European marketshare data released by Hankook shows that Michelin remains the undisputed leader in both the car and truck tire segments – but the previously exclusive stable of top five tire manufacturers gained a new member in 2009.
Hankook’s decision to publish its projections of how the land lies, following one of the most tumultuous periods in the market’s history, may only have happened because it was a good year for the South Korean tire manufacturer. The fact remains, however, that the unusual combination of events experienced in the last 12 months means there are signs that the status quo has been disrupted. Looking forward the question is: will the company be able to sustain this position in the years to come?
Here’s Hankook’s calculation of how the European car tire market will look at the end of 2009: Michelin remains market leader with a 20% marketshare, followed by Goodyear Dunlop (18%), Continental (17%) Bridgestone (12%), followed by Pirelli (8%).
And here’s where things get interesting: Hankook are in sixth place with a 7% share, snapping at the heels of fifth-placed Pirelli, which is only one percentage point ahead.
Michelin is again said to dominate the truck tire market, with a 32% share of business. Goodyear Dunlop are second with 18%, followed by Continental (16%), and Bridgestone in fourth position (13%). As far as Hankook is concerned, the company’s standing in the TBR segment is even better than in PCR, with company data putting it in fifth place ahead of Pirelli with 5% share.
Of course, due to the fact that the figures were published in November, they can only be estimates. However, the fact that (on its passenger car tire chart) Hankook calculates “others” as representing 18% suggests that the company is basing its estimates on a whole market scenario. It can’t simply be a survey of ERMC Europool members because that would mean Cooper Tire Europe and Trelleborg (not known for their car tires) would have swelled to nearly a fifth of the market between them.
With this mind, and when you consider that the truck and bus tire chart allots an even smaller 6% of the pie to “others,” there are those that would say this doesn’t fairly represent the sales of Cooper, Kumho, GT Radial, Nexen, Nokian, Toyo and Yokohama, to name but a few. Expand their share and you inevitably dilute the rest. Either way, Hankook’s 2009 estimates make timely reading. (Tyres & Accessories)
