TVS Srichakra has entered the European market with its new range of Eurogrip two-wheeler tyres which are customised to meet the European rider’s needs. The company has been meticulously moving on its brand building and product launches in the last two years. In 2019, the company had launched its brand TVS Eurogrip with a new logo and new product range, aiming at younger, millennial and aspirational buyers.

To foray into the European market, TVS Srichakra once again has gone through a lot of studies and product testing. The newly launched range of Eurogrip Bee Connect scooter tyres will be available in a basket of 40 different sizes in the coming months in Europe. Decoding the significance of the Eurogrip Bee Connect name, Andrea Bianchi Milella, Marketing Manager of TVS Srichakra’s Italian Centre, said, “It took quite a long process to came to this to this name-Eurogrip Bee Connect. The pandemic has changed everyone’s life, so has mobility. Due to social distancing and safety, public transportation is being avoided in Europe and, two-wheelers, especially scooters, are increasingly preferred by people to connect with each other. Secondly, at TVS Srichakra, we are the forefront runner for creating ecological consciousness in the tyre industry. We did tremendous work on reducing the environmental impact and increasing the usage of renewable energies with this product. With the Eurogrip Bee Connect, we wanted to highlight that we are very conscious about sustainable mobility and which animal could be better than the bees to symbolise this fact. Bees are industrious and hardworking and, most of the time, on the move, but at the same time, they play kind of a crucial role in the wellbeing of nature and humanity itself. So, we wanted also to highlight this side of our involvement in the automotive industry.”

 The company has entered the European market when the pandemic has put a halt on everyone’s life for more than a year. However, P Madhavan, Executive Vice President - Sales & Marketing, TVS Srichakra, backs the timing to enter the European market, saying the strategic move has been taken after much deliberation. Madhavan says, “I will strongly believe in stop, pause and take a breath, and then look at the very reason where you can go from that point onwards. So we use this period to go back and understand the consumer better. We got into the research more and tried to get fresh insights on the consumer so that if there is that nugget of gold as an opportunity available, go pick that up. That was the thought right through.” 

 The Chennai-headquartered company utilised the recent slowdown period for designing, studying the market trends and the riders’ needs in greater details. The new product development went through multiple rounds of prototyping and subsequent tests in its laboratories and racetracks and roads by some independent testers in Europe. 

 Today, the homegrown company is a leading tyre company in the two-wheelers and three-wheeler and OHT tyre space, operating for more than three decades. The company rolls out around three million tyres every month out of its two manufacturing facilities located in Madurai (Tamil Nadu) and Rudrapur (Uttarakhand). 

Eurogrip Bee Connect for riding experience 

In India, two-wheelers are essentially a mode of commuting, whereas as the consumers in Europe, though in smaller numbers, is more discerning and evolved. 

According to Milella, European two-wheeler riders seek a wholesome experience and are choosy on bikes, accessories, and tyres. “European two-wheeler riders want to enjoy the riding experience, which could be any forms - long rides on highways, country roads, sporty rides, off roads or racetracks. The consumer segment in the region we are dealing with is updated and aware of the types of tyres they require for their needs. So, you need to have quite a lot of offers all across the spectrum to cater to each type of riders. I will say it’s quite interesting,” said Milella.

 Currently, the company is working on new products, which will be released in the first quarter of 2022. A knobby product for off-road purposes and a street tyre for medium and big displacement motorcycles, both in Radial and Cross Ply construction, are lined up for launch in the next few months.

TVS Srichakra has installed an entirely new line at its Madurai plant to manufacture the newly launched range. Elaborating further, V Sivaramakrishnan, Chief Technology Officer (R&D Head), said, “Tyres made for the European market require completely different compounds and materials and need to meet the REACH compliance. So, we have a completely new manufacturing plant dedicated for the European product line in Madurai, India, which includes completely new extruders, tyre building machines, and process.”

 At the start, TVS Srichakra is not looking for sales targets in the European market. The priority for the company is to establish the brand, which another mammoth task for any tyre company. TVS Srichakra has already been in Europe with its Eurogrip brand in the Agri tyre space for five years. “We are designing and developing our products as per the market needs and building our brand. We prefer to have more organic growth,” says Madhavan. 

 The company also plans to introduce some of Eurogrip Bee Connect products in India and other markets in upcoming quarters.

 Not only building a brand, but establishing the retail chain in Europe is another challenge. The retail tyre business in the region is much more organised in both online and offline segments, which give much more options to consumers. In Europe, the retail tyre business is being increasingly driven by digital space, and consumers expect solutions from doorstep delivery and fitment to other services instead of just a product. As of now, TVS Srichakra has no plans to acquire any retail chain or distributors in the replacement market in the region. Currently, the company is working with the leading distributors across all European countries- Italy, Spain, France and the Netherlands. “With our partners, we will be present at the vast majority of retailer across countries to support our customers,” said Milella. 

 TVS Srichakra’s Italian R&D centre will play a vital role in establishing the company’s base in Europe. It focuses on cutting edge technology development and bringing the knowledge and consumers specific inputs in the region. The Italian centre also brings in testing capabilities, which are available globally. The Indian R&D Centre is oriented towards designing detailing, product industrialisation, working from the arts to parts, compound and material testing. “We look into more synergy in terms of technologies getting developed at our India and Europe R&D centres,” said Sivaramakrishnan.

 The company already has a material science lab in India and mentors from Japan and Italy for the material and compound development process.

 Last fifteen months of the pandemic, TVS Srichakra designed and developed new products for the local market. It launched 11 new products for the replacement market, including eight new high-performance tyre sizes for motorcycles, two for scooters and one new tyre size for electric rickshaws. The tyre sizes were introduced under the Sportorq, Jumbo GT, Conta, Durapro and e-Durapro product series.

 In December 2020, the company also announced its planned capital expenditure of INR 10 billion to ramp up manufacturing in its Madurai and Pantnagar plants. This investment is planned to be made over three years. The investment, when fully made, will result in an increase in two and three-wheeler tyre capacity by 25-30 percent and a doubling of off-highway tyre capacity from current levels. 

 The company also worked on digitalisation heavily as it had anticipated that contactless working would be the order of the day. The digitalisation programme helped TVS Srichakra reach the retailers without having the salesman in the field. “Consumers who realised that the shared mobility was out and they pulled out the two-wheelers for service and changed the tyres and battery. So we saw a huge uptick in numbers thanks to the effort that we put in,” said Madhavan.

 Madhavan anticipates that if the COVID situation gets better and the economy comes back on track, the boost the usage of two-wheelers. “That will augur well for us, and we run into the festival season. So, this is to say, we are not fortune tellers there, but the only thing is if the entire thing gets over the next two, three weeks, and the consumers are allowed to move around that that I believe will be a stepping stone to getting a good festive season.” (TT)

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Goodyear is collaborating with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve  for the 15th year in a row to hold its yearly Christmas toy drive in support of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. The public is encouraged to participate at the company’s blimp bases in Ohio, Florida and California. These events offer a unique incentive for donors: an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look inside the iconic Goodyear Blimp’s hangar.

The initiative supports the core mission of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program, established in 1947, which gathers new, unwrapped toys each October through December to distribute as Christmas gifts to disadvantaged children within the local community. The collective impact of this long-term partnership has been significant, resulting in the donation of more than 275,000 toys and raising over USD 765,000 for the programme over the past 15 years.

The event schedule is as follows. At the Ohio base, located at 841 Wingfoot Lake Rd., Mogadore, the drive-through donation will be held from 5th December to 7th December between 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. daily. The Florida base at 1500 NE 5th Ave, Pompano Beach, will host an open house on 7th December from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., requiring online registration for tours. The California base, situated at 19200 S Main St, Carson, will accept donations on 5th December from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and on 6th December from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., with tour spots available through online registration.

For supporters who cannot attend in person, all three Goodyear Airship Bases will accept new, unwrapped toys or monetary donations sent directly to their mailing addresses. Comprehensive details on how to contribute are available on the official Goodyear Blimp website and its Facebook page.

Laura Duda, Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer, Goodyear, said, "All of us at Team Goodyear are excited to celebrate our 15th year of partnering with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve and the Toys for Tots Program, especially during the Goodyear Blimp's 100th anniversary year. Sharing the magic of these iconic blimps while giving back to the community during the holiday season is an opportunity we cherish as an organisation.”

Retired Marine Colonel Ted Silvester, Vice President, Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, said, "We're honoured to mark another milestone with Goodyear returning for their 15th consecutive year as a National Corporate Sponsor of the Marine Toys for Tots Program. Our organisation proudly continues its 78th year of bringing hope, joy and the magic of Christmas to children in need across the nation. Goodyear's dedication to serving communities mirrors the core values the Marine Corps has championed for nearly 80 years through Toys for Tots. Thanks to their ongoing partnership and generosity, we'll reach countless underserved children and help make their holiday wishes come true.”

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G3 Mixing Technologies, a global manufacturer of rubber mixing machinery for the pneumatic, automotive and industrial sectors, is reinforcing its commitment to the American market by establishing its new US headquarters in the heart of Akron, Ohio, a city legendary for its rubber industry heritage. This strategic move to a city synonymous with innovation will significantly enhance local customer support and service, providing tailored solutions for the pneumatic, automotive and industrial sectors.

The official opening is set for 20 November and will be marked by an event for global clients and community leaders, featuring technical presentations, facility tours and networking. This new centre of operations is designed to be a comprehensive resource for business, cutting-edge technical assistance and live demonstrations of mixing technologies on both laboratory and industrial scales, solidifying G3's position as an industry leader.

Pierpaolo and Pierluigi Gagliardi, Board Members of G3 Mixing Technologies, said in a statement, “We are proud to open the new headquarters in Akron, a city with a great industrial heritage and the beating heart of the rubber industry in the United States. This investment confirms our ambition for international growth and to offer American customers direct and rapid access to our solutions.”

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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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