The Yokohama Rubber Co Ltd has entered into a share purchase agreement with the Swedish-based Trelleborg AB to acquire all outstanding shares of Trelleborg Wheel Systems Holding AB (TWS), a company engaged in the manufacture and sale of off-highway tyres (OHT) for agricultural and industrial machinery. TWS’s enterprise value is EUR 2,040 million. 

Yokohama Rubber said in a statement that the acquisition is scheduled to be completed in the latter half of 2022. The acquisition’s impact on Yokohama Rubber’s consolidated financial results is currently under examination, it said. 

Yokohama Rubber is currently implementing its Yokohama Transformation 2023 (YX2023) medium-term management plan for fiscal years 2021–2023.  

The TWS acquisition will contribute to the expansion of Yokohama Rubber’s OHT business, which YX2023 has positioned as a future growth driver for the company’s commercial tyre business. The ratio of consumer tyres to commercial tyres in today’s global tyre market is 1:1, but Yokohama Rubber’s tyre business sales are more heavily weighted toward consumer tyres, with a 2:1 ratio versus commercial tyres, the release pointed out. To bring the sales composition of its tyre business more in line with the overall market and secure the business’ stability and earnings growth, one of the key challenges facing Yokohama Rubber’s commercial tyre business is the growth of an OHT business capable of securing stably high earnings. The TWS acquisition will not only help Yokohama Rubber’s tyre business achieve a more optimal sales composition, but it will also strengthen the company’s commercial tyre business in each of the four thematic areas set forth in YX2023—product lineup, cost, service, and DX, the company said. 

TWS sales in fiscal 2021 totalled about YEN 129.0 billion, accounting for about 30 per cent of Trelleborg AB’s consolidated sales. Over the past 10 years, TWS has expanded its sales by 2.6 times and more than tripled EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes). While expanding sales it has sustained stably high profitability, with its EBIT ratio continuously above 10 per cent, the release said. 

Of tyres manufactured and sold by TWS, agricultural tyres account for about 60 per cent and industrial tyres about 20 per cent, with the remainder being tyres for construction machinery and motorcycles. TWS has 14 manufacturing plants in nine countries — seven in Europe (Italy, Latvia, Serbia, Slovenia, and three in the Czech Republic), two in the United States, one in Brazil, and four in Asia (two in China and two in Sri Lanka). About 70 per cent of its sales are in Europe. (TT)

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BFGoodrich Tires has been designated the official tyre partner for the ChampCar Endurance Racing Series, establishing a new platform to demonstrate its engineering capabilities in grassroots motorsport. Central to this collaboration is the g-Force Rival+ tyre, which has been specifically developed for endurance racing and placed on the series' approved whitelist. The tyre is engineered to deliver consistent performance, durability and reliable wet-weather handling, addressing the core demands of amateur racing competitors.

Participants in the ChampCar series will gain access to a rebate programme and special opportunities at select events, including access to the BFGoodrich Performance Driving Guide, co-authored by brand ambassador Ross Bentley. The partnership aims to provide tangible support that enhances the racing experience for all series entrants.

The g-Force Rival+ tyre, launched in fall 2025, features a new rubber formulation for consistent lap times and a reinforced internal structure that minimises sidewall flex for instantaneous steering feedback. The tyre is currently available in 14 sizes.

Reviving a storied tradition, BFGoodrich has reintroduced its ‘Team T/A’ programme, fielding an endurance squad of employees and guest drivers competing exclusively in the ChampCar series. The team debuted at Daytona in April, finishing 16th out of 100 entries despite mechanical setbacks. Future races are scheduled at Sebring, Virginia International Raceway and Circuit of the Americas.

The original Team T/A programme was renowned from the 1970s through the 1990s for supporting grassroots racers. While the brand's recent acclaim has been tied to off-road racing, this initiative signals a return to pavement motorsports. Additional partnerships announced in June 2026 with the National Auto Sport Association, the Motorsport Safety Foundation and SCCA's Track Night in America underscore this sustained resurgence in the ultra-high performance arena.

Mike Chisek, President and CEO, ChampCar, said, “I’m excited to welcome BFGoodrich as a Series Partner of the ChampCar Endurance Series. It’s great to see the grassroots support BFGoodrich has for road racing, and their new g-Force Rival+ tyre is proving to be a great choice for our endurance road racing teams.”

T J Dennis, BFGoodrich Ultra-High Performance (UHP) Brand Manager, said, “Cementing this relationship with ChampCar is the latest step in bringing BFGoodrich’s ultra-high performance efforts back to the forefront. This partnership is mutually beneficial for each brand, and we’re eager to help ChampCar racers reach another level of performance.”

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ARLANXEO has announced that the German Federal Patent Court has nullified the German component of European patent EP 3 800 714. The contested intellectual property, held by Zeon Corporation, pertains to synthetic rubber compounds utilised as cathode binders within rechargeable battery systems, a sector critically linked to electric vehicles and energy storage solutions.

The revocation stems from an ongoing legal confrontation regarding battery binder technology. Zeon initiated infringement lawsuits in 2024 against ARLANXEO’s German and Dutch operations at the Munich Regional Court. In response, ARLANXEO contested the patent's legal standing, prompting a validity review by the Federal Patent Court.

Following a preliminary July 2025 ruling that cast substantial uncertainty on the patent’s enforceability, the Munich court suspended the infringement case. With the formal revocation in Germany, the foundational grounds for the local infringement allegations have been effectively eliminated.

John Gerrese, General Counsel, ARLANXEO, said, “We welcome the Court’s decision, which confirms our position on the invalidity of the patent. The ruling underscores the importance of robust patent standards. It also highlights the critical role of nullity proceedings in ensuring that only valid and enforceable patents are upheld.”

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Tegeta Green Planet, in collaboration with Shine Energy, recently conducted an environmental awareness session for students in grades one through three at Pirveli School-Gymnasium. The initiative employed an interactive and age-appropriate methodology to introduce young learners to fundamental ecological concepts.

The curriculum covered the detrimental effects of littering, the necessity of specialised disposal for waste tyres, used oil and batteries and the broader importance of resource conservation. Students were also taught practical, daily actions that contribute to environmental preservation and were shown how individual responsibility can collectively forge a cleaner future. The educational experience was reinforced through a participatory game that allowed children to engage with environmental topics via practical examples.

Upon concluding the programme, each student received a certificate and a symbolic gift. This activity aligns with the organisations' ongoing commitment to fostering environmental stewardship among youth, a priority that sees them regularly visiting schools to deliver engaging educational content. Such initiatives are designed to cultivate a sense of ecological responsibility from an early age, encouraging children to integrate nature conservation into their daily routines.

Established in 2022, Tegeta Green Planet operates as one of Georgia’s first authorised Extended Producer Responsibility organisations. The company offers membership to any business or individual entrepreneur subject to the nation’s EPR legislation, irrespective of their operational scale.

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Pirelli P Zero has made a prominent return to the Goodwood Festival of Speed, reinforcing its status as a leading choice for premium manufacturers. The 2026 edition features numerous high-performance vehicles equipped with tyres from the revitalised P Zero family. This widespread adoption underscores the range’s appeal, supported by over 300 homologations secured for the latest products across diverse vehicle types that prioritise performance, safety and driving enjoyment. The complete renewal of the P Zero line, initiated in 2023, is now showcased as original equipment on many contemporary models.

The festival highlights several bespoke applications, starting with the Ferrari Luce. For this model, Pirelli engineered a custom P Zero E tyre, merging high performance with over 55 percent bio-based and recycled materials in a record-setting 24-inch format. The semi-slick P Zero Trofeo RS appears on the Bentley Supersports, Porsche Taycan Turbo GT and BMW M2, while the Pagani Utopia Roadster adopts this tyre alongside the Cyber Tyre system, enabling direct communication with vehicle electronics.

The luxury electric segment is represented by the Rolls-Royce Spectre and Jaguar Type 01, both utilising P Zero Elect tyres with diameters reaching 23 inches. The P Zero Trofeo RS is also fitted to the Koenigsegg Sadair's Spear megacar and its LEGO Technic replica, the latter achieving a record of 111 kilometres per hour on the Goodwood Hillclimb.

All P Zero tyres share a technological foundation rooted in motorsport, serving as Pirelli’s primary testing ground. The company’s participation in over 350 racing events annually, including Formula 1, facilitates the transfer of innovations like virtual development processes to road tyre production. This continuous cycle ensures the P Zero range remains at the forefront of tyre technology for both track and street applications.

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