Marcus Webb Michelin North America Inc. has announced plans to close its BFGoodrich tire plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, by the end of 2028 due to “structural inefficiencies” and increasing competition in the off-the-road (OTR) markets. The production of BFGoodrich Tires will be…
Shandong Dawn Polymer Materials Co. is investing RMB500 million (€64 million) to expand EPDM rubber production through a 25 kilotonne per annum project at its majority-owned subsidiary Ningbo SK Synthetic Rubber Co. The investment aims to strengthen competitiveness and ease…
Ford chose a bear to test the F-150 Security Package, staging an encounter between the truck and an 800-pound Kodiak bear named Tag. The test was designed to see how the system held up to a non-human attacker, with Tag’s…
The global rubber and tire sector saw mixed share-price movements last week, with Bridgestone, Michelin, Pirelli, and ZC Rubber posting modest gains, while Goodyear, Hankook, Sumitomo Rubber, and Yokohama Rubber slipped. Bridgestone closed at Yen3,425 (-1.2%), Goodyear at $6.29 (+2.1%),…
Vespa is celebrating its 80th anniversary with the 2027 Edizione Ottantesimo, a limited-edition collector’s scooter that pairs the brand’s iconic steel-bodied heritage with its most powerful engine yet. Unveiled in Rome during the “80 Years of an Icon” celebration, this…
The US new-car market is still punishing wallets in 2026. Despite a growing roster of sub-$25,000 models and forecasts of cheaper cars ahead, average transaction prices for subcompact and compact SUVs hit record highs in May 2026, according to Kelley…
Spanish elastomer specialist Dynasol Elastomeros is spearheading the development of new high-flow hydrogenated thermoplastic elastomers as part of its ‘HFLOWTPE project’. The initiative targets improved processing properties, enhanced flow characteristics, and superior mechanical performance for higher-value applications. The project centers…
New car registrations in the European Union climbed 3.2% year-on-year to 955,013 units in May, according to ACEA data. Year-to-date demand increased 4% to just under 4.75 million units, signaling a strong start to 2026 despite ongoing geopolitical headwinds. The…
Japanese automotive supplier Toyoda Gosei has taken a strategic leap beyond its traditional boundaries by investing in ElevationSpace Inc., a Tohoku University spin-out focused on returnable small satellites. The move underscores Toyoda Gosei’s push to diversify amid what it describes…
Mercedes-AMG’s M139 inline-four has earned bragging rights as the world’s most powerful production four-cylinder engine, but that technical triumph hasn’t translated into customer enthusiasm. The 2.0-liter turbocharged unit debuted in 2019 with up to 416 horsepower in its non-hybrid form,…