EU Tyre Market Shows Mixed Recovery as All-Season Segment Booms
- By TT News
- May 12, 2025
The European replacement tyre market displayed mixed signals in the first quarter of 2025, with consumer tyres growing modestly while truck and agricultural segments contracted, according to data released by the European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers’ Association (ETRMA).
Consumer tyre sales grew 3 percent in the first quarter compared to the same period last year, continuing the recovery observed in the second half of 2024. The all-seasons segment emerged as the standout performer with a robust 14 percent growth, whilst winter tyres rose 5 percent. Summer tyres declined by 3 percent.
"In Consumer tyres, the recovery observed in the second half of 2024 (+8 percent) has continued in the first quarter of 2025. Volumes were close to those reached in the first quarter of 2019, before the impact of the pandemic," said Adam McCarthy, ETRMA's Secretary General.
The truck tyre segment, however, showed weakness with a 4 percent decline compared to Q1 2024 and remains 11 percent below pre-pandemic levels. Agricultural tyres mirrored this downward trend with a 4 percent reduction, whilst motorcycle and scooter tyres grew 7 percent against what the association described as "a relatively weak first quarter of 2024".
McCarthy attributed the truck segment's poor performance to "economic and political uncertainties" affecting the market.
The data reveals a striking trend in tyre imports, with passenger car and light truck tyre imports into Europe surging 12 percent in the first two months of 2025 compared to the same period last year. This follows a 17 percent increase in 2024, with Chinese imports up 18 percent, Korean imports up 30 percent, and Indian imports up 34 percent.
Industry analysts suggest this import surge reflects both consumer cost pressures and production challenges facing European manufacturers.
"Pressure on household budgets has increased demand for low-cost imports whilst European tyre production costs, particularly for energy, have increased at a faster pace than in other regions," the ETRMA report noted.
In a separate trend, truck and bus tyre imports from outside Europe grew 8 percent in early 2025, with ASEAN countries now representing over 60 percent of imported volumes. Vietnam's share has grown significantly, accounting for over a quarter of imports in the period.
The association also highlighted that despite significant changes in mobility patterns, with car traffic yet to fully recover from pandemic lows, the total light vehicle fleet in Europe grew by 1.4 percent in 2024, adding more than 4 million vehicles. Light commercial vehicles showed stronger growth, driven by e-commerce and last-mile delivery expansion.
The report estimates that nearly 4.5 million tonnes of used tyres were generated across Europe in 2024, with only about 600,000 tonnes reused or retreaded.
Continental Appoints Managers For Global Purchasing And Original Equipment Business
- By TT News
- October 07, 2025
Continental's Tires group sector has strengthened its leadership team with two key internal appointments, effective 1 September 2025. Jana Striezel has been named the new head of global purchasing for Continental Tires, while Dennis Bellmund has assumed leadership of the global original equipment business for both passenger and commercial vehicles. Both executives will report directly to Christian Kötz, the member of Continental AG's Executive Board who leads the Tires group sector.
In her new capacity, Striezel will oversee worldwide strategic and operational purchasing. She brings extensive experience from the automotive industry, having previously held several procurement management roles at Renault, where she led purchasing for the Renault brand and its alliance with Nissan and Mitsubishi in Europe. Her career began at Volkswagen in 2014.
Bellmund, who has a 25-year tenure with Continental, steps into his role following the departure of his predecessor, Manja Greimeier, to the ContiTech sector. His extensive background within the company includes recent responsibility for Continental’s tyre retail operations, alongside prior leadership roles in EMEA supply chain management and sales direction for the European replacement tyre business. These appointments signal a strategic reinforcement of Continental's tyre division leadership.
Kötz said, “We’re delighted to welcome Jana Striezel, a highly skilled manager, to our team. She brings extensive expertise in international procurement and will focus on driving forward our purchasing strategy. In Dennis Bellmund, our global original equipment business has gained a highly experienced leader. Thanks to his many years at Continental, he is familiar with our company and our customers’ needs from many different angles. On behalf of the entire management team, I wish both of them every success in their new roles and look forward to working together.”
“On behalf of the entire team, I would like to thank Manja Greimeier for her successful leadership of our original equipment business and wish her all the best and continued success,” added Kötz.
In a significant leadership update, LD Carbon (LDC) has announced a restructuring of the chief executive office at the company. The company confirmed that Seong-Moon Baek will now serve as the sole CEO. This move follows the departure of former co-CEO Yong-Kyung Hwang from the executive position.
The change is effective immediately as the company continues to advance its initiatives in the sustainable materials sector. Chief Commercial Officer Bumseek Kim (BK) formally communicated the development in a statement, saying, “Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at any time.”
Jo Dennis Named MD At WF Recycle-Tech
- By TT News
- October 07, 2025
WF Recycle-Tech has announced a significant leadership transition with Jo Dennis assuming the role of Managing Director, succeeding Founder Paul Neville.
Dennis brings extensive experience in manufacturing and tyre pyrolysis, with a proven track record in guiding businesses through scale-up, growth and operational improvement phases. His leadership will be instrumental as the company advances its patented pyrolysis technology, which converts end-of-life tyres into valuable products like oil, syngas and recovered carbon black. Shareholders Farrel Pomini and HF GROUP endorse this technology and support its full-scale commercialisation and global deployment.
The company expressed gratitude to Neville for his foundational decade of service and for developing the core patented technology. He will continue to contribute to the growing team in a consulting capacity, focusing on new business opportunities.
The company statement read: “We would like to thank Paul for his many years of commitment and service as Founder and Managing Director over the last decade, and also congratulate him for his achievements in developing the patented technology upon which WFRT will now build its business. We are also pleased to retain Paul in our growing team in a consulting capacity to support and develop new business opportunities.”
VIPO a.s., a Slovakian manufacturer of bead winding and apexing machinery for tyre production, has established a wholly owned subsidiary in India to capitalise on growing demand in one of the world's largest automotive markets.
VIPO INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED commences operations on 1 October from New Delhi, providing technical support, spare parts production, and customer service to tyre manufacturers across the country, the Partizánske-based company said in a statement.
The move represents a significant expansion for the mid-sized engineering firm, which supplies automation equipment to tyre makers globally. India's tyre industry has expanded rapidly in recent years, driven by robust vehicle sales and infrastructure development.
"The launch of VIPO INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED is a milestone in our global expansion," said Peter Duchovic, chief executive of VIPO a.s. "India represents not only one of the fastest-growing tyre and automotive markets but also a hub of innovation."
The subsidiary will offer locally produced components for high-wear parts and provide digital services including artificial intelligence-driven condition monitoring and augmented reality-based training programmes, the company said.
VIPO specialises in bead winding lines - equipment used to produce the steel wire bundles that anchor tyres to wheel rims. The company stated that its systems incorporate robotics and automation to reduce energy consumption and enhance production efficiency.
"With our New Delhi subsidiary, we will be closer to our customers — listening carefully to their requirements and integrating their needs into the development of new devices and services," Duchovic said.
The firm has committed to the Science Based Targets initiative, a framework for corporate emissions reductions aligned with climate science, according to the statement.
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