Of this number, 70% were radials. Some 40% to 45% of total output is exported, with 140 million units leaving China in 2007.
Last year foreign owned tyre manufacturers shared 70% of China’s total tyre output; the top then global manufacturers all operate facilities in China, with Bridgestone alone holding 10% market share of China’s passenger car tyre market. It plans, says the report, to increase this stake to 30% by 2010. (Tyres & Accessories/Staffordshire, U.K.)