Tyre makers across the globe have in the recent past announced their firm expansion plans as well as new investments. In fact, as per a recent report by the Automotive Tyre Manufacturers Association (ATMA), almost a dozen of new plants and capacity enhancements are currently underway.

The report states that Mexico is on track for being in the top 5 tyre manufacturing nations. In the last 6 months, over $1 billion new investment has been committed from three brands – Yokohama Rubber Co, Sailun Group and ZC Rubber Group. This will add fresh capacity of 24 million passenger/light truck tyres in addition to the existing over 65 million passenger/light truck tyres a year and upto 2 million truck/bus tyres a year.

Then there is China’s Sunset Tyres Corp, which aims to invest over $256 million towards its new radial passenger tyre plant in Brazil.

Linglong also announced investment of $640 million to enhance its competitiveness and broaden its product mix at its Serbia plant. The facility is expected to be completed by end-2030 and will add capacity to manufacture 1.1 million radial tyres, including 8,00,000 truck/bus tyres and 50,000 industrial/engineering tyres and 1,50,000 agricultural tyres.

Michelin is upgrading its French farm tyre plant as it gears up to build new generation of agricultuarly tyres.

UAE-based tyre distributor, Zafco Group Holdings is exploring setting up a tyre plant in Pakistan. The proposed 1.4 million passenger and light truck tyres a year factory is valued at $92 million, according to the World Bank affiliated International Finance Corp. (IFC), which is evaluating contributing up to $25 million in funding.

India’s JK Tyre & Industries is also mulling new investment of $168 million towards capacity expansion over the course of the next two years. The company aims to increase its passenger car tyre production by 16 percent and also aims to invest another $48 million towards ramping up off-road and radial truck/bus tyre production.

Bridgestone has announced its plans to upgrade its OTR tyre plant in Japan. It will invest $166 million at its earthmover and mining tyre facility over the next three and a half years.

Nova Motorsport is investing $22 million at its recently acquired CNB/Camac tyre factory in Palmeira, Portugal. The project includes incorporating motorsport tyre capacity from the former Cooper Tyre plant in Melksham, England.

German tyre maker Continental is also expanding capacity for passenger tyres at its five-year-old factory in Rayong, as it aims to meet the growing demand for ‘premium tyres’ in the region and elsewhere, including North America.

Chinese manufacturer JGST aims to refocus on expansion to meet passenger demand. The company sells tyres under the Celimo and TBB brands.

Yokohama Rubber Co is also relocating its over 20-year-old facility in Hangzhou to a new greenfield site. It will invest $269 million towards the new plant, and aims to start production in the second quarter of 2025 with an initial capacity to manufacture 9 million tyres.

British engineering start-up Enso aims to build the world’s first carbon-neutral manufacturing plant for electric vehicle tyres in the United States. It aims to invest around $500 million towards the new facility with plans to manufacture 5 million passenger tyres specifically designed for EVs by 2027.

Representational Image courtesy: ATMA

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Gaurav Kumar has resigned as a whole-time director of Apollo Tyres, the Indian tyre manufacturer, after more than two decades with the company, though he will remain chief financial officer during a transition period.

The Gurugram-based company's board approved the resignation at a meeting on Thursday. Kumar steps down as a director, and consequently as a member of the risk management committee, with effect from the close of business the same day. The company said he had confirmed there was no material reason for his departure beyond that stated in his resignation letter.

Kumar will continue as chief financial officer for such period as is necessary to ensure a smooth transition, after which he will cease to be part of the company's senior management.

In his resignation letter, Kumar said: "It has been terrific to be part of the incredible journey at Apollo Tyres thus far. I have learned, and hopefully contributed in equal measure, and now seek to explore alternative and new challenges. I wish Apollo Tyres the very best for the journey ahead and will always be part of the Apollo Tyres Family." He added that he was grateful to Onkar Kanwar and Neeraj Kanwar for their support during his tenure of more than 22 years at the company.

Neeraj Kanwar, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director, said: "Gaurav deserves kudos for the critical role he has played in the growth of Apollo Tyres, both in India and overseas, in the last twenty years. While we do regret losing him, we are conscious of his personal aspirations and wish him the very best in his future endeavours."

The company said it was in the process of appointing a new chief financial officer.

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Shrader Tire & Oil (STO) has announced the appointment of Bob Feldbauer to the role of President, effective 1 August 2026. He will concurrently serve as Chief Operating Officer, while Joe Shrader maintains his position as Chief Executive Officer.

Feldbauer’s ascent follows his arrival at STO in early 2025 as Chief Operating Officer, a role built upon a robust industry resume. His prior engagements include a lengthy stint at the helm of Jack’s Tire & Oil in Utah and a substantial period with Michelin North America, where he handled sales and managerial assignments.

Under the new structure, Feldbauer’s purview widens to encompass both internal fleet management across 14 sites and outward-facing commercial development, including alliances and market expansion. With the founding family’s fourth generation now active within the firm, the succession plan reinforces the enduring principles established when the company opened in 1948.

Shrader said, “Bob has proven exactly what we hoped he would when we brought him on board – sharp operational instincts and a real drive to help this company grow. Putting him in the President seat lets us move faster on the growth plans we’ve been building towards.”

Feldbauer said, “It has been a fast year and a half at Shrader Tire & Oil. I have gained tremendous insight and valuable knowledge about our organisation’s structure, company culture and an understanding of our overall goals and commitments. One thing is clearly obvious – the commitment Shrader employees have to deliver the best customer experience each and every time. I appreciate this and look forward to supporting them as their President and COO.”

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Balkrishna Industries Ltd. (BKT) has unveiled a brand installation at the Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) T2 Elevated Road Underpass as the tyre manufacturer seeks to broaden its positioning beyond its traditional Off-Highway business and strengthen awareness of its expanding on-highway portfolio in India.

The 2,000 sq. ft. installation, inspired by the company's "Elevate Your Drive" philosophy, highlights BKT's portfolio across agriculture, construction, mining, earthmoving, commercial vehicles, two-wheelers and passenger vehicles. The activation comes as the company expands its presence in India's two-wheeler and commercial vehicle tyre segments.

Designed to move beyond conventional outdoor advertising, the installation features nine illuminated tyre-shaped displays, each 8 feet in diameter, using the tyre itself as the central storytelling element. It opens with a large-format visual featuring BKT brand ambassador Ranveer Singh, followed by a sequence of displays illustrating the company's expanding mobility portfolio. The installation will remain at the airport for 24 months.

Mumbai International Airport handled a record 55.5 million passengers in 2025, providing the company with sustained visibility among business travellers and consumers.

"For BKT, innovation goes beyond product engineering; it extends to how we tell our story. This installation reflects a simple yet powerful idea: our tyre itself becomes the medium through which travellers experience the breadth of BKT's world. As we expand our presence across India's mobility landscape, it is important that consumers see BKT not through a single product category, but as a brand that supports movement across diverse terrains, applications and journeys. Mumbai Airport provides an ideal stage for us to express that transformation in a memorable and distinctive way," said Satish Sharma, Senior President & Director – Business Development and Strategy, BKT.

The installation was conceptualised by Infectious Advertising and uses immersive design, sequential storytelling and its airport location to showcase the company's wider mobility portfolio. According to BKT, the activation is intended to connect its established Off-Highway business with its growing presence in India's on-highway mobility market.

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Mumbai-headquartered leading carbon black manufacturer Epsilon Carbon has reported a 10 percent reduction in carbon dioxide equivalent emissions across its upstream transportation operations during FY2025–26. The reduction was achieved through the deployment of an electric and liquefied natural gas freight fleet.

An independent third party certified the emissions data. The reductions achieved in transport logistics equate to carbon absorption figures associated with approximately 29,000 trees. The verified figures allow supply chain partners to include these reductions within Scope 3 emissions reporting frameworks and environmental disclosures.

Gaurav Mathur, Chief Executive Officer, Epsilon Carbon, said, “Decarbonising logistics is central to our climate strategy. What makes this milestone meaningful is that the results are independently verified with a 10 percent reduction in CO2e emissions within the upstream transportation category over a single financial year, driven by the adoption of electric and LNG fleets. These carbon reductions strengthen our own sustainability disclosures and those of our customers, and we intend to scale this model across our supply chain.”

Following Phase 1 operations, Epsilon Carbon intends to expand the number of electric and LNG vehicles in its transport fleet during FY 2026–27 to scale low-carbon freight transport across its supply chain network.

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