All segments up in September

Figures released by Michelin this week add further weight to the ETRMA’s suggestion of recovery being evident in recent European market developments. The French tyre maker reports growth in both the passenger car/light commercial vehicle and heavy truck markets in Europe (including Russia and Turkey) during September. This was witnessed in both the original equipment and aftermarket businesses.

The original equipment passenger car/light commercial vehicle market grew two per cent compared with September 2012 during the month, reducing its year to date contraction to two per cent, while a five per cent expansion of the replacement passenger car/light commercial vehicle market reduced the year to date downturn to just one per cent.

Even greater growth was seen in the heavy truck tyre market, with both original equipment and replacement sales in Europe increasing 11 per cent year-on-year in September. Year to date, the original equipment truck tyre market is comparable with last year’s January to September performance, while the replacement market is up nine per cent compared with the same period of 2012.