The Automotive Tyre Manufacturers Association (ATMA) has partnered Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL) to launch a country-wide tyre safety awareness initiative.

The partners state there is an urgent need to address tyre safety as part of the broader cause of road safety in India.

The campaign will educate motorists about proper tyre care and maintenance through free tyre health checks and direct engagement at Indian Oil retail outlets (ROs). The initiative will be spearheaded by the Indian Tyre Technical Advisory Committee (ITTAC), comprising technical experts from across the tyre industry.

The initiative was inaugurated at an Indian Oil retail outlet in South Delhi by Amit Kumar Khayalia, Divisional Retail Head, IOCL. Prominent leaders from the Tyre Industry, including V K Misra and Rajesh Dahiya, along with officials from ATMA, ITTAC, and service engineers from ATMA member companies, were present to mark the occasion.

The tyre safety drive follows extensive training programs conducted by ATMA at IOCL facilities across the country to educate fuel tanker drivers on tyre maintenance and safety. In the past year alone, over 1,000 commercial drivers connected to IOCL's supply chain have undergone training, significantly raising awareness about the critical role tyres play in road safety.

Rajesh Dahiya, Vice-President – Sales & Service, Apollo Tyres and Member of ATMA Managing Committee said, “Tyre safety is of paramount importance, as tyres are the only contact point between the vehicle and the road. Poor tyre maintenance is a serious road hazard. We are pleased to join hands with Indian Oil in this crucial campaign. This collaboration between ATMA and IOCL is expected to create a significant impact, starting with the Delhi NCR region and extending nationwide."

V K Misra, Technical Director, JK Tyre and Past Chairman, ITTAC added, “The partnership between ATMA and Indian Oil, one of India’s premier corporations, is a significant step forward towards making a difference to the road safety campaigns being held in the country. We look forward to significant improvement in awareness levels of motorists, especially with regard to tyre care and safety.”

As part of the campaign, tyre health checks will be provided free of charge, and motorists will be briefed on key aspects of tyre safety, including maintaining the correct inflation pressure and identifying Tread Wear Indicators (TWI). TWI is present in all tyres for easily identifying tread depth and replacing worn out tyres within time so as to prevent accidents. Besides direct interaction with vehicle owners, informative booklets have been designed for distribution.

ATMA states that tyre care often does not receive the attention it deserves. Properly maintained tyres are crucial for vehicle safety, as they bear the entire weight of the vehicle and ensure safe contact with the road.

ATMA member companies, including Apollo, Bridgestone, CEAT, Goodyear, JK Tyre and MRF, have been actively participating in such tyre safety awareness campaigns organised by ATMA and ITTAC across India.

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Continental's Tires group sector has strengthened its leadership team with two key internal appointments, effective 1 September 2025. Jana Striezel has been named the new head of global purchasing for Continental Tires, while Dennis Bellmund has assumed leadership of the global original equipment business for both passenger and commercial vehicles. Both executives will report directly to Christian Kötz, the member of Continental AG's Executive Board who leads the Tires group sector.

In her new capacity, Striezel will oversee worldwide strategic and operational purchasing. She brings extensive experience from the automotive industry, having previously held several procurement management roles at Renault, where she led purchasing for the Renault brand and its alliance with Nissan and Mitsubishi in Europe. Her career began at Volkswagen in 2014.

Bellmund, who has a 25-year tenure with Continental, steps into his role following the departure of his predecessor, Manja Greimeier, to the ContiTech sector. His extensive background within the company includes recent responsibility for Continental’s tyre retail operations, alongside prior leadership roles in EMEA supply chain management and sales direction for the European replacement tyre business. These appointments signal a strategic reinforcement of Continental's tyre division leadership.

Kötz said, “We’re delighted to welcome Jana Striezel, a highly skilled manager, to our team. She brings extensive expertise in international procurement and will focus on driving forward our purchasing strategy. In Dennis Bellmund, our global original equipment business has gained a highly experienced leader. Thanks to his many years at Continental, he is familiar with our company and our customers’ needs from many different angles. On behalf of the entire management team, I wish both of them every success in their new roles and look forward to working together.”

“On behalf of the entire team, I would like to thank Manja Greimeier for her successful leadership of our original equipment business and wish her all the best and continued success,” added Kötz.

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In a significant leadership update, LD Carbon (LDC) has announced a restructuring of the chief executive office at the company. The company confirmed that Seong-Moon Baek will now serve as the sole CEO. This move follows the departure of former co-CEO Yong-Kyung Hwang from the executive position.

The change is effective immediately as the company continues to advance its initiatives in the sustainable materials sector. Chief Commercial Officer Bumseek Kim (BK) formally communicated the development in a statement, saying, “Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at any time.”

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WF Recycle-Tech has announced a significant leadership transition with Jo Dennis assuming the role of Managing Director, succeeding Founder Paul Neville.

Dennis brings extensive experience in manufacturing and tyre pyrolysis, with a proven track record in guiding businesses through scale-up, growth and operational improvement phases. His leadership will be instrumental as the company advances its patented pyrolysis technology, which converts end-of-life tyres into valuable products like oil, syngas and recovered carbon black. Shareholders Farrel Pomini and HF GROUP endorse this technology and support its full-scale commercialisation and global deployment.

The company expressed gratitude to Neville for his foundational decade of service and for developing the core patented technology. He will continue to contribute to the growing team in a consulting capacity, focusing on new business opportunities.

The company statement read: “We would like to thank Paul for his many years of commitment and service as Founder and Managing Director over the last decade, and also congratulate him for his achievements in developing the patented technology upon which WFRT will now build its business. We are also pleased to retain Paul in our growing team in a consulting capacity to support and develop new business opportunities.”

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VIPO a.s., a Slovakian manufacturer of bead winding and apexing machinery for tyre production, has established a wholly owned subsidiary in India to capitalise on growing demand in one of the world's largest automotive markets.

VIPO INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED commences operations on  1 October from New Delhi, providing technical support, spare parts production, and customer service to tyre manufacturers across the country, the Partizánske-based company said in a statement.

The move represents a significant expansion for the mid-sized engineering firm, which supplies automation equipment to tyre makers globally. India's tyre industry has expanded rapidly in recent years, driven by robust vehicle sales and infrastructure development.

"The launch of VIPO INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED is a milestone in our global expansion," said Peter Duchovic, chief executive of VIPO a.s. "India represents not only one of the fastest-growing tyre and automotive markets but also a hub of innovation."

The subsidiary will offer locally produced components for high-wear parts and provide digital services including artificial intelligence-driven condition monitoring and augmented reality-based training programmes, the company said.

VIPO specialises in bead winding lines - equipment used to produce the steel wire bundles that anchor tyres to wheel rims. The company stated that its systems incorporate robotics and automation to reduce energy consumption and enhance production efficiency.

"With our New Delhi subsidiary, we will be closer to our customers — listening carefully to their requirements and integrating their needs into the development of new devices and services," Duchovic said.

The firm has committed to the Science Based Targets initiative, a framework for corporate emissions reductions aligned with climate science, according to the statement.

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