Tyre Asia – May-June 2018

Tyre Asia April/May 2018 31

on their vehicles. They are also solely
responsible to adapt their driving
modes to environment and tyre state.
With an ever increasing connectivity
and automaticity of Vehicles, these
responsibilities will be progressively
transferred to the vehicle and its
components.

For these reasons, tyre data will be
crucial to ensure a safe drive, low
emission mobility and improved service
to the customer. Information required to
provide adequate service to the vehicle
user regarding proper tyre equipment
shall be based on customer choice, in
agreement with data privacy law and
shall be made on a non-discriminatory
basis, and shall not be restricted by
the vehicle manufacturer through B2B
agreements.

Restriction to component
interchangeability should be based only
on a clear set of rules and considerations,
like safety. As an example, the data
exchange protocols between the
intelligent tyre and the vehicle should not
limit the interchangeability of tyres.

Europe can really play a leadership role,
and represent a benchmark for other

markets, in connectivity technology

and mobility offers, by guaranteeing a

fair market access and clear rules for

those actors involved in the data value

chain. ETRMA, with the support of its

industry members, is engaged with the

European regulator to shaping the proper

regulatory and competitive landscape.

How do you evaluate the

European tyre industry in

2017? Your prediction for

2018...

The European tyre industry has been

continuously confronted with increasing

challenges in 2017 and it was again a

year of big efforts and substantially

positive results, within an economy trend

continuing towards a full recovery. The

2018 will reasonably continue in the

same trend, where the technological

and market challenges will be even more

stretched and where the regulatory

framework and factual enforcement will

have again a major role in shaping and

supporting a healthy market.

What will the challenges for

2018 for the tyre companies

in Europe and being the head

of ETRMA what will be major

issues on your agenda?

There is a growing demand for high

technology tyres worldwide specifically

focusing on making mobility safer and

sustainable. Manufacturers operating in

mature markets must focus on innovation

and technology to develop premium

products that meet or exceed customers’

expectations by bringing added value

in order to differentiate themselves

from low cost products. Such kind of

challenge very much applies to the

European tyre manufacturers that, I am

sure, will continue to focus and invest in

technology and innovation in order to be

able to provide technologically leading

products promoted by various legislative

activities worldwide - and not only in

Europe - specifically focusing on safety

and sustainability. In this environment

as new President of ETRMA it will be my

priority to continue the great work done

by ETRMA to address future challenges

and to seize new opportunities to ensure

the sustainability of the industry as well

as to keep the organization engaged with

the activities towards building science

and strong facts before new initiatives

are put forward.

european tyre market: one rule for all

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