Enso making “solid progress” with ambitious plans

London – In this Q&A interview, ERJ asks Enso managing director about the status of the UK company and is plans for expansion in the US and elsewhere: 

ERJ: What is Enso's USP within the tire manufacturing industry?

DC: Enso is built around one clear goal - making electric vehicles more successful. EVs place unique demands on tires; more weight, more torque, and greater efficiency sensitivity. Most tires on the market weren’t designed for that.

Enso develops tires specifically for EVs, to extend range, lower total cost of ownership, and cut pollution. We’re not just trying to make a better tire; we’re trying to make a new business model that rewards performance, not just volume. We’re doing this in the real world.

Our EV tires are already in use across high-mileage fleets, and we’ve just launched A-A rated ultra-high performance tires for EVs like Tesla. Our dual focus on fleet and consumer is a big part of what sets us apart. 

ERJ: How many people does Enso employ and what is the company's annual turnover?

DC: We’ve doubled the team in the past 18 months and now have nine full-time staff across R&D, engineering, commercial, and operations - supported by a trusted network of specialist contractors that we work with regularly.

Enso is a young, privately owned company, and while we don’t publish turnover figures, our focus is on sustainable growth, expanding our reach, product range, and production footprint. That includes our plans for a first-of-its-kind carbon-neutral tire factory in North America.

ERJ: How many tires per year is Enso manufacturing and selling and where are these tires being manufactured? 

DC: Enso manufactures through strategic partnerships with selected specialist tire manufacturers, including Iris Tires in Algeria and Linglong in Serbia. Both facilities use state-of-the-art equipment and processes that meet our performance standards.

We’re currently supplying tires for electric taxis, vans, and high-performance EVs like the Tesla Model 3 and Y, with distribution across more than 4,000 UK fitting centres. We don’t publish production figures, however we can say that thousands of electric taxis and delivery vans are already running on Enso tires. Our sales are growing fast as we scale up our distribution and product range.

ERJ: How does Enso manufacture EV tires that are "better tires for EVs, offering reduced pollution, longer-lifespan and greater efficiency"?

DC: We design every aspect of our tires to meet the specific demands of EVs: durability, efficiency, and lower emissions. Slower wear means less pollution, so that’s our priority.

We use high-grade polymers and reinforcing fillers that improve abrasion resistance without compromising grip or safety. These raw materials are more expensive, but they’re essential to meet the torque and load demands of electric vehicles. It’s not about making a harder tire compound for EVs, it’s about balancing durability with rolling resistance, braking, and ride comfort.

Enso also benefits from modern manufacturing at state-of-the-art facilities equipped with advanced mixing and dispersion technology. This allows for uniform distribution of fillers like silica at the microscopic level, improving structural integrity, reducing wear, and minimising particle emissions.

Contour design and vibration management are equally important. A well-optimised tire contour absorbs road impacts, reducing surface stress and extending tire life. 

ERJ: How do Enso tires compare with equivalent tires from tier 1 and/or tier 2 suppliers in terms of braking, noise, rolling resistance and wear? Please supply data.

DC: We’ve engineered our tires to match and, in some cases, outperform tier 1 brands, particularly on energy efficiency and wear. While we don’t publish proprietary test data, independent results consistently show us outperforming tier 2 brands and being competitive with the top tier.

Our TX1B tire for the LEVC London electric taxi is A-A rated, compared to the OE-fit tire which is C-C rated. That’s a substantial real-world improvement in efficiency and safety, which is why LEVC has approved it as an official replacement tire for its customers.

The same applies to our Enso Premium range for the Tesla Model 3 and Y. A–A rated performance in a segment where most OE and aftermarket options fall short. As far as we know, no factory-fitted Tesla tyre currently matches that rating.

ERJ: Please provide an update on the progress of Enso's plans to establish a tire factory in the US?

DC: We’re making solid progress. This will be the first carbon-neutral tire plant in the U.S. dedicated to making tires for EVs, and we’re in the advanced stages of site selection. We’ve shortlisted several strategic locations across states like Georgia and Texas, and we’re working closely with both federal and state partners to get the project over the line.

The US EXIM Bank has expressed interest in supporting the factory under its “Make More in America” initiative, and we’re in regular dialogue with them as part of our planning process. Our investors, including 8090 Industries and Galway Sustainable Capital, are fully aligned on the long-term vision, and we’re on track to be shovel-ready by the end of 2025.

ERJ: What are Enso's main targets for 2025?

DC: 2025 is about scale, supply, and sales.

We’re scaling up in the UK and US, growing our range and building on key fleet partnerships, like our strategic rollout with Uber - a key proof point for what our technology can do in demanding, high-mileage, real-world conditions.

On the supply side, we’re ramping up production and setting the groundwork for our US factory, finalising the site, securing incentives, and getting ready to break ground.

On sales, our target is clear: to more than double 2024 volumes and make A-A rated EV tires available to as many drivers as possible, both through retail and fleet channels.

ERJ: Any final points?

DC: We’ve just launched the Enso Premium tire range in the UK and US. It’s an A-A rated tire designed to improve range and reduce emissions for popular ultra-high-performance electric vehicles like Tesla. This marks a major expansion from commercial fleets into the consumer EV market.

It’s a turning point for Enso. Tires have long been a distress purchase, now, they’re becoming a conscious choice. Our aim is simple: when an EV driver walks into a tire shop, we want them to ask for Enso by name.

ERJ: Thank you.