finished 1-2-3 at Le Mans in 1966, to its presentation of Sunday's flagship Royal Automobile Club TT Celebration race, the partnership was a fitting celebration of our shared history and passion for motorsport. We look forward to continuing that relationship in the years to come.”

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