Setzer made the statement in German motoring magazine Auto Motor und Sport on Thursday.
The total expected to rise again to 1.3 billion units in 2011.
The same article quoted Guglielmo Fiocchi, head of Pirelli Tyre’s German operations, as saying he forecasts a 7% to 10% decline in global demand this year.
According the interview, Fiocchi expects the market to bottom out in or before 2010, with growth return after that. Pirelli reportedly predicts annual growth of up to 6% after this. Meanwhile, the German Pirelli Tyre boss said he expects the German summer tyre market to fall 7% – 8% with "better development" in winter tyre business. (Tyres & Accessories/Staffordshire, U.K.)