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.”

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ICRA's October 2026 monthly report on the Indian automobile industry's passenger vehicle segment shows that September 2026 brought strong year-on-year gains in wholesale and retail volumes, aided by improved replacement demand following GST rate cuts. The rating agency forecasts industry volumes to grow 4–6 percent in FY2027. The moderation in growth stems from the elevated base in the second half of FY2026, normalisation of pent-up demand, higher vehicle costs and a weak monsoon.

Original equipment manufacturers kept production steady to serve robust domestic demand, lifting wholesale volumes 22 percent year-on-year to 460,000 units in September 2026. Retail sales climbed 43 percent, helped by newly launched models, larger OEM discounts and revised GST rates. During the first half of FY2027, wholesale dispatches and retail registrations rose around 28 percent and 29 percent year-on-year, respectively, against a modest base in the same period of FY2026 that was partly affected by geopolitical tensions in northern India.

Pre-festive stocking pushed inventory to 43–45 days at the end of September 2026, well below the 60-day level a year earlier. Utility vehicles made up about 68 percent of passenger vehicle volumes in the first half of FY2027. While utility vehicles continue to drive demand, the mini, compact and super-compact segments have shown a slight recovery after GST rate cuts, and passenger car demand is also expected to increase. Export volumes grew 25.8 percent sequentially in September 2026 as OEMs focused on production amid strong domestic demand. Maruti Suzuki India Limited led the market, followed by Hyundai Motor India Limited.

ICRA anticipates wholesale volume growth of 4–6 percent in FY2027, including a 28 percent rise in the first half, amid expected price increases due to rising input costs and normalisation of pent-up demand. A below-average monsoon could weaken rural sentiment, and recent price hikes by OEMs such as Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai Motor India could weigh on growth. Electric vehicle penetration increased to around 7.5 percent in the first half of FY2027 from 4.2 percent in FY2026, driven partly by a growing preference for EVs amid elevated fuel prices.

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Mickey Thompson Tires & Wheels will return to the 2026 SEMA Show, scheduled for 3–6 November at the Las Vegas Convention Center, with new products, expanded fitments and builds reflecting the brand's racing heritage and future direction. The company will appear in two locations: Central Hall Booth #22453 in the Race/Performance section and Silver Lot Booth #80001.

The display will feature vehicles from classic American muscle and vintage pickups to modern off-road machines, each demonstrating uncompromising enthusiast construction. Highlights include a limited-edition Street Comp GHT Signature Series tyre, expanded Baja Boss A/T and M/T sizes and new 15- and 16-inch MT Classic Forged wheel fitments.

Making its global debut, the ultra-premium Street Comp GHT Signature Series adds a premium sidewall with a deeper black finish and foil-like decals showing the Mickey Thompson logo, tyre name and founder's signature. It will be offered in 275/40R20 and 315/35R20 sizes for select Chevrolet Camaro, Dodge Challenger and Charger, BMW M, Porsche Panamera and other high-performance vehicles.

The Baja Boss A/T and M/T lines gain 29 new SKUs spanning classic off-road fitments, tall narrow ‘pizza-cutter’ sizes, aggressive 37- to 40-inch tires for trail rigs, large-rim-diameter applications and hard metric sizes for trail-ready SUVs. The MT Classic Forged wheel family expands with 15x14, 16x14 and 16x16 offerings combining forged construction and iconic styling with extreme widths and multiple bolt patterns.

Inside Central Hall, a 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 from GAP Industries will run Street Comp GHT tyres up front and ET Street R tyres at the rear, while a 2026 Dodge Charger from Diesel Brothers will showcase the Signature Series. Outside in the Silver Lot, a 2020 Mickey Thompson Gladiator Overland Build will ride on 40x13.50 Baja Boss A/T tyres, a 1979 Toyota Pickup 4WD on LT255/90R16 Baja Boss A/T rubber and 16x8 Canyon wheels, a 1978 Ford F-150 on 33x15.50R15 LT tyres and 15x14 MT Classic Forged wheels and a 2022 Ford Bronco on Baja Belted II tires and 17x14 MT Classic Forged wheels.

Beyond its booths, Mickey Thompson products will appear on builds across the SEMA campus, including a 2026 Toyota Tacoma on 40-inch Baja Boss A/T tyres, a Lexus GX550 on 40-inch Baja Boss M/T tyres, a 2025 Toyota GR Supra set up for the strip and a 1969 Ford F-100 on Street Comp tyres. Additional projects will be featured with Rockstar Performance Garage, Yukon Gear & Axle, Showa, Liberty Forged, Anderson Composites, Cerakote, TORA Off Road Allegiance, Borla, Evercoat and Tremec, along with a Battle of the Builders Young Guns entry and SEMA-featured locations hosting a 1977 Ford F-150 Ranger, 2023 Ram 2500, 1956 Volvo, 1976 Ford Crew Cab, 1978 F-150 and sixth-generation Bronco.

Matt Arko, General Manager – Marketing and Product, Mickey Thompson Tires & Wheels, said, "SEMA is built for people who believe a vehicle should be more than transportation. It's an opportunity to showcase your individuality and stand out from the crowd. That's always been the Mickey Thompson mindset. Whether someone is chasing a quicker pass, building a trail rig or reimagining a classic truck, we want to give them the tyres and wheels to build it their way. This year, we're bringing that full street, strip and off-road spirit to Las Vegas. What's exciting to us is the variety of sizes and applications available in our lineup. We have nicknames for each application, designed to be music to the ears of all of our Mickey Thompson fans!"

These are the nicknames:

• Rock Crawlers: Iconic 15- and 16-inch fitments for traditional Jeep and off-road builds
• Pizza Cutters: Tall, narrow fitments that deliver additional ground clearance in a reduced load, lighter weight package
• Rockstars: Aggressive 37-, 38- and 40-inch fitments for serious trail rigs and custom builds
• Show-Stoppers: 20- and 24-inch fitments that bring Baja Boss capability and attitude to premium truck builds
• Trail-Ready: Additional hard metric fitments that broaden Baja Boss A/T availability for modern SUVs and off-road vehicles

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Tegeta Green Planet organised an informational and practical campaign titled ‘Don’t Throw It Away, Hand It In’ in Khobi on 27 October aimed at promoting environmental responsibility and proper management of specific waste streams. The initiative targeted local residents, vehicle owners, drivers and private sector representatives, encouraging greater involvement in environmental efforts.

A dedicated waste collection point was established in Khobi, allowing residents to dispose of end-of-life tyres, used automotive batteries and waste oils. Participants received information about responsible automotive waste management and available disposal options. The campaign also highlighted Extended Producer Responsibility principles, teaching attendees about the role of EPR organisations, subsequent waste management stages and importers’ legal obligations.

Community engagement proved notably high, reflecting growing public interest in environmental responsibility. Active citizen participation demonstrated the important role that awareness-raising and practical collection opportunities play in fostering an environmental culture. Symbolic gifts were provided to encourage participation, while the initiative strengthened cooperation opportunities with local businesses and raised awareness of Tegeta Green Planet’s regional activities.

Tegeta Green Planet continues implementing regional campaigns and educational projects throughout Georgia, aiming to foster responsible waste management culture, raise public awareness and promote circular economy principles.

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Bridgestone Retail Operations, the world’s largest network of company-owned automotive service providers and a subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas, has donated 10 new passenger vans to Boys & Girls Clubs of America. The contribution brings the company’s total giving to more than 100 vans and over USD 30 million since 2015, a milestone that aligns with the 100th anniversary of Bridgestone-owned Firestone Complete Auto Care.

The 100th Driving Great Futures van was presented to Boys & Girls Clubs of the Austin Area in Austin, Texas, while the nine remaining vehicles will go to local Clubs nationwide. These vans will transport young people to and from Clubs and provide access to field trips, college tours and other enrichment activities. Bridgestone will further support the recipient Clubs by servicing the new vehicles at its retail stores.

Recipients of the 2026 van grants include Clubs in Austin, Texas; Reno, Nev.; Lynn, Mass.; Oklahoma City, Okla.; Topeka, Kan.; Garden Grove, Calif.; Santa Rosa, Calif.; Greenville, Texas; West Bend, Wis. and Albany, Ga.

Bridgestone launched its Driving Great Futures national partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America in 2015 to help more young people access the opportunities, experiences and support they need to succeed. Through donations collected at its retail stores, the company has addressed transportation-related needs and bridged technology gaps by funding new computers and hotspots for in-person programming, virtual classroom learning and other infrastructure needs.

Marko Ibrahim, President, Bridgestone Retail Operations, said, “Donating our 100th van as we celebrate 100 years of business is a testament to the dedication and generosity of our teammates and customers. We believe in the transformative power of Boys & Girls Clubs and are honoured to provide the critical transportation that makes their life-changing resources accessible to kids and teens in the communities we serve.”

Jim Clark, President and CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, said, “For more than a decade, Bridgestone has helped ensure Club kids and teens can access the opportunities and support they need to succeed. Reliable transportation helps connect young people to caring mentors, safe places and experiences that can change the trajectory of their lives. Today, 97 percent of Club kids expect to graduate from high school, and partnerships like Driving Great Futures help make outcomes like that possible. We’re grateful for Bridgestone’s continued commitment to young people and proud to celebrate this remarkable 100-van milestone.”

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