Goodyear Drives into Software Defined Vehicle Market with SDVerse Partnership

Goodyear Sightline

SDVerse, a leading B2B marketplace for vehicle software, has announced that global tyre major Goodyear will now promote its SightLine suite of tyre intelligence software offerings on the SDVerse platform.

This collaboration marks a significant move for Goodyear into the burgeoning software-defined vehicle (SDV) space, offering tyre-centric software solutions designed to boost vehicle performance, safety and efficiency.

Goodyear's intelligent mobility solutions, including real-time tyre health diagnostics, road surface sensing and predictive maintenance insights, are engineered to allow OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers to integrate tyre intelligence directly into a vehicle's core systems.

SDVerse will be the inaugural online marketplace to feature Goodyear's expansion from traditional hardware into the digital realm of mobility. This strategic shift by Goodyear reflects the industry's increasing focus on data-driven, connected platforms where every vehicle component contributes to a safer and more efficient driving experience.

Werner Happenhofer, Vice-President of Global Tire Intelligence & Solutions at Goodyear, said, "Our tyre intelligence technologies are at the core of our commitment to innovation. Integrating these technologies into a vehicle's control systems represents a significant step forward in enhancing vehicle safety, performance and efficiency. Partnering with SDVerse gives us the opportunity to collaborate with other members and OEMs as we meet the evolving demands of the industry."

For SDVerse, Goodyear's entry further solidifies its mission to revolutionise automotive software sourcing by connecting buyers and sellers, accelerating innovation and enabling software-defined mobility at scale.

Prashant Gulati, CEO, SDVerse, said, "We’re thrilled to welcome Goodyear to SDVerse. Goodyear’s move into software is not only bold but incredibly timely. Their presence on our platform underscores the breadth of what software-defined vehicles can become – where even tyres evolve into intelligent systems contributing real-time data and decision-making capabilities across the vehicle ecosystem."

BendPak Launches Ranger RB30T Hybrid Wheel Balancer For Truck And Bus Wheels

BendPak Launches Ranger RB30T Hybrid Wheel Balancer For Truck And Bus Wheels

Designed to tackle the largest truck and bus wheels while maintaining precision for passenger vehicles, the RB30T Hybrid Wheel Balancer from Ranger (a BendPak division) delivers power and versatility. Switching between heavy-duty and light-duty applications is effortless, requiring just a button press. Its integrated pneumatic wheel lift enhances safety and ergonomics by minimising manual handling and reducing injury risks.

Capable of balancing wheels for buses, semi-trucks, OTR vehicles, light trucks and cars, the RB30T ensures fast, accurate results without recalibration. Its re-engineered platform supports wheels up to 330 lbs (approx. 150 kg), 49.25 inches in diameter and 20 inches wide, with rapid cycle times – seven seconds for car wheels and around 20 seconds for full truck assemblies. At its core, the Ranger Drive-Check system uses advanced 64-bit processing and quartz piezoelectric sensors to detect even the slightest imbalances across multiple axes. This smart technology simulates real-world driving conditions, identifying vibrations before they become road issues and automatically recommending optimal corrections.

Built for durability, the RB30T features a ribbed nylon-fibre drive belt, counter-weighted flywheel system and a three-phase motor with solid-state phase conversion for smooth, high-torque operation under heavy loads. The balancer comes ready to use with a commercial mounting kit, including cones and adapters, while its spacious top tray and side shelves keep wheel weights and tools organised for efficient workflow.

Available as a standalone unit or with the Ranger Select package – which includes professional installation and training – the RB30T is a robust solution for shops handling diverse wheel balancing needs.

Sean Price, Director of Product Development, said, “The new RB30T wheel balancer can do it all. Its versatility makes the RB30T a great choice not just for heavy-duty fleets and repair garages but also for high-volume tyre shops and mixed fleets.”

Bridgestone Launches First Aircraft Tyre Tracking System With Cebu Pacific

Bridgestone Launches First Aircraft Tyre Tracking System With Cebu Pacific

Bridgestone has officially rolled out its proprietary aircraft tyre management system “easytrack” in collaboration with Cebu Pacific Air, marking the first deployment of the solution by a commercial airline.

The system, launched in April 2025, uses QR codes and a smartphone app to track aircraft tyres across the supply chain—replacing Cebu Pacific’s manual, paper-based process.

“As Cebu Pacific continues to expand its operations, it's essential that we invest in smart solutions that enhance efficiency and reduce manual workload,” said Shevantha Weerasekera, Vice President, Engineering & Fleet Management at Cebu Pacific. “Partnering with Bridgestone to implement the ‘easytrack’ system has enabled us to significantly improve our tyre  management processes significantly, ensuring greater accuracy, safety, and productivity across our operations.”

Bridgestone said the system has halved labour time for inventory management and achieved full tyre tracking accuracy after verification trials at Cebu Pacific’s warehouses, MROs, and maintenance bases.

“As a value co-creation partner, we have proposed solutions tailored to on-site operations based on learnings and insights gained from Cebu Pacific Air’s frontline operations,” said Arata Tomita, Director, Global Aviation Tire Solutions Business Division at Bridgestone. “We are very pleased that the official implementation of ‘easytrack’ has contributed to the improvement of operational accuracy, safety, and productivity.”

Bridgestone said the move aligns with its “Bridgestone E8 Commitment,” with a focus on enhancing efficiency and ecology by supporting sustainable tyre practices and operational productivity.

Japan’s ispace, Bridgestone Sign Agreement To Develop Tyres For Lunar Rovers By 2029

Japan’s ispace, Bridgestone Sign Agreement To Develop Tyres For Lunar Rovers By 2029

Japanese start-up ispace inc. and tyre maker Bridgestone have agreed to jointly develop tyres for small and midsize lunar rovers, targeting Moon use by 2029.

The partnership equips Bridgestone’s elastic wheel technology—designed to adapt to harsh lunar terrain—on ispace's rover prototypes. The companies will conduct Earth-based performance tests before Moon deployment.

“Bridgestone’s lunar rover tyre has a structure of thin metal spokes, enabling flexible deformation while maintaining durability,” said Masaki Ota, Director of OE Business Strategy & Planning/New Mobility Business Division at Bridgestone. “This design delivers superior ability to traverse and shock absorption, allowing the rover to traverse the lunar surface and overcome obstacles such as lunar rocks.”

Bridgestone started developing lunar rover tyres in 2019 and unveiled concept models in April 2025 with lower weight to suit smaller rover platforms.

ispace, known for micro-sized lunar rovers, sees the partnership as key to its long-term lunar economy mission.

“ispace's goal of establishing a new economy on the Moon requires the participation of players from a wide range of industries,” said Takeshi Hakamada, Founder & CEO of ispace. “Bridgestone… is now developing lunar rover tyres for the extreme environments found on the Moon. These tyres will undoubtedly contribute to future human advancement on the Moon.”

The companies said they are also exploring collaboration opportunities through the Space Strategy Fund at Japan’s national space agency, JAXA.

Magna Tyres Introduces AI-Powered Chatbot As Part Of Customer Service Initiative

Magna Tyres

Magna Tyres, a leading premium off-the-road (OTR), industrial and truck tyre solutions company, has launched a new AI-powered (Artificial Intelligence) chatbot on its official website.

The chatbot will provide instant assistance to its customers 24x7 in any language around the world.

Robert Gruijters, Head of Marketing, Magna Tyres, said, “Customer service is at the core of our brand promise. With a Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 67, we already outperform many in our industry and this launch reinforces our commitment to becoming a truly best-in-class brand by being always available, accessible and responsive.”

This move is part of the company’s efforts to not only meet but exceed customer expectations by providing an instantaneous response ranging from product queries to general support.