With increasing technology and service-oriented approach and thrust on transparency in the pursuit of delivering service excellence towards the end-user, tyre dealers will evolve to be seen as providing the values expected of a specialist and not a generalist, says Satish Sharma, President (Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa) and Whole Time Director, Apollo Tyres. 

“In terms of the changes, we will see more transparency ushered in by the technology and change in mindset. The new generation is more data-oriented, so testing and other data will be asked. I believe the service aspect and data-oriented approach will get expanded. A ‘24x7 for 365 days’ kind of service availability will be seen. Retailers are still looked upon as generalists. More and more specialisation will be happening, as the tyre is an engineering product and you want the right quality, assurance and replacements. So, retailers will emerge as specialists. There are also some regulations, such as tyre labelling and end-of-life, coming in. I’m sure the tyre retailers will have a role to play in the regulatory changes that are happening. So, the evolutionary journey is happening in bits and pieces. But given that the change is speedy, we are hopeful that this is the direction we will go,” explains Sharma.

The Indian tyre retail business has witnessed tremendous changes in the recent past. Earlier, a tyre dealership business was not seen as an aspirational choice. Still, with the evolution of finance for commercial vehicle tyres, the emergence of passenger car and motorcycle tyres as a specialised business – which offers a lot from the service angle – is producing a new breed of entrepreneurs who see the tyre retail business as a vocational profession. 

“Today, we are seeing entrepreneurs who have gone from a single retail outlet to multiple retail outlets looking at the benefits of covering the geography. Many of them are also having multiple retail outlets with various brands. On the two-wheeler tyre side, the traditional tyre retail outlet is not able to cater to that market, but they are available at mechanical shops or even puncture shops. At some places where the scaling has happened, one has also seen the entry of some professionals,” adds Sharma.

Tyre service is also emerging as a source of revenue. Specialisations around fitment, alignment balancing, nitrogen filling and other services have generated a sizeable portion of revenues. As radialisation is happening in the commercial tyre segment, dealers are also expanding their business on highways.

New challenges are cropping up for dealers with the emergence of new business models, where tyre companies are catering to end-users directly through supplying tyres on rent or on a CPKM basis and selling on their own websites. However, Apollo Tyres prefers to keep its partners as an integral part of its new business models. Sharma explains, “Providing tyres as a service is happening in the commercial tyre segment, where few tyre companies go directly to the end-user. However, Apollo Tyres has never gone that route and does not believe in going that route. We sell and service only through our dealer partners, and that’s been our preferred choice. When we opt for new business models, we always take care of channel conflict in our organisation. Even if we have to provide services directly to the end-user, we will train our dealer partners to provide the services. That’s the way we handle it. And I believe that’s the right way to handle it. In the passenger tyre segment, many local dealers are selling tyres online with the help of e-commerce portals. That’s why you normally won’t find the desired product on these e-commerce portals, and it’s not a very efficient business as of now.

Apollo Tyres had launched an e-commerce portal, shop.apollotyres.com, for passenger car and two-wheeler tyre customers two years ago to cater to the online selling tyres business. With the portal, consumers can purchase their chosen tyres online and book an appointment with Apollo Tyres’ dealer nearest to their location to get the tyres fitted and serviced. The Indian tyre major also has a portal for commercial vehicle tyres. Consumers can directly buy tyres on the portal, but the commercial transactions are passed to the dealer servicing the customer’s needs. “However, this business model, again in its nascent stage, is not as if it’s put the world on fire. For e-commerce for tyres, there’s a long way to go, simply because the customer realises the quality of service you can actually get by going to the dealer counter and having a good relationship with a tyre specialist – because you need the services repeatedly. As the bouquet of services at a tyre dealer is increasing, you can go to a tyre dealer even for a puncture. If this business model takes off, we are already a foot inside the door,” adds Sharma.

Apollo Tyres will launch a digital experience centre to reach its targeted consumers widely. However, the company firmly believes that a real- life experience of the product better impacts the consumers. In line with this, it is making efforts to train its dealers, setting up a standardised format for its branded retail outlets such as Apollo Zones, Apollo Corner, Apollo Points and Apollo CV Zones. “With our branded retail outlets, we have changed the perception of a tyre shop from a dusty looking shop to a dust-free and air-conditioned outlet, where products can be browsed on digital screens. Products are placed so that one can touch and feel them. Our outlets are very friendly and gender-neutral to encourage women to purchase tyres independently. So, we engage our customers with products more meaningfully,” explains Sharma.

Apollo Tyres is also focusing on expanding its footprint in the rural area. With local entrepreneurs and service forces called rural experts, Apollo Tyres has around 4,500 touchpoints, including about 250 AVK/ ARD and more than 1,000 REDs , in the rural network at the start of FY21 . It also launched the ‘Apollo Tyres Sarpanch’ initiative in March 2021 to enable it to have the most comprehensive tyre distribution network in the rural segment. 

Apollo Tyres recently has launched its Vredestein brand in India. With the brand, the company will initially cater to the demand for tyres between 15 inches and 24 inches, which are generally needed for the luxury and executive premium segment. The company is also working with BMW to supply the Vredestein tyres for BMW 2 and BMW 7 series as OE fitment. “We are cherry-picking the business partners. To create awareness, we are associating ourselves with targeted communities and consumers. We are also engaging ourselves with golf tournaments and providing riding experiences on the F1 tracks,” adds Sharma.

In the tyre retail business, data will gain importance to generate new customers, retain older ones, serve them and manage the business more efficiently. However, dealers may be good at maintaining the balance sheets but they are yet to get hands-on with generating data on the best tyre models, sizes, brands and fast-moving inventories. As per Sharma, “Today, dealers have mistrust with the company manufacturers, and they don’t want to share their data on inventory, the movement, speed and velocity of the inventory at the same time. But as the dealers are getting more and more into digitalisation, they’re seeing the benefits of data. Their minds are also opening up. And so, it’s a journey which needs to be travelled.”

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Toyo Tire Corporation said Mitsubishi Corporation has ceased to be a major shareholder after tendering its entire holding through a treasury share buyback, ending its status as the company’s largest shareholder.

The change took effect on 10^th August , 2026, following Toyo Tire’s acquisition of its own shares through off-auction trading (ToSTNeT-3). Mitsubishi tendered all its shares, excluding less than one unit, as part of the transaction.

As a result, Mitsubishi is no longer classified as a major shareholder or associated company of Toyo Tire, the company said.

Before the transaction, Mitsubishi held 30,822,206 shares, equivalent to 20.07 percent of total voting rights, and ranked as the largest shareholder. Following the change, its holding has effectively been reduced to zero.

The move follows Toyo Tire’s earlier announcement on August 7, 2026 regarding the termination of its capital and business alliance with Mitsubishi, alongside plans to repurchase its own shares.

Toyo Tire said the change would have no impact on its consolidated financial results.

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Linglong Tire has become the first Chinese tyre manufacturer to join the Global Data Service Organization (GDSO) as a full member, marking a step in the industry’s efforts to standardise and exchange tyre-related data globally.

The company joins the non-profit body as its fourteenth member. GDSO was established in January 2022 by Bridgestone, Continental, Goodyear, Michelin and Pirelli to facilitate the digital exchange of tyre data and develop common standards across the sector.

Moh Wahi, Head Of Truck And Bus Tyre Development at Linglong Europe, said: "By joining the GDSO as a Full Member and providing reliable data, we want to be the first Chinese tyre manufacturer to make a positive contribution to the further development of the tire industry and set new standards for the efficient processing of tire data in the digital age."

Riccardo Giovannotti, Secretary General of GDSO, said: "With Linglong Tire as a Full Member, GDSO is gaining one of the leading Chinese tire companies which is committed to digitalization and sustainability in the industry. Together, we will further make progress in developing standards for data processing and future-oriented solutions."

Shandong Linglong Tire Co., Ltd., founded in 1975, operates seven research and development centres globally and employs almost 20,000 people. The company runs nearly 200,000 sales outlets and exports products to 175 countries.

It supplies tyres to more than 200 production bases for over 60 automakers and has manufacturing facilities across China, Thailand and Serbia, with plans to expand further overseas.

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TyreSafe, UK’s charity dedicated to raising tyre safety awareness, has joined forces with Sussex Police’s Road Safety Team to introduce a pioneering digital reference tool for frontline officers. The initiative equips police with immediate, device-accessible tyre safety data during roadside stops.

Developed as a local pilot, the application enables consistent vehicle examinations and improves driver communication regarding tyre dangers. It offers specific checklists for diverse vehicle categories, including motorcycles, cars, heavy goods vehicles, light commercial vans and towed trailers. The system further incorporates guidance on part-worn tyres, common queries and educational talking points.

Following its Sussex trial, the programme holds potential for nationwide adoption across UK police forces. This deployment underscores Sussex Police’s dedication to roadway innovation and reinforces the essential contribution of proper tyre maintenance to overall public safety.

Stuart Lovatt, TyreSafe Chair, said, “This partnership with Sussex Police is a landmark moment for tyre safety enforcement and education. By putting reliable, accessible tyre safety guidance directly into the hands of frontline officers, we can ensure safer vehicles on our roads and help prevent avoidable collisions and breakdowns. Sussex is leading the way, and we hope this model will soon be adopted nationally.”

Superintendent Jo Grantham, Head of Roads Policing, Sussex Police, said, “Our officers are committed to keeping road users safe, and having instant access to this tyre safety resource makes a real difference on the ground. It supports enforcement while also giving us the tools to educate drivers more effectively. We’re proud to be working with TyreSafe on this project and to be the first police force in the country to pilot it.”

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The UK Towing Safety Alliance (UKTSA) has published a comprehensive four-year analysis of incident data from National Highways’ Strategic Road Network, covering 2022 to 2025. The findings reveal a 23 percent rise in total towing-related incidents, driven primarily by a maintenance crisis affecting utility and commercial trailers. While traffic collisions involving towed vehicles decreased by 17 percent, mechanical breakdowns now constitute 77 percent of all towing-related incidents, highlighting vehicle and trailer condition as the sector's foremost challenge.

The data coincides with SMMT Motorparc 2025 figures showing Britain's vehicle fleet at its oldest recorded level, with average car age reaching 9.7 years. The summer harvest season has also arrived, bringing agricultural trailers back to roads after months of disuse. NFU Mutual research indicates collisions involving agricultural vehicles are 56 percent more likely between May and September, reinforcing the need for pre-journey roadworthiness checks.

Utility and agricultural trailers now account for nearly half of all towing-related callouts, surpassing 3,000 incidents in 2025. Regionally, the North West has overtaken the South East as the most incident-prone area, with trailer failures surging 60 percent since 2022, while the North East recorded a 55 percent increase. A growing divide exists between leisure and commercial towing sectors.

Leisure sector improvements, including fewer horsebox incidents and regional caravan reductions, suggest awareness campaigns are yielding positive results. However, utility trailer failures continue climbing, indicating maintenance standards across commercial and domestic sectors require greater attention. Regular servicing, correct loading and proper coupling remain essential to prevent avoidable incidents.

For working trailers, summer represents peak operational period, with agricultural and utility trailers seeing intensive use while rural roads become busier with tourists and cyclists. The Alliance emphasises that trailers stored for extended periods require thorough inspections before returning to service.

The UKTSA urges all towers to perform three essential checks covering tyres, load and connection before every journey. Tyres must be inspected for pressure, tread and deterioration; loads correctly distributed and couplings and electrical connections verified. The Alliance will place ‘The Working Trailer’ at the centre of safety campaigns, collaborating with industry partners to boost maintenance awareness and reduce preventable breakdowns across the Strategic Road Network.

A spokesperson for the UK Towing Safety Alliance said, “It’s encouraging to see fewer collisions involving towing vehicles, which suggests that drivers are becoming more aware of safe towing practices. However, that progress is being undermined by a growing number of preventable mechanical failures. The challenge is no longer simply about how people tow – it’s increasingly about what they’re towing and the condition it’s in. As both tow vehicles and trailers get older, regular maintenance has never been more important.”

Stuart Lovatt, Chair of TyreSafe, said, “Harvest season places extra demands on both vehicles and trailers, particularly those that may only be used for a few months each year. One of the most common issues we see is tyres that appear to have plenty of tread but have deteriorated through age, weathering or prolonged storage. Whether you’re towing a livestock trailer, plant trailer, horsebox or caravan, tyres should always be inspected for correct pressure, damage, cracking and signs of ageing before every journey. A few minutes spent carrying out these checks can prevent breakdowns and significantly improve safety for everyone using our roads.”

Sarah Smithurst MBE, COO, National Trailer & Towing Association (NTTA), said, “Across the NTTA network, we’re seeing a noticeable increase in enquiries from people looking to refurbish older trailers or source second-hand trailers, including imported models, as a more affordable alternative to buying new. While extending the life of a trailer is often entirely appropriate, it’s essential that owners understand that trailers are not maintenance-free. Many have been in service for years, sometimes decades, and components naturally deteriorate over time, even if the trailer has seen relatively little use. Every trailer should be thoroughly inspected before it returns to the road, with particular attention paid to tyres, brakes, bearings, couplings and lighting. Investing in regular servicing and maintenance is far less costly than experiencing a breakdown – or worse, being involved in an incident. The NTTA continues to help and advice new and old trailer users about safety and many are asking for help when towing, especially the reversing aspect of a trailer, now the B&E test was withdrawn. We are also seeing more trailers being repatriated from North America and Europe rather than purchasing new in the UK.”

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