Jyotsna came on board as the CFO and Head of IT of Bridgestone India, around two-and-a-half years ago - in April 2018. Since then, she has ensured attentive capacities are in place, thus focusing on maintaining cost control and delegating financial management. Afterall, the tyre industry is highly competitive and market-driven. And yes, digital evolution and safety of her colleagues and business partners have become one of her top priorities during the pandemic.

Raised in a modest and orthodox business family of six daughters, principles such as hard work, humility, and honesty were a natural part of growing up for her. Married at the age of twenty-one, Jyotsna wanted to be more than just a housewife. Thus, she pursued her grinding CA qualification while being a mother of a baby boy.

“I pursued further education and got a professional qualification, CA, in 1994. Not an easy call in any way. The profession itself was demanding and then to be able to garner the support of the larger family was a big task considering the social norms at the time. However, with the great support from my in-laws, my husband Rajesh, and my conviction, I managed to pursue this new path,” Jyotsna recalls.

When asked about what she would attribute to the leadership qualities she has achieved, she reflects on her family background and the formative years of her life. Marriage was the ultimate end-goal for all girls back then, she says. But, her father, who was a civil engineer, and ran a unit into precision tools manufacturing, understood the value of education. He ensured all his daughters received quality higher education. This paid off as all of Jyotsna’s sisters are highly qualified across different streams.

Jyotsna also mentions the underlying importance of financial independence that was ever-present while growing up. These values, coupled with formal education and academics, added to her versatile calibre. However, she says studies were never her cup of tea. Her interests were games, food, and fun. Having done her graduation at BMCC, life was relatively stress-free then.

However, getting married at the early age was a turning point in her life when she braved the conventional social norms at the time and pursued her CA studies. She adds that the journey from 1989-1994 was full of challenges, excitement, courage, and family support. Significant challenges to pursue her CA were to convince the in-laws to allow her to go and live in a hostel and study and to be able to meet social obligations as a newly-wed woman, and not being able to give time to her son.

 “To be able to give my 100% to the studies amidst all of this was quite difficult. However, I always kept my eye on the big picture.”

Jyotsna started her professional career at Kinetic Honda, a manufacturing organisation which, she says, was not perceived to be ideal for women and had limitations to growth. “But that made me work even harder. However, it was a role of my choice, and I worked with them for nine years, and those were my formative career years. A combination of experience at Firodiya, a well-respected business house and a Japanese business brand is great learning for any finance professional. I took additional responsibilities on multiple functions and projects to rise the ladder at a good pace as by now; I had found my Ikigai- a reason to live.”

 “Amidst all this, the family challenges continued as my husband Rajesh had moved to Singapore, and I single-handedly attended to our son”.

At the workplace, she always ensures that she works hard and does everything from grassroots and is never bothered about her designation and qualification as, for her, that is a means and not an end. “Over the years, I worked on building and strengthening relationships and never really kept any limitations to what I wanted to achieve.”

COVID has turned the auto industry upside down. New normal is becoming a part of life and businesses as well. Whereas the challenges of COVID have been unprecedented, it also brought new ways of doing businesses. Now employee safety is becoming a top priority, while digital evolution is bringing a new era ahead of the industry.

At Bridgestone, Jyotsna says, the safety of their people and safeguarding their operations have been the topmost priority. Ever since COVID first hit the country, the company took proactive measures to not only keep the people safe but, also streamline operations in the wake of new normal. Furthermore, at the back of accelerated digitisation, Bridgestone India has been able to bring the right solutions for its consumers as well as ensure the same levels of productivity within the organisation. 

When asked about how she feels about working in such a dynamic industry, Jyotsna says, “The automobile industry is where my professional career is slated. Kinetic Honda, SKF Bearings, NRB Bearings, Sandvik Asia and now Bridgestone are my performing turfs. One side of the industry, i.e., channel partners, are the same - similar channels set up requirements, risks, opportunities, and expectations of the partners. What differs is the strength of the product and strength of the competitor. Bridgestone, with its world-class Japanese technology in tyre manufacturing, is one of the leading and most trusted brands with all the strengths on the product, manufacturing, and innovation.” 

“The market in India is huge, and the progressive growth and demographics of the country are definitely positive. At Bridgestone India, we are financially secure with a good product range, best manufacturing facilities, substantial market share, reliable channel partners and an ambitious and committed workforce. The biggest risk is getting complacent and losing focus on cost. The tyre industry is competitive, and market driven. Also, the capacities are in place, thus keeping focus and maintaining cost control is the financial management challenge which is exciting.”

Like everyone, COVID has influenced Jyotsna’s personal and professional life. According to her, COVID was a blessing in disguise to be able to spend all this time at home and spending time to call and check on all near and dear ones, reconnecting, rejuvenating were positives in this situation.

However, work from home bears multiple challenges and ,for her the divide between official work and domestic duties was practically invisible. As the Head of IT and CFO, Jyotsna had a great responsibility to ensure the digital solutions were up and running and without causing the loss of productivity at the same time managing concerns around security and support. “As a CFO, a time to complete FY 20 financials and audits, and the Mid-term – 3 years business plan process which were very challenging.”

“But I would say the times have tested my abilities to stay strong under all situations. I would like to say this to my fellow leaders that encourage your teams throughout and keep the work exciting as always. This will ensure a positive sentiment in these trying times.”

As much as work is refreshing with so much happening, Jyotsna does take personal time to recharge. She loves to drive and have been doing rallies like Raid the Himalaya, Desert Storm, Spice Challenge. She has also done international driving vacations.

 “Amidst the lockdown, I recently drove to Bangalore to be with my son Prateek. The memory of absolutely traffic-free roads and my car racing at 230-250 with confidence to touch Bangalore from Pune non-stop in 9 hours was wonderful. We drove through Kabini and spent a holiday together, making memories.”

“I also like to read, so I took this opportunity to download the most read books Ikigai, Atomic Habits, Just do It – the Nike story and many more.”

 “Netflix was another relaxing way to spend some time, and the most exciting watch for me was Drills apart from many others. I love to socialise and continued e-socialising as well.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Pirelli has chosen the softest trio in its range for the Mexico City Grand Prix, with the C3 as Hard, the C4 as Medium and the C5 as Soft. This departs from last year, when a compound step using the C2 as Hard proved less appealing than the softer alternatives. The second round of the Americas triple-header takes place at the circuit named after brothers Pedro and Ricardo Rodríguez, unique on the calendar due to its altitude of over 2,000 metres.

A large portion of the circuit has been resurfaced, covering Turn 16 to Turn 1 and Turn 7 to Turn 16, leaving only the first sector largely unchanged. New asphalt normally brings higher grip and lower roughness, though its actual characteristics will need assessment during the opening stages. The track is often dirty early on, with grip improving lap after lap, and that evolution could be more pronounced this year.

The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez has traditionally been one of the least demanding circuits on tyres, with low-speed corners and limited lateral loads keeping wear under control. The thin air reduces aerodynamic load, increasing tyre slip and making graining a factor to watch, possibly more so with the smoother asphalt. The circuit's low severity could favour a one-stop race, though tyre management to extend stints will remain important, particularly for the rear axle.

Strategy may depend more on driver confidence in a compound than on genuine tyre life limitation, with some teams favouring softer compounds for grip and others the Hard for consistency. The Soft could play a central role, having shown strong characteristics on low-severity circuits. Braking performance also warrants monitoring, as the altitude reduces aerodynamic efficiency and the long main straight into Turn 1 could increase lock-up risk. Last year's grid was split between one-stop and two-stop strategies. This will be the sixth Grand Prix under the Mexico City Grand Prix name, with Max Verstappen the most successful driver at the venue with five victories, matching Red Bull. The Pirelli Podium Cap celebrates Día de los Muertos, which falls on race Sunday.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Mitas marked its entry into Chinese agriculture with an official brand ceremony held on 27 October at the National Exhibition Center in Tianjin, during CIAME 2026, the China International Agricultural Machinery Exhibition. Customers, partners and industry figures attended the event, which introduced the international tyre maker and its agricultural portfolio to the local market.

Bringing close to 100 years of tyre manufacturing experience and enduring ties with farmers and equipment builders around the world, the company presents Chinese customers with a commercially available international option built on proven agricultural knowledge, technology and dependability. The dedicated exhibition booth featured the HC 2000 and SFT CHO. The former, a VF tractor tyre, delivers high load capacity at low inflation pressure alongside efficient traction and diminished soil compaction, achieved through a large contact patch and even load distribution. The latter, engineered for demanding cyclic-load duties, pairs high load capacity and low inflation pressure with a broad footprint for gentle ground handling. Both models demonstrated the brand's dedication to proven engineering and high-value performance for contemporary agriculture.

Going forward, the company plans to strengthen its Chinese footprint by collaborating closely with equipment manufacturers, distributors and farmers, deepening understanding of local applications and addressing the evolving requirements of Chinese agriculture.

Roberta D’Agnano, Global Marketing Director Mitas at Yokohama TWS, said, “Entering the Chinese market means bringing the strength of an established international brand to a new customer base. Mitas combines nearly a century of agricultural expertise with proven tyre technology and a clear focus on dependable performance. Our ambition is to establish Mitas as a reliable partner for Chinese farmers, distributors and equipment manufacturers, offering solutions that help them get the most from their machinery.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

The U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) has published its 2025 End-of-Life Tire Market Report, continuing a biennial series begun in the early 1990s. With over 30 years of figures on tyre generation, destination markets and stockpiles, the study stands as the nation's most thorough accounting of what happens to tyres after they leave the road.

Of the 273 million tyres retired nationwide in 2025, some 79 percent were absorbed by end-use markets. Only lead-acid batteries surpass tyres as a recycled and reclaimed material; paper, aluminium, glass and PET plastic all trail behind. The result is that valuable rubber stays in productive circulation rather than accumulating in landfills.

Abandoned and illegal stockpiles shrank to roughly 42.1 million tyres, compared with about 48 million two years earlier – a 12 percent drop in that span and a 96 percent fall from the billion-tyre high of 1990. Colorado's cleanup effort accounted for much of the gain, eliminating over 12 million tyres, while New Jersey and Pennsylvania recorded large reductions. North Carolina, Tennessee and Delaware cleared their stockpiles entirely, and land disposal declined nearly 11 percent to 779 thousand tonnes.

Tyre-derived fuel stayed the biggest outlet, taking about 1,317 thousand tonnes, with ground rubber just behind at roughly 1,201 thousand tonnes. Cement kilns consumed about 5 percent more, reaching 821 thousand tonnes – 62 percent of all tyre-derived fuel – as carbon-reduction mandates and the fuel's biogenic nature enhance its appeal. Reclamation applications expanded by roughly a tenth.

Most declines arose from forces outside the industry's influence. Pulp and paper mill shutdowns halved nothing less than 40 percent of that outlet, while revised Michigan energy rules trimmed utility boiler demand by about 22 percent. Synthetic turf continues yielding ground to cork, coconut husk and olive pit infill; moulded and extruded goods eased from a 2021 high; and energy price swings have shifted tyre-derived fuel's competitiveness. Exports, however, climbed 270 percent since 2023 – from 253 thousand tonnes to 936 thousand tonnes – making them the third-largest outlet, driven by India's rapid growth and sustained fuel shipments to Japan and South Korea. USTMA urges exporters to confirm that receiving markets are environmentally sound and economically viable.

Near-term investments include Tire Recycling Foundation-backed environmental product declarations, wider chip seal use, advances in dry-process rubber-modified asphalt and pavement funding. Kentucky devoted over USD 1.16 million in 2025 to nine county rubber-asphalt projects, and California opened USD 6.57 million in grants for fiscal 2025–26. Pyrolysis is now quantifiable as it reaches commercial scale, and the Tire Recycling Foundation is growing into a platform for education, research and demonstration. State-level stockpile figures accompany the report on the ELT Report page of the association’s website.

Anne Forristall Luke, president and CEO, USTMA, said, “This report gives a picture of a market in transition. Stockpile cleanup continues, and 79 percent of end-of-life tyres reached end-use markets. At the same time, several domestic markets contracted, and the rise in exports shows strong demand for this material outside the US Together, those trends tell us our markets still depend on a handful of large industrial outlets, and that market development has to be the priority. The data points to where the work is needed, and much of that work is already underway.”

Amelia Chucholowski, Associate Director, Sustainability and Recycling Policy, USTMA, said, “International demand further demonstrates that this material has real value, but our priority is domestic circular end-use markets, because a tire processed here supports a US recycler, US jobs and US infrastructure. That includes ensuring that domestic processors have adequate feedstock. We’re watching it closely and working with our global partners both to understand what’s driving this trend and to report it transparently.

“The work that actually grows these markets is underway right now, and almost none of it shows up in a 2025 market report. Read this report as a snapshot of 2025. What we’re building now will be measured against in the future. State programmes have built one of the country’s great recycling success stories. 96 percent of the tyre stockpiles that existed in 1990 are gone, and the lesson is clear: when states fund their programmes, enforce the rules and invest in markets, results follow. The next chapter is about markets. The more states invest in uses like rubber-modified asphalt, the more tires become roads, products and energy here at home.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

PRINX CHENGSHAN showcased a lineup of agricultural tyres under its Chengshan brand at the 2026 China International Agricultural Machinery Exhibition (CIAME 2026) in Tianjin on 26 October. The display featured tyre solutions tailored to modern agricultural needs, with emphasis on large-scale field cultivation and fall harvesting applications.

Rising performance demands across smart, high-end and environmentally sustainable farming have prompted the company to steadily expand its research and development investment in agricultural tyre applications. PRINX CHENGSHAN has built a comprehensive portfolio for large agricultural machinery, including tractors and combine harvesters, delivering integrated solutions for varied operating conditions along with service support spanning the entire product life cycle.

The TX600 and TX700 radial tyres, intended mainly for tractors, each offer distinct advantages. The TX600 pairs large tread blocks with a proprietary cut- and puncture-resistant rubber compound, ensuring stable driving, dependable handling and puncture resistance during high-speed transfers between work areas. The TX700 employs a high-strength carcass and belt construction to deliver strong load capacity and traction, even in muddy, difficult fields.

For combine harvesters, the TX2000 raises load capacity by 20 percent through high-flexion characteristics, while its low inflation pressure and larger contact patch lessen soil compaction, reconciling efficient operations with farmland protection. The TB500 bias-ply tyre, a notable addition to the tractor range, features a deep tread and large, robust blocks for excellent traction, wear resistance and puncture resistance, sustaining stable, slip-resistant performance in mud and gravel.

Looking ahead, PRINX CHENGSHAN plans to continue advancing agricultural tyre innovation, targeting the evolving requirements of modern equipment and practical field challenges. The company aims to collaborate closely with partners throughout the agricultural machinery supply chain to enhance the quality and efficiency of modern farming and support a stronger agricultural sector and greater food security in China.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!