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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The Kari Motor Speedway witnessed a thrilling conclusion to the 28th JK Tyre FMSCI National Racing Championship, crowning a host of new champions across multiple categories. In the premier LGB Formula 4 class, Dhruvh Goswami of MSport staged a remarkable comeback to seize the title. The 18-year-old from Bengaluru, who began the final round trailing in the standings, dominated the weekend by winning three out of four races. His championship-winning performance was highlighted in the final 20-lap race, where he started seventh on a reverse grid but demonstrated strategic patience and skill, overtaking rivals including former champion Diljith TS and his own teammate, Ruhaan Alva, to claim a decisive victory. Monith Kumaran Srinivasan from Ahura Racing was awarded the Rookie title in the same category.

The event also featured the FIA-certified Formula 4 Indian Championship, where South Africa’s Luviwe Sambudla secured his first season win with a commanding pole-to-finish drive in the opening race. The podium saw international talent shine, with Ghazi Motlekar of Mozambique taking second and India’s Ishaan Madesh clinching third after a late overtake. In the subsequent race, Kenya’s Shane Chandaria claimed the win from pole position, followed by Motlekar in second and France’s Sachel Rotge in third.

In the two-wheeled action of the Royal Enfield Continental GT Cup, Anish Shetty from Bengaluru capped off his dominant season with another victory, having already secured the professional category title the previous day. The amateur class crown was claimed by Pondicherry’s Bryan Nicholas.

The championship also celebrated winners in its newer and entry-level series. Balaji Raju secured the Rookie crown in the debut JK Tyre Levitas Cup by winning both of the day's races, while Coimbatore’s Jai Prashanth Venkat dominated the Gentlemen category. The JK Tyre Novice Cup provided a dramatic finale, with Lokithlingeash Ravi of Pollachi emerging victorious in a tense season-ending shootout to claim the championship honours.

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The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. has solidified its position within the world of professional tennis by extending its official partnership with the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), the premier governing body for men's tennis. This renewed agreement, which now runs through 2028, confirms the company’s role as the ATP Tour’s Official Tyre Partner, a Gold-level sponsorship. The primary motivation behind this sustained alliance is to significantly elevate global recognition of the YOKOHAMA brand and to cultivate new avenues for sales, with a particular strategic focus on the European market.

As a central component of this partnership, Yokohama Rubber will be the sponsor of five key European tournaments held in Italy, Spain, Germany and Monaco. A highlight of this sponsorship portfolio is the prestigious ATP Finals, the season-ending championship that exclusively features the world’s top eight ranked singles players and doubles teams. This involvement grants the company extensive promotional rights, including the ability to use the official ATP Tour logo in its marketing campaigns. Furthermore, the YOKOHAMA brand will receive substantial on-site visibility at these events and will be featured across the ATP’s massive digital platforms, which include social media channels with millions of followers and an official website that attracts hundreds of millions of annual views.

Adding a dynamic new layer to this collaboration, Yokohama Rubber will also become the official partner for the ATP Tour’s ‘Hot Shot of the Month’. This popular digital feature allows tennis fans worldwide to vote for their favourite shot from monthly competitions. This year-round partnership creates a continuous and engaging touchpoint, directly connecting the YOKOHAMA brand with the passionate global community of ATP fans.

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A new trans-Tasman alliance has been formed to fundamentally reshape the approach to end-of-life tyres in Australia and New Zealand. The Trans-Tasman Tyre Recycling Alliance (TTRA), a joint initiative of Tyre Stewardship Australia (TSA) and Tyrewise New Zealand, will function as an independent entity dedicated to advancing a circular economy for the sector. This collaboration arrives at a critical moment, as the two nations collectively discard more than 600,000 tonnes of tyres annually, presenting a significant environmental and economic challenge.

The urgency for such an alliance is underscored by recent data. In Australia, a mere 30,000 tonnes of end-of-life tyres are currently recycled domestically, leading to an estimated annual loss of over USD 50 million in resource value from large off-the-road tyres alone. Furthermore, a substantial portion of tyres in both countries are used for energy recovery rather than being transformed into valuable materials, highlighting a widespread missed opportunity for higher-value recovery. The TTRA will specifically champion advanced material applications, moving beyond this status quo to promote the use of crumb rubber in road construction, advanced manufacturing and innovative new products.

The alliance’s strategy is built upon five interconnected pillars: fostering technology and innovation, developing new markets for tyre-derived products, advocating for supportive policy and procurement standards, facilitating knowledge exchange across the industry and establishing a unified regional voice in global forums. This formal partnership allows both nations to leverage their distinct experiences; New Zealand can learn from Australia's more developed recycling markets, while Australia can gain insights from New Zealand's implementation of a regulated, mandatory stewardship scheme.

Scheduled to commence full operations in early 2026, the TTRA will not replace the existing national schemes but will instead operate alongside them, with both TSA and Tyrewise contributing resources and expertise. The formation of the alliance follows a successful global industry summit and signals a concerted effort to elevate industry standards, drive investment and create a more sustainable future for tyre management across the Australasian region and eventually into the Pacific.

Lina Goodman, CEO, Tyre Stewardship Australia, said, "We must work together across borders to unlock the full potential of circular tyre recovery and build resilience against global market disruptions. Through TTRA, we can get ahead of risks, capitalise on opportunities and accelerate the development of local markets for tyre-derived materials. The formation of TTRA reflects growing momentum behind product stewardship, circular economy outcomes and government mandates on recycled content, particularly in infrastructure projects.”

Adele Rose, CEO of 3R Group which manages New Zealand’s Tyrewise scheme, said, "Tyrewise has demonstrated how quickly a regulated system can deliver high collection rates and meaningful recovery outcomes. Through TTRA, we can not only share our learnings but can also be the incubator for new technology that demonstrates how a regulated well-supported scheme can foster greater circular outcomes. In addition, this assists us to support our close pacific neighbours who receive new and used tyres from our respective countries, often without the resources to manage those tyres when they become end of life. This is about building resilient, circular economies that support jobs, innovation and environmental responsibility. The future of tyre recycling in our region depends on the kind of collaboration TTRA represents."

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A new, comprehensive national campaign is underway to address the critical issue of tyre safety within UK fleets. Spearheaded by TyreSafe, the UK’s charity dedicated to raising tyre safety awareness, this six-week educational initiative is founded upon three specialised toolkits developed in collaboration with industry leaders Driving for Better Business (DfBB), FORS and Lancashire County Council. This represents the most extensive suite of business-focused tyre safety resources the organisation has ever released, aiming to help companies strengthen compliance, enhance driver safety and achieve significant operational cost savings.

The campaign seeks to reframe tyre maintenance from a purely technical concern to a core business priority with profound implications. Neglected tyres present a major safety hazard, contributing to a heightened risk of collisions. Alarmingly, government data reveals that in 2024, 29 percent of all road fatalities occurred in incidents involving someone driving for work. Beyond the human cost, poorly maintained tyres have a direct financial and environmental impact; they waste fuel, increase emissions and lead to premature wear. This is particularly concerning given that transport remains a primary source of UK greenhouse gas emissions. Research underscores the scale of the problem, indicating that a majority of tyres on UK roads are underinflated and a significant number of vehicles are operating with at least one dangerous tyre.

To provide practical solutions, the three new toolkits offer step-by-step guidance and editable resources for seamless implementation. Developed with DfBB, the Grey Fleet Toolkit assists employers in managing the safety of employee-owned vehicles used for business purposes. In partnership with FORS, the Fleet Tyre Management Toolkit helps companies embed industry best practices for tyre procurement, inspection and maintenance. Finally, the Fleet Service Manager Toolkit, created with Lancashire County Council, provides fleet leaders and workshop managers with the materials needed to integrate tyre safety into staff training and daily operational checks. This broader effort by TyreSafe encourages businesses to view proper tyre care through the interconnected lenses of legal compliance, financial cost and carbon footprint, demonstrating how correct maintenance simultaneously reduces risk, saves money and supports sustainability targets. All resources are now available on the TyreSafe website.

Stuart Lovatt, TyreSafe Chair, said, “Tyre safety is not just about maintenance – it’s about responsibility. Every underinflated or worn tyre adds to a business’s costs, carbon footprint and legal exposure. Through these new toolkits and our six-week education campaign, we want to help fleets of every size understand that tyre safety is a measurable way to protect lives, budgets and reputations. Lancashire County Council’s partnership shows how tyre safety can be woven into daily operations, not added as an afterthought. By embedding simple checks into training and supervision, fleet teams can prevent incidents before they happen. Tyres are often missed during daily checks but one of the biggest influences on safety. We urge business drivers and fleet managers to ACT to ensure sound tyre safety management is included in their fleet policies which can make every journey safer, more efficient and sustainable.”

Simon Turner, Engagement Manager, DfBB, said, “Grey fleet drivers represent a hidden risk for many employers. This toolkit helps organisations bring them into the same safety and compliance framework as company drivers – meeting legal obligations and protecting everyone on the road.”

Daniel Fisher, Fleet Services Manager, Lancashire County Council, said, “Partnering with TyreSafe has allowed us to leverage our fleet management experience to provide practical guidance for others. The Fleet Service Manager Toolkit shows how simple, consistent tyre checks can improve compliance, cut costs and keep drivers safer. It’s a model that any organisation – public or private – can adopt.”

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