Bridgestone exec: Tire industry should prepare for megatrends

摘要

While the tire industry is watching developing megatrends such as the adoption of electric and autonomous vehicles,it should focus on realistic usage and bringing in new skill sets,Robert Asper,director of core system engineering and product development for Bridgestone Americas Inc.,told those attending the recent Tire Society meeting in Fairlawn.Mr.Asper described how the industry can approach these trends in his keynote,”Will the Tire Society Rise to Meet the Challenges Created by Future Mobility?”delivered at the 38th annual Tire Society Business Meeting and Conference on Tire Science and Technology.The event took place Sept.10-11 at the Hilton Akron/Fairlawn.Four of the megatrends in mobility worth noting are connective services,autonomous vehicles,shared mobility and electric vehicles,he said.Though some might feel like these trends are right around the corner,the technology might take much longer to be fully integrated into consumer products,he added.For example,electric vehicles(EVs) are a growing part of the auto industry,but commercial EVs have been in production since about 1910.They were more reliable vehicles,but fuel for internal combustion engines(ICE) was cheaper and more easily accessible.As technology has changed,that balance is starting to shift.