Conti bucks European winter tyre trend with increased sales

During 2012 Continental sold some 20.1 million passenger car, 4×4 and van winter tyres in the European replacement tyre market, the company reports. This figure is approximately 300,000 units above what it sold in 2011 and was achieved despite a ten per cent drop in overall market demand. Altogether the company sold around 21.4 million winter tyres globally last year.

“In setting a new sales record for winter passenger tyres in the European replacement sector, we managed to noticeably expand our share of that market. Against the backdrop of a difficult market overall, we are very proud of this achievement,” noted Nikolai Setzer, Continental AG Executive Board member for the Tire division.

Given this “difficult market” in Western Europe, it is hardly surprising that Continental also has an eye on other, more promising markets. Setzer commented that “should things get tougher on the established markets, we – as number four worldwide – still have the option of simultaneously tapping unexploited turnover potential on markets where we are currently underrepresented. There it will be easier for us to expand than in West Europe, for example, where Continental has already achieved formidable market standing.”