VMI’s CEO Harm Voortman was among the senior figures to celebrate the global smart manufacturing technology company’s new Indian engineering and service centre, which opened in Vadodara on 4th October. He gave a positive view on prospects for the Indian tyre market: “India is now among the top five global economies,” he said. “Prospects for the tyre market are exceptionally strong. Vadodara was the natural choice for our new engineering centre, which is now part of our global strategy for customer support, software engineering and long-term growth.”

VMI has been operating in India for years, but the new centre marks a step change for the company’s investment in the region. So what does VMI’s new strategy mean for the Indian tyre and automotive industry?

Helping to drive economic growth

India is the world’s fifth largest economy, and a key driver for growth is large-scale investment in road and transport infrastructure. There is growing demand for tyres, especially for trucks, with higher performance standards a must. Infrastructure investment will have a positive impact on the Indian economy, helping make India an even stronger global economic hub.

As we reported in July, VMI’s unique MILEXX automated truck tyre building machine is playing a major role in transforming access to the high-quality truck tyres the logistics industry needs inside India. With more and more Indian citizens also moving to electric vehicles, the need for improvement in quality and performance for car tyres is also clear.

Mike Norman, VMI’s Chief Commercial Officer, said, “We expect to see growth in production accelerate over the next five years – and that goes a long way to explaining why VMI has chosen this moment for major new investment in the Indian market.”

Global software engineering

Perhaps the most compelling reason for VMI’s Vadodara investment is the drive to create an integrated, international software engineering capability for the entire business. India is the world’s most important centre for software capabilities: with home-grown businesses becoming household names and foreign companies building their own Indian research and engineering centres, tapping into the outstanding engineering capabilities India provides.

Automation is the key distinguishing feature of VMI production platforms. From the launch of the MAXX TBM 15 years ago, the concept of ‘hands-off, eyes-off’ has dominated VMI’s design thinking. Stage by stage, new concepts, components and functionalities have been introduced to VMI machines, aiming to reduce human contact and deliver error-free, higher quality, maximum efficiency production.

Vision systems were introduced a decade ago to carry out such key tasks as centring materials correctly, making the right cuts and ensuring consistent quality in output. As improved camera and software options become available, VMI introduces them as standard components to new machines and offers retrofitting to the installed base, enabling customers to operate at best practice level always.

Artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI & ML) are now increasingly vital for VMI production platforms, which drives the need for software engineering capabilities of the highest quality. VMI has developed systems that use AI to identify anomalies (foreign bodies and faults in materials), enabling these issues to be dealt with at once, rather than causing scrap later. The same capabilities will soon be deployed to optimise production.

Smart software is the key to these emerging trends. As demand for new AI-related capabilities accelerates, VMI is building the high functioning, global software engineering team it needs to prosper in this emerging world. By creating an attractive, well-managed centre in Vadodara, VMI expects to mobilise some of the most qualified, ambitious and visionary engineers India can offer. The team is truly global in nature, using a common engineering platform to enable cross-border collaboration and deliver real benefits both to VMI and the Indian economy.

Why is software so important?

Most commentators believe the industry is at an inflection point, where the current business model is changing fast. We see a growing need for many more tyre variants (SKUs), caused by such factors as the move to EVs, need for lighter but stronger and more flexible tyres, introduction of more environmentally responsible new materials (due to lower levels of particulate pollution) and different patterns of demand in the market.

As Norman commented, “The industry is being challenged to move to a different model, with greater production flexibility, less waste and scrap, lower energy costs and reduced emissions.” That means greater process agility and even higher levels of automation. We will need to develop autonomous decision making (requiring AI & ML), near elimination of errors and scrap (better automation of all processes) and the ability to switch from one SKU to another, with short production runs that are still profitable.

None of these changes can happen without intelligent software. Norman added, “The Vadodara investment gives VMI the scale and skills to become the industry leader in flexible AI-enabled systems – with India at its heart.”

Service transformation

The Vadodara centre also means VMI now has a global network of service centres to provide 24/7 ‘follow the sun’ support to customers worldwide. Vadodara is a key part of VMI’s ‘Global but Local’ service approach, covering everything from maintenance, parts and troubleshooting, through to optimisation consulting and training, retrofits and upgrades and remote monitoring to ensure optimal operation.

The Global but Local concept means customers are always served by teams that speak their language and share their culture but operate to consistent, best-practice standards – everywhere. All VMI’s service engineers use the same tools and methods, covering service desk, innovation, core R&D, order engineering retrofits and upgrades.

The Vadodara centre builds on and extends the service support VMI delivers to Indian customers. Now, for example, it is easier and quicker to carry out a routine service on such key components as drums by ‘being local’, with a full maintenance and service facility, minimising downtime and cost. This makes it possible to use a ‘lifecycle approach’ for drums, with much faster swap-over than before.

Investing in the future of India

India is emerging as a highly attractive investment market – perhaps as important as China to foreign companies. Past infrastructure investment levels have been relatively low in India, so there is widespread support for the growth policy now being followed. With the tyre industry now going through a period of significant change, there is huge opportunity for the Indian economy to become one of the most important tyre-building centres in the world.

Norman said, “These are exciting times for us to expand our presence in India. We will be helping to growth the economy in a key sector while tapping into the most important pool of software expertise on earth. As the focus on smart software grows more intense in the next few years, we expect our new Indian colleagues to play a key role in growing both VMI and the Indian economy.”

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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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