Yokohama reported a decline in the sales and business profits for its tyre segment for the first quarter, ending March 2020.

The company’s tyre business’ sales declined 12.71% to 87.410 billion yen in Q12020.  It reported a net loss of 503 million yen in Q12020.

The company said the downturn in business profit reflected a decline in unit sales volume, an increase in production costs associated with reduced production volume, and inventory-adjustment costs occasioned by a tyre recall in North America.

Both domestic and international markets saw a fall in sales. “That decline reflected production adjustments necessitated by a decline in Japanese demand associated with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and by suspended operation at vehicle plants in overseas markets,” said Yokohama.

Sales revenue also declined in replacement tyres. Sales of winter tyres in Japan were weak on account of warmer-than-usual winter temperatures at the outset of the year, and Japanese business in replacement tyres also suffered from the adverse effect of the COVID-19 outbreak on consumer spending. Business in replacement tyres was generally sluggish in overseas markets, too.
ATG, a part of Yokohama looking into agri, industrial and OTR tyres, also had a fall in sales and profits due low demand.

ATG’s sales stood at 15.54 billion yen in Q12020,  a fall of 17%, from 18.86 billion yen in Q12019. Profit fell by 22% to 1.78 billion yen in Q12020.

The massive business disruption caused by COVID-19 will necessitate revisions in the full-year fiscal projections that Yokohama issued in February 2020. However, the full extent of that disruption is impossible to determine at this time, and the company will therefore withhold for the time being the release of revised business projections and of proposed dividends. Yokohama will release its revised business projections and proposals for dividends as soon as management secures a firm grasp of the fiscal outlook.

Several measures are under way at Yokohama to maintain a sound financial position in the face of the COVID-19 challenge. Those measures include fortifying short-term liquidity through optimal fund raising, paring cash expenditures by deferring capital spending and trimming costs, and reducing compensation for directors, officers, associate officers, and managers.

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In a significant strategic expansion, Point S, one of the world’s largest independent tyre and automotive service networks, has introduced its first proprietary line of truck tyres. The official launch occurred at the Solutrans exhibition in Lyon, representing a major advancement in the company's deep involvement with the commercial vehicle industry. Already a well-established force in the truck tyre markets of Europe and North America, Point S is leveraging its expertise to introduce the Point S Tyres Truck range. This initiative is seen as a disruptive move in the international sector, extending the group's reputation for quality and its independent ethos to a wider base of transport professionals.

The comprehensive range consists of eight key sizes, all certified with the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) symbol, guaranteeing reliable winter performance and year-round usability. Two notable products within the line are the Mixed Service tyre, designed for extreme conditions with optimised durability and stone penetration resistance, and the Regional Haul tyre, noted for its versatility, robustness and full 3PMSF certification across all sizes. Production for these tyres will be handled by a premium truck and bus radial manufacturer based in Poland and Turkey. A key logistical benefit for Point S members is the ability to combine orders from both production facilities into a single shipment, enhancing ordering flexibility and overall supply chain efficiency.

This new private label range is engineered to provide long-lasting value for independent retailers, featuring high-performance solutions that are both regroovable and retreadable. By moving into the truck tyre segment, Point S now offers its global network of members a complete portfolio that previously included only passenger and premium tyres. This empowers members to more effectively and competitively serve fleet operators and other clients with a compelling price-to-performance ratio.

Fabien Bouquet, CEO, Point S International, said, “This launch represents a key step in our journey to support our members and their customers with complete mobility solutions. Transport professionals need tyres that deliver performance, durability and value, which is exactly what this range delivers. It also marks an important milestone in our long-term strategy to strengthen our position in the commercial vehicle sector and to bring more innovation, choice and independence to the truck tyre market.”

Emilie Faure, International Private Labels Product Manager, said, “From the outset, our goal has always been to replicate the strategy and success of our Point S Tyres passenger car range by extending it to the commercial vehicle market with the launch of Point S Tyres Truck. To support this development, we involved selected Point S members and some of our small and medium-sized fleet clients from various countries to test the product. Initial feedback has been extremely positive, with testers particularly impressed with the range’s performing, as well as its quality and competitiveness in real-world operations.”

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According to Tyres Europe's sales data for the Q3 and the first three quarters of 2025, the overall tyre market has demonstrated general stability. Adam McCarthy, the organisation's Secretary General, reported that despite this, demand for Truck and Bus tyres has remained persistently weak. Cumulative figures for the year so far indicate that total tyre volumes are lower than those recorded during the same period in 2024.

Within the Consumer segment, third-quarter sales were stable, yet they reflect a slight decrease for the year to date. A notable trend is the shifting consumer preference away from summer tyres and towards all-season and winter products. The Truck and Bus segment experienced a continued decline, with the year's sales also down slightly, a situation attributed to regional economic softness and a rise in tyre imports. Meanwhile, the Agricultural tyre market saw stable volumes in the quarter, though they remain significantly below pre-pandemic levels.

The full Quarterly Update, prepared by Astutus Research, is available for download on the Tyres Europe website.

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Goodyear India reported a decline in quarterly profit as softer demand and higher expenses offset modest revenue growth, while the company announced board changes and new senior management appointments.

The tyremaker’s standalone profit after tax fell to INR INR 134.7 million for the quarter ended 30 September 2025, down from INR 143.1 million in the same period last year, according to financial statements approved by the board.

Total income for the quarter edged up to INR 5.8441 billion from INR 5.6835 billion a year earlier, though margin pressures persisted.

Profit before tax for the quarter stood at INR 180.7 million , down from INR 195.1 million in the previous year, reflecting higher input costs and muted replacement demand. Performance in the half-year to September also trailed the prior period, with profit after tax at INR 317.6 million compared with INR 363.7 million last year.

Alongside the earnings announcement, Goodyear India disclosed several board changes. Varsha Chaudhary Jain tendered her resignation as Whole-Time Director, effective 31 December, citing personal reasons. Rajiv Lochan Jain will complete his second term as Independent Non-Executive Director on the same date.

The board has approved the appointment of Gajanan Vithal Gandhe as an Independent Non-Executive Director from 1 January 2026 for a five-year term, subject to shareholder approval. The company stated that he “is not debarred from holding the office of a Director by virtue of any order passed by the Securities and Exchange Board of India or any other Authority.”

Goodyear India also designated three senior executives as Key Managerial Personnel for determining material events under SEBI’s disclosure rules from 1 January: Arvind Bhandari, Chairman and Managing Director; Sandeep Garg, Whole-Time Director and CFO; and Anup Karnwal, Company Secretary and Compliance Officer.

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MRF, India’s largest tyre manufacturer, reported higher quarterly earnings as easing raw material prices offset the seasonal weakness in domestic demand, even as exports held up against tariff pressures.

The Chennai-based group said consolidated total income rose 7 percent year on year to INR 74.87 billion for the three months to 30 September, compared with INR 69.94 billion in the same period last year. Consolidated profit before tax increased to INR 6.99 billion from INR 6.31 billion, while net profit climbed to INR 5.26 billion from INR 4.71 billion.

The company attributed the improved bottom line to “softening of raw material prices”, according to a statement released after its board meeting on 14 November.

Sales in the second quarter are typically slower because of the monsoon season, a trend the company noted once again. Even so, original equipment demand “continued to have a strong double digit growth” and exports “performed well despite tariff issues”. MRF added that the government’s mid-quarter announcement of a reduction in goods and services tax had briefly damped replacement sales, though it expects the revised rate to support volume growth in subsequent quarters.

The board declared an interim dividend of INR 3 per share for the financial year ending 31 March 2026.

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