In the October/November ’26 issue of Tyre Trends, Chief Commercial Officer, Mike Norman shares his insights for the future of the tire industry. The tire industry faces challenges to the business model due to rapid changes in the vehicle market, ‘reshoring’ and the fast-moving landscape of technology. VMI outlines a four-stage roadmap: first, simplify existing processes to cut costs; second, implement new technologies one by one (UNIXX Belt Maker for example); third, extend the scope of automation; and finally, move toward autonomous “Dark Factory” production. Success requires balancing technological adoption with organizational change, skills development, and strategic partnerships to navigate this complex, uncertain future.
Read the full article online or in the October/November issue of Tyre Trends (page 32 -39)