The European Parliament has approved the revision of tyre labelling regulations six years after it was introduced. ‘This now depends on extraordinary efforts from the institutions to develop the EPREL’s tyre application in a timely manner and industry to implement it effectively. We all want this regulation to succeed in improving the market uptake of those tyres performing at the highest safety and environmental standards,” Fazilet Cinaralp, Secretary General of the European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers Association (ETRMA), tells Tyre Trends

"The European tyre industry is fully committed to the Tyre Labelling Regulation and its success,” says Fazilet Cinaralp, Secretary General of the European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers Association (ETRMA). The revision, which is currently being done, comes six years after the initial regulation and collaboration between industry and the European Institutions. It promotes industry innovation and benefits consumers by increasing consumer awareness of the label and strengthening market surveillance and enforcement in the EU Member States.

To ensure its success, ETRMA supports the timely development and sufficient lead-time of all pieces of the revision, particularly the European Product Database for Energy Labelling (EPREL). The publicly available database registering tyre performance is important in strengthening the information chain between tyre manufacturers and authorities and improving market surveillance. However, the EPREL’s tyre application still needs to be developed.

“The industry has concerns that there might not be enough time to ensure a smooth transition to this new system amidst an already challenging environment that deals with these new requirements,” Fazilet Cinaralp told Tyre Trends.

The revision foresees the database to be completed before the final adoption of the proposal to allow for a smooth and orderly implementation of the regulation by 1 May 2021. Industry will need to upload information into the database about the tyres to be placed on the market.

“This now depends on extraordinary efforts from the institutions to develop the EPREL’s tyre application in a timely manner and industry to implement it effectively. We all want this regulation to succeed in improving the market uptake of those tyres performing at the highest safety and environmental standards,” she added.

Committed to emerging from the public health crisis even stronger than before, the industry stands ready to cooperate with EU Institutions to make this possible and looks forward to consumers using this updated tool to inform their choices towards tyres with the best safety and environmental performance.

The industry remains fully committed to work towards the European Green Deal, seeks to prioritize in partnership with the authorities the initiatives to achieve climate neutrality and digital transition, and requests a supportive and reasonable timing to the overall changing regulatory framework.

Shared commitment

This collaboration builds on a shared commitment to the European Green Deal, without compromising the important role tyres play in road safety and mobility, nor the tyre industry’s ability to innovate and remain competitive.
To this end, ETRMA calls for speeding up the regulatory work on smart mobility to enable new digital transportation services and tyre data solutions as an opportunity for economic recovery and sustainable development. A lack of timely, comprehensive regulation may cause market failures with regard to technology adoption, platform interoperability and unjustified barriers to competition.

ETRMA has been supporting tyre industry investments in sustainable consumption and production by fostering market demand for products aligned with EU environmental objectives and targets. This includes incentives for private consumers and public authorities to choose tyres and services with the best safety and environmental performance as indicated by the new tyre label regulation, or contributing to circular economy ambitions, as the truck and bus retreaded tyres do.

The association has also been supporting remanufacturing models and the development of secondary raw materials through harmonised EU end-of-waste criteria to include products derived from end-of-life tyres and also strengthening market surveillance and enforcement of EU trade agreements with third countries while supporting the role of Europe as an exporter by setting an ambitious trade agenda and championing fair and free trade.

ETRMA and its members look forward to cooperating in a constructive spirit with the future Chief Trade Enforcement Officer; Increasing research and innovation funding to decarbonise the transport sector through a holistic approach to climate-neutral road transport within the Horizon Europe framework, which ETRMA and its members believe will be a key contribution to the success of the European Green Deal.

“Over the last few months, ETRMA’s member companies joined the fight against the virus, taking all measures to protect their employees and communities by following government recommendations to prevent infections and providing safe working conditions. The industry also supported the organizations and people on the frontlines by supplying free tyres and personal protective equipment, “ said Cinaralp.

The European tyre industry ready to work side-by-side with the European Institutions on a COVID-19 policy response that ensures public health, minimises economic impact, and maintains focus on the overarching objectives of the time, decarbonising and digitalising the economy. The current crisis has created societal and economic impacts and due to the pandemic containment measures throughout Europe, operational delays in the current work on the regulatory framework, in the public and private sectors.

“We continue to work closely with authorities to further stimulate and support a successful economic recovery. But this is the biggest challenge our industry has ever faced and a full recovery is still far away. While we saw a slight upward trend in sales at the end of the second quarter as European countries eased their lockdowns, the coming months will show us whether this trend holds. The situation remains fragile and unpredictable.”

“Being a global industry, the recovery of the tyre sector is not just dependent on Europe’s situation but how other parts of the world and global trade routes continue to be impacted by and address the pandemic. For the moment, we can only hope the market stabilizes in the second half of the year but our outlook for 2020 remains bleak,” Cinaralp said.

END

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Fornnax Technology, a global leader in recycling equipment manufacturing, has officially brought Sushil Upadhyay on board as the new Head of its Service Department, a leadership transition that takes effect immediately. With a professional background spanning over 26 years, Upadhyay arrives with extensive experience drawn from multiple multinational corporations. Throughout his career, he has successfully managed and coordinated large, cross-functional teams comprising more than 300 professionals. Within his new capacity at Fornax, his primary focus will involve steering strategic transformations within the service domain, with the objective of optimising equipment reliability, maximising value across the lifecycle of machinery and elevating the sustained performance of the company’s worldwide installed base of industrial recycling solutions.

In the coming year, the service division under his leadership is set to concentrate on a series of clearly defined operational objectives. Key among these is the effort to curtail instances of unexpected machinery downtime by integrating both preventive and predictive maintenance approaches. The team also intends to roll out measurable performance benchmarks for service delivery, which will include tracking metrics such as speed of response, Mean Time to Repair (MTTR) and overall equipment uptime. Moreover, there will be a concerted push to reinforce the availability of spare components by optimising regional warehousing and distribution processes.

Further developments on the agenda involve the creation and delivery of well-structured training modules targeting technical expertise and workplace safety, aimed at enhancing the capabilities of service personnel. In parallel, the organisation plans to introduce digital tools designed to boost transparency in operations and enable customers to more effectively monitor service activities. These combined efforts underscore Fornnax’s commitment to evolving its service infrastructure in response to growing demands for efficiency and reliability.

Jignesh Kundaria, Director & CEO, Fornnax, said, “Our people are the true engine behind our innovation and execution. As we scale globally and expand our footprint across diverse recycling applications, cultivating a culture of excellence remains central to our strategy. In 2026, we are intensifying our focus on talent development, leadership growth and building a high-ownership, high-accountability environment that drives continuous improvement across engineering, manufacturing, and service. This will set new benchmarks in the industry, and I believe Upadhyay will play a crucial role in this journey.”

Upadhyay said, “Fornnax’s strong positioning in high-capacity shredding solutions and its commitment to sustainable recycling deeply resonated with me. The company’s engineering strength and rapid growth trajectory present a powerful opportunity to build a world-class service organisation. In an industry where machine reliability directly impacts customer profitability, service becomes a direct driver of customer success. I am excited to elevate Service from a support function to a strategic growth enabler, which is specifically focused on uptime, lifecycle value and long-term partnerships.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Pirelli has commenced 2026 by building upon its record-breaking previous year, which was distinguished by numerous victories and podium placements across its entire product portfolio and its innovative Cyber Tyre technology. This exceptional momentum is underscored by the remarkable performance of the recently launched summer Cinturato, a tyre engineered for premium sedans and CUVs that has rapidly established itself as a benchmark for safety, longevity and dynamic equilibrium. Having already secured two wins in 2025, the next-generation Cinturato has added two outright victories and three podium finishes in the opening months of 2026, excelling in six comparative tests conducted by leading European automotive publications and independent organisations.

The Cinturato's success story includes a premier position in a test by Tyre Reviews, where it was lauded as the best summer tyre of the year for its impeccable dry braking and precise steering feedback. It also achieved a triumph in evaluations by the Automobilclub von Deutschland, earning an ‘excellent’ rating and top marks in safety-critical areas like dry braking and aquaplaning resistance. Further reinforcing its technological sophistication, the tyre secured second place with a ‘Highly Recommended’ rating from the ADAC, which recognised its robust durability and diminished environmental footprint alongside its balanced handling.

Additional podium finishes came from Auto Zeitung, which praised the Cinturato as a tyre devoid of weaknesses for its safe handling and impressive mileage, and from Sweden's Vi Bilägare, which highlighted its agile nature and short stopping distances. The tyre's comprehensive capabilities were also affirmed by Auto Bild, where it progressed from a strong qualifying performance to the final round, impressing testers with its grip and balanced behaviour, especially on wet surfaces.

This outstanding beginning to the year for the Cinturato is part of a broader renewal of Pirelli's summer offerings, which recently welcomed the fifth-generation P Zero, the quintessential tyre for sports cars, and the third-generation Scorpion, the latest evolution designed to deliver safety and enduring performance for SUVs.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Prinx Chengshan, together with its brand Chengshan, participated in the 25th Heilongjiang Agricultural Machinery Exhibition in Harbin on 14 March 2026. The event served as a platform to advance the modernisation of China’s agricultural machinery sector and foster industry exchanges. In this context, the company displayed a comprehensive range of agricultural tyres tailored for tractors and combine harvesters.

For tractors, the company presented its agricultural radial tyre series. The TX600 model is engineered with robust tread blocks and a cut-resistant compound, ensuring stable handling during high-speed operations while offering strong defence against punctures. The TX700 features a reinforced carcass and belt structure, providing significant load capacity and superior traction to perform effectively in wet and uneven fields. Meanwhile, the TX800 incorporates a deep R-1W tread pattern and a specialised wear-resistant compound, supported by strengthened beads and shoulders. This design enhances resistance to damage from straw and stones, thereby extending tyre longevity. Addressing the needs of combine harvesters, the TX2000 model delivers a 20 percent increase in load capacity and excellent flexibility. Its low-pressure, wide-footprint design minimizes soil compaction, aligning agricultural efficiency with environmental sustainability.

Additionally, the company’s bias tyre offerings, the CSY90 and CSY93, were also showcased. These tyres feature a traditional herringbone tread pattern that ensures effective self-cleaning and robust traction. They maintain reliable performance in challenging terrains such as soft sand and muddy fields, while their durable construction supports continuous operation during peak farming periods.

With the global push towards agricultural modernisation and mechanisation, Prinx Chengshan has strategically expanded its off-the-road (OTR) tyre operations. A key milestone in this effort is the newly operational green smart factory for OTR tyres. With an investment exceeding RMB 1.1 billion (approximately USD 159.50 million) and spanning over 100,000 square metres, the facility is designed to produce 84,000 engineering tyres and 10,000 giant tyres annually. Serving diverse sectors including mining, construction and agriculture, this initiative enhances the company’s high-end product portfolio and promotes the sustainable advancement of China’s OTR tyre industry.

Looking ahead, Prinx Chengshan intends to uphold its integrated product and service approach. By advancing agricultural tyre technology, the company aims to support the evolution of agricultural machinery through intelligent and sustainable solutions, contributing to the sector’s continued progress.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Tructyre has announced the appointment of Mark Holland as its new Operations Director, effective from April 2026. In this role, he will leverage his extensive background in managing large-scale mobile service operations to enhance support for fleet customers across all sizes.

Holland transitions to Tructyre from ATS Euromaster, where he spent nearly six years as Operations Director. His tenure there also included leadership positions such as Head of Mobile Operations, Head of Network Development and Area Operations Manager. Prior to joining ATS Euromaster in 2011, he served as Network Manager at Auto Windscreens, where he was responsible for overseeing the company’s mobile teams.

In his new capacity, Holland will oversee a 350-strong fleet of service vehicles, along with tooling, equipment, supply chain and distribution. He will also manage Tructyre’s 24/7 Customer Experience Centre in Gateshead, which handles over 11,000 calls each month. Tructyre specialises exclusively in mobile servicing for trucks, trailers, buses and coaches. Its operations are supported by a network of 40 depots across England, Wales and Scotland, supplemented by additional stocking points, ensuring technicians have round-the-clock access to the necessary fitments for both planned service work and roadside emergencies.

Holland said, “Tructyre is partway through a major investment in new systems, so it’s an exciting moment to be stepping into this role. These upgrades will streamline processes for both our technicians and colleagues within our Customer Experience Centre, enabling us to deliver an even faster, more efficient service for fleets. Few industries carry the responsibility that ours does, and the opportunity to help de‑risk Britain’s commercial vehicle fleets is one I take seriously. I’m looking forward to driving operational excellence in everything we do and ensuring our customers have complete confidence in their tyres.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!