MRF reported a 12 percent decline in first-quarter consolidated net profit as rising input costs offset a 7percent  increase in total income.

Consolidated net profit fell to INR 5 billion for the quarter ended 30 June from INR 5.7 billion a year earlier, the Chennai-based company said in a statement. Total income rose to INR 70.82 billion from INR 72.80 billion in the same period last year.

Profit before tax dropped to INR 6.7 billion from INR 7.6 billion year-on-year, with the company booking a tax provision of INR 1.7 billion for the quarter.

“Despite the increase in total income, profits for the quarter ended 30 June 2025 declined due to an increase in input costs,” MRF said in its press release.

The results come amid challenging market conditions that weighed on demand. “April 2025 started with a tariff issue, which was followed by a war in May and then early monsoons. This led to subdued market sentiments,” the company said.

Original equipment (OE) vehicle sales across most categories were either negative or flat, except for the farm segment, which remained unaffected by the disruptions, MRF noted.

Despite the headwinds, the company posted nine percent quarter-on-quarter growth in total income compared to the previous three-month period.

TVS Srichakra Limited said that its wholly-owned subsidiary has invested nearly INR 600 million in another group company to support working capital requirements and expansion plans.

TVS Srichakra Investments Limited (TSIL) subscribed to 214,285 equity shares of TVS Sensing Solution Private Limited (TVSSSPL) at 280 rupees per share, including a premium of 270 rupees over the face value of 10 rupees, the tyre manufacturer said in a regulatory filing.

The investment of INR 599 million was made through a rights issue, with TSIL maintaining its existing shareholding percentage in TVSSSPL following the transaction.

“The proceeds from the rights issue will be utilised by TVSSSPL to improve upon efficient working capital management and to support its growth plans,” TVS Srichakra said in its disclosure to stock exchanges.

TVSSSPL, incorporated in December 1993, manufactures electrical switches, electrical apparatus and related components, serving automotive, industrial, consumer durables and information technology segments.

The sensing solutions company has shown steady revenue growth over the past three financial years, with turnover rising to 15.7 billion rupees in fiscal 2025 from 12.1 billion rupees in fiscal 2023, according to the filing.

The company has an authorised capital of INR 500 million and issued capital of approximately INR 211.7 million, comprising 21.16 million equity shares of 10 rupees each.

TVS Srichakra, part of the Chennai-based TVS Group, is primarily engaged in manufacturing tyres and operates from its facility in Madurai, Tamil Nadu.

TechnoMarketing Group, led by Ralph Dubbeldam, has quietly become a trailblazer in the mobile tyre service sector. From humble beginnings in manual truck tyre changing to pioneering compact, efficient mobile workshops, Dubbeldam’s vision has reshaped tyre service models globally. With the advent of mobile servicing solutions tailored to modern vehicle needs, TechnoMarketing’s products have empowered companies like Rivian and Mercedes-Benz to meet customer demands on the go. Yet, Dubbeldam’s journey isn’t just about innovation – it’s about adapting to the complexities of global markets, space constraints and evolving automotive trends, positioning the company at the forefront of the industry’s transformation.

In an unassuming Dutch town near the port of Antwerp, a quiet revolution in tyre service is underway. Roosendaal may not be the first place one associates with automotive innovation, but it’s the operational base of a company shaping how tyres are serviced globally. Ralph Dubbeldam, the founder and owner of TechnoMarketing Group, has spent the past two decades not just selling tools but reimagining the future of mobile vehicle servicing.

“I always tell people we develop, build, create and trade,” says Dubbeldam. “It’s still the best summary of what I do.”

Today, TechnoMarketing Group supplies purpose-built mobile tyre service equipment to everyone from start-ups in Seoul to automotive giants like Mercedes-Benz and Rivian. But the journey began with a chance encounter at Europe’s largest truck show and a pair of American-made tyre tools.  

Dubbeldam’s entrepreneurial journey began over two decades ago, when a neighbour invited him to the IAA Commercial Vehicles Show in Hannover. Wandering the exhibition, he struck up a conversation with American manufacturers of tools for changing tubeless truck tyres. That serendipitous moment set him on a new path.

“I became their European partner, which I still am today,” he recalled. “That meant in the early years I was mainly changing truck tyres myself manually,” he added.

The hands-on experience wasn’t glamorous, but it grounded Dubbeldam in the practical needs of tyre service professionals. It also gave him a deep understanding of the mechanical challenges that define the industry. He soon began developing and distributing ergonomic wheel handling tools, jacks and battery service equipment, laying the foundation for TechnoMarketing Group.

In 2002, he launched the in-house Winntec brand. Two years later, he became the official distributor for CTEK, the Swedish smart battery charging company. Since then, he’s sold over one million battery chargers, anchoring the company’s reputation for innovation and reliability.

THE MOBILE SHIFT

While wheel lifts and chargers kept the company growing, Dubbeldam had his sights on a much larger transformation – mobile tyre service.

He noticed cultural shifts around car ownership, particularly among younger generations. A pivotal moment came in 2016 at the Automechanika show in Frankfurt, when a major German online tyre reseller approached him with a challenge, which was to create compact, climate-proof mobile service vans that operators could work inside year-round.

“Winter in Munich isn’t kind to tyre installers. The equipment they needed didn’t exist, so I sat down with my engineers and we built it ourselves,” he noted.

The result was ecube, a battery-driven, lightweight, emission-free power unit designed specifically for mobile service vans. That pilot project marked the start of TechnoMarketing Group’s mobile era and the brand’s global acceleration.

The company’s equipment is now used in mobile fleets across South Korea, Japan, Germany, the United States and the Middle East. Its reach expanded rapidly following a deal with Rivian in 2021, when the electric vehicle manufacturer began equipping its mobile service vans with TechnoMarketing Group’s technology.

“Rivian didn’t have a dealership network. So mobile service was their only option. They now have over 350 vehicles on the road using our equipment,” Dubbeldam explains.

Another turning point came in 2023 when Mercedes-Benz, after years of internal resistance, committed to rolling out a global fleet of mobile service vans. Its initial focus is on light services like inspections and battery maintenance but tyre service is next.

“It’s a strong signal that if a brand like Mercedes goes mobile, the rest of the market will follow,” Dubbeldam explains.

TechnoMarketing Group is also working with Pirelli Driver, Euromaster and Vergölst, a Continental-owned tyre service provider, in Germany. In Japan, it has partnered with Nitta Tire, and in the US, it sells thousands of air bottle jacks to fleets service providers through its distribution partner Gaither Tool in Illinois.

ENGINEERING FOR THE REAL WORLD

Mobile tyre service isn’t just about putting workshop equipment in the back of a van. It requires purpose-built solutions that can withstand extreme conditions, whether it’s subzero winters in Seoul or 90 percent humidity in Singapore.

“Traditional balancers weren’t designed to sit in a van baking at 40 degrees Celsius or rattling over cobblestones. “Metal shafts expand and contract. Rust is inevitable. Accuracy degrades,” Dubbeldam points out.

In Singapore, one TechnoMarketing customer services luxury sedans in underground parking lots. In Dubai, operators work night shifts to avoid the heat. And in North America, trailers are often used to reduce costs.

“These are not ideal conditions. You have to respect the local context. That’s what drives our design philosophy,” he said.

THE WEIGHT PROBLEM

One of the biggest constraints in designing mobile service vans is weight. In Europe, commercial vehicles are limited to 3,500 kilogrammes. A fully equipped van with a driver and tools leaves just 800–1,000 kilogrammes for equipment, barely enough for traditional changers and balancers.

Electric vans add another layer of complexity. For instance, the electric Renault Master offers 600 kg less payload than its internal combustion version due to the heavy battery pack.

“That’s why we focus so much on lightweight, compact systems. You don’t have the luxury of space or surplus weight,” says Dubbeldam.

The company’s integrated mobile solution featuring a tyre changer, balancer, compressor and battery box occupies just 1.1 square metres and weighs only 450 kilogrammes.

MARKET GROWTH

According to industry estimates cited by Dubbeldam, the global mobile tyre installation market reached USD 500 million in 2024 and is expected to exceed USD 1.3 billion by 2032, growing at a 10 percent annual rate.

And that’s just tyres. Broader mobile car servicing, from battery replacement to diagnostics, is expected to grow even faster as automakers seek leaner service networks and consumers demand convenience.

“Tesla was the first to really embrace it. But now you see Lucid, Rivian, even newcomers like NIO following the same model,” said Dubbeldam.

Dubbeldam’s success is as much about cultural awareness as it is about engineering. His customers span the globe and he’s quick to note that no two markets behave the same.

“In the UK, I sell thousands of air bottle jacks. In Germany, zero,” he says with a grin. “Why? It’s culture. And you have to respect that.”

He also thrives on the variety. “What drives me are those cultural differences, the diversity of requests. It keeps me curious,” he quips.

Dubbeldam shows no signs of slowing down. He continues to push TechnoMarketing Group into new markets in Asia and Africa and is investing in new emission-free power systems to replace noisy, gasoline-powered generators in mobile fleets.

“The internal combustion generator burns five litres of gasoline an hour. We’ve designed battery-driven alternatives that are clean, quiet and efficient,” he said.

He also sees untapped potential in mobile diagnostics, charging and electric vehicle maintenance. As carmakers move away from dealerships, the demand for mobile solutions will only grow.

“Car maintenance is going to change whether we like it or not. Mobile isn’t a trend anymore. It’s a necessity,” he said.

Epsilon Carbon, one of India’s leading coal tar derivatives companies and India's only backward-integrated company with a dedicated source of raw materials, has appointed Munish Bakshi as Vice President – Marketing & Sales for Carbon Black business. This appointment aligns with the company’s plans to expand its Carbon Black business.

Bakshi brings with him two decades of experience working in the steel, paint and chemical industries. With a proven track record in driving strategic growth, market leadership and commercial excellence, he is expected to accelerate the company’s growth journey and create long-term value for customers and partners.

South Korean tyre maker posts USD 605m in sales, marking second consecutive quarterly record

NEXEN TIRE, the South Korean tyre manufacturer, reported record quarterly revenue of USD 605 million for the second quarter of 2025, driven by expanded European production capacity and strengthened sales in key markets, including the United States.

The company posted an operating profit of USD 32 million for the three months ended 30 June, maintaining stable margins despite headwinds from elevated raw material costs that emerged in late 2024.

The strong performance marked NEXEN TIRE’s second consecutive quarter of record revenue, underscoring its growth momentum amid continued uncertainty in the global automotive sector.

The revenue surge was primarily attributed to increased output following the completion of Phase 2 expansion at the company’s Czech Republic manufacturing facility, alongside targeted sales strategies tailored to regional markets.

NEXEN TIRE secured key supply volumes in advance, achieving what the company described as balanced growth across both original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and replacement tyre segments.

In the United States, sales continued to recover in the second quarter after experiencing a temporary decline in the latter half of 2024. The improvement was supported by the expansion of newly secured retail distribution channels.

The Asia-Pacific region also delivered strong results, with Australia and Japan achieving record sales volumes, backed by continued investment in distribution network development.

Operating margins remained under pressure from raw material cost inflation that began in late 2024, though the company noted that ocean freight costs provided some relief during the quarter. NEXEN TIRE expects profitability to improve in the second half of 2025 as key raw material costs have been trending downward since early this year.

The tyre maker has been building brand recognition through localised marketing campaigns across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific whilst expanding its retail presence through strategic partnerships with regional distributors.

In the first six months of 2025, NEXEN TIRE began supplying OEM tyres for 11 vehicle models, including the Hyundai NEXO, Kia EV4 and TASMAN, deepening its collaboration with global automakers, including premium brands.

The company said it would implement gradual price adjustments in the US market in response to recent tariff policy changes, whilst focusing on expanding its high-margin product portfolio and strategically reallocating global supply volumes to mitigate profitability risks.

“Despite persistent macroeconomic challenges, NEXEN TIRE achieved record-breaking sales for two consecutive quarters by maintaining balanced growth across both OE and RE segments,” said John Bosco (Hyeon Suk) Kim, chief executive of NEXEN TIRE. “We will continue to reinforce our global competitiveness through strategic partnerships and region-specific initiatives.”

The company maintains real-time monitoring of trade developments and flexible response mechanisms as bilateral trade negotiations continue to evolve.