The global tyre industry faced significant hurdles in 2024, with geopolitical tensions, wars and economic uncertainties contributing to a year of near stagnation. The ongoing conflict in Russia has posed challenges to the global economy and, by extension, the tyre industry. Many companies, including machinery manufacturers, have had to navigate the complexities of operating in.

As hopes rise for a resolution to the conflict in 2025, Marangoni Meccanica is cautiously optimistic about resuming full-scale operations in the region. A peaceful resolution would unlock significant opportunities, allowing for the revival of trade and investment in this strategically important market.

Another focus about 2025 is referred to Donald Trump’s re-election, which could present unique opportunities also for the tyre market, particularly if his administration focuses on bolstering manufacturing and infrastructure development in the United States. Policies encouraging domestic production and investment in industries like automotive manufacturing may drive demand for tyres, especially for commercial vehicles, agricultural and construction equipment. Additionally, potential tariffs on imported goods could incentivise the growth of local tyre manufacturers, fostering innovation and creating a more competitive landscape. These factors could create a dynamic environment for the tyre industry to expand and adapt.

In addition, as 2025 begins, signs of recovery are emerging. This recovery is particularly evident in markets where tyre manufacturers are resuming investments in advanced machinery to meet growing demand.

A leading company in the tyre-building machinery sector, Marangoni Meccanica, is capitalising on this revival by aligning its offerings with the evolving needs of its clients. Its cutting-edge, automated systems are designed to enhance production efficiency and product quality, providing much-needed support to tyre manufacturers eager to rebound.

BRIGHT PROSPECTS IN THE INDIAN MARKET

India, one of the fastest-growing automotive markets, is presenting immense opportunities for tyre manufacturers and their equipment suppliers. With a booming middle class and increasing vehicle ownership, the demand for high-quality tyres is on the rise.

Recognising this potential, Marangoni Meccanica is strengthening its presence in India through collaborations with local partners, enhanced customer service and tailored solutions for the unique requirements of the Indian market. This includes developing versatile machinery that can accommodate a wide range of tyre types, from agricultural to industrial vehicles.

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS FOR GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS

To bolster its position in the international market, Marangoni Meccanica is actively pursuing strategic partnerships. These alliances focus on sharing technological expertise, expanding distribution networks and codeveloping solutions that address specific industry challenges.

Such collaborations not only enable the company to penetrate new markets but also provide a competitive edge in established ones. By pooling resources and expertise, the company is setting new benchmarks for innovation and service excellence.

STRENGTHENING R&D BY LATE 2025

Innovation remains at the heart of the company’s growth strategy. By the end of 2025, the company plans to significantly enhance its Research and Development (R&D) capabilities. This initiative will focus on:

Sustainability: Developing eco-friendly machinery that minimises energy consumption and waste.

Automation and AI: Introducing smart systems for predictive maintenance and real-time monitoring.

Customisation: Creating modular designs to cater to the diverse needs of global customers. This renewed focus on R&D will ensure the company remains at the forefront of technological advancements, addressing emerging trends and challenges in the tyre-building sector.

CONCLUSION

As the tyre industry emerges from a difficult 2024, Marangoni Meccanica is seizing the moment with strategic initiatives tailored to global recovery. From capitalising on growth in India to forging international partnerships and investing in future-ready technologies, the company is well-positioned to thrive in an evolving market landscape. With resilience and innovation at its core, it aims not only to support the recovery of its customers but also to lead the industry into a new era of efficiency and sustainability.

Francesco Motta is the Chief Executive Officer at Marangoni Meccanica.

South Korean tyre major Nexen Tire has added another feather to its cap and has received a Gold rating from EcoVadis for the second year in succession. This places the company among the top 3 percent of over 150,000 companies assessed globally.

Established in 2007 in France, EcoVadis evaluates corporate sustainability performance across Environment, Labour & Human Rights, Ethics and Sustainable Procurement. Its ratings are Platinum (top 1 percent), Gold (top 5 percent), Silver (top 15 percent) and Bronze (top 35 percent).

Nexen Tire showed improvements across all assessment areas. In the Environment category, the company's involvement in global sustainability initiatives, including the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR), the UN Global Compact (UNGC) and the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) was noted. Climate education programmes and greenhouse gas emissions disclosure were contributors.

For Labour & Human Rights, Nexen Tire's human rights policy aligns with international standards from the United Nations and the International Labour Organization (ILO). The company also began human rights assessments for risk management.

In the Ethics pillar, the company reinforced internal systems for risk prevention, monitoring, and mitigation. The Sustainable Procurement score improved through ESG assessments, supplier audits and risk response strategies.

John Bosco (Hyeon Suk) Kim, CEO, Nexen Tire, said, “Receiving the Gold rating from EcoVadis for the second consecutive year is a significant affirmation of our global ESG efforts. We remain committed to responsible and transparent management practices that meet the expectations of our stakeholders worldwide.”

TÜV SÜD AG’s Supervisory Board has named Ishan Palit as Interim CEO (Chairman of the Board of Management) effective 15 July 2025, following Dr Johannes Bussmann’s departure to assume the CEO role at MTU Aero Engines AG. Bussmann will leave TÜV SÜD on 14 July 2025. Palit will co-lead the company with CFO Sabine Nitzsche until a permanent successor is appointed.

With over 30 years at TÜV SÜD, Palit has held key leadership roles, including establishing the company’s India operations, serving as Asia Pacific CEO and leading the global Product Service Division. Since 2017, he has been Chief Operating Officer, driving strategic and operational initiatives.

Nitzsche, who joined as CFO in March 2025, brings extensive financial and executive expertise from the high-tech and automotive sectors. Her prior roles include CFO of Vitesco Technologies AG and senior financial leadership positions at Infineon Technologies and GlobalFoundries.

Frank Hyldmar, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of TÜV SÜD AG, said, “We are very pleased that Ishan and Sabine will oversee the interim management of TÜV SÜD during this transition. Ishan is a seasoned TÜV SÜD senior executive with deep knowledge of our business and strong global leadership experience. Sabine brings a proven track record as CFO across multiple multinational enterprises. Together, they form a strong leadership team as we work towards appointing a long-term CEO.”

Hankook Tire & Technology has announced a series of executive leadership changes at its North American headquarters in Nashville, reinforcing its commitment to growth in passenger and commercial tyre markets. The restructuring brings fresh leadership across key sales and marketing functions.

Kyuwang (Ken) Cho assumes the role of Senior Vice President of North America Marketing, transitioning from his previous dual leadership of PC/LT Sales and Marketing. The industry veteran brings 25 years of Hankook experience, including a stint as Vice President of Global Sales in Korea. K C Jensen steps up as Vice President of US PC/LT Sales, expanding his responsibilities from regional to national oversight after demonstrating strong leadership in the Western market since 2018.

The company welcomes back Mark Roe as Vice President of US TBR Sales, where his four decades of commercial tyre expertise will guide replacement and OE sales strategies. Roe's extensive background includes previous leadership roles at Hankook and most recently at Ralson Tire North America.

Regional sales teams also see strategic promotions. Shaun Prott advances to Regional Director of PC/LT Sales for the West, building on his eight-year tenure with Hankook and prior experience with National Tire Warehouse. Travis Jones rejoins the organisation as Northeast Regional Director, bringing valuable perspective from Michelin and Pirelli. Brian Ford earns promotion to Regional Director of TBR Sales for the West after successfully managing key commercial accounts since 2021.

Rob Williams, President of Hankook Tire America Corp, said, "These leadership appointments reflect Hankook's strong momentum in North America. Ken, K.C. and Mark each bring exceptional industry experience, strategic focus and leadership qualities to their roles. Together, they will help elevate our presence across both consumer and commercial channels, and support our long-term growth ambitions in the US. These moves speak to the strength of our internal talent pipeline & ability to attract top talent and our continued investment in customer relationships. Shaun, Travis and Brian all bring deep knowledge of their markets and proven ability to grow key partnerships."

French tyre major Michelin has introduced its new X Line Grip D range, which is designed to work up to 1 million miles (1.6 million kilometres) with up to four retreads. The company shared its designers' claim that this is a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ leap in tyre technology for fleets.

In addition to the higher range, the tyres also provide 20 percent more mileage and a 20 percent reduction in rolling resistance compared to the Michelin XDN2 tyre.

Designed to meet both wet and snowy conditions thanks to the chevron tread design, these tyres are said to prove 90 percent better starting traction in snow and over 25 percent better wet starting traction.

Fleets also benefit from using the Michelin X Line Grip D tyre, as it is built on the company’s Duracore casing, featuring Infinicoil and Powercoil technologies. 

Pierluigi Cumo, VP – B2B Marketing, Michelin North America, said, “Michelin is never satisfied with current tyre technology when it comes to constantly improving and innovating our products. That’s why Michelin is so proud to introduce the Michelin X Line Grip D tyre. This tyre has the potential going forward to redefine the drive tyre standard in fleets for years to come. It is not an evolution to existing products, but something entirely different the fleet world has never seen before.”

“Michelin has a proven track record of delivering high-quality, reliable products that exceed performance expectations. This fantastic leap in drive tyre technology bring new levels of performance to the road and new levels of savings to our customers,” he concluded.

The Michelin X Line Grip D tyre is available in sizes 295/75R22.5 and 11R22.5.