Forecast for replacement-tire markets for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles
In 2026, we currently expect global demand for replacement tires for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles weighing less than 6 metric tons to remain virtually unchanged year-on-year, within a range of ‑1% to 2%.
In Europe, North America and China, we currently expect volumes to develop by 0% to 2%.
Forecast for replacement-tire markets for medium and heavy commercial vehicles
In 2026, we currently expect demand for replacement tires for medium and heavy commercial vehicles in our core market of Europe to increase slightly by 1% to 3%.
In North America, we currently expect demand to decline by 1% to 5%.
Forecast for production of passenger cars and light commercial vehicles
We currently expect the global production of passenger cars and light commercial vehicles weighing less than 6 metric tons to be slightly lower than the previous year and develop by ‑2% to 0% in 2026.
In Europe and North America, we anticipate the production of passenger cars and light commercial vehicles to decline by 1% to 3% in 2026. In China, we expect production to develop by ‑2% to 0%.
Forecast for production of medium and heavy commercial vehicles
According to our estimates, the production of commercial vehicles weighing more than 6 metric tons in our core market of Europe will develop positively in 2026, with a rise of 4% to 6% currently expected. In North America, we expect production to increase by 2% to 6%.
Forecast for industrial production
In the eurozone, we currently expect industrial production in 2026 to be slightly higher than in the previous year.
In the USA, we expect industrial production to rise year-on-year, by between 1% and 3%.
In China, we expect a continued increase in industrial production of 4% to 6%.
| Changes to vehicle production, the tire-replacement business and industrial production in 2025 (compared with 2024) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars and light commercial vehicles | Tire-replacement business | Vehicle production | ||
| Europe | 0% to 2% | –3% to –1% | ||
| North America | 0% to 2% | –3% to –1% | ||
| China | 0% to 2% | –2% to 0% | ||
| Worldwide | –1% to 2% | –2% to 0% | ||
| Medium and heavy commercial vehicles | Tire-replacement business | Tire-replacement business | ||
| Europe | 1% to 3% | 4% to 6% | ||
| North America | –5% to –1% | 2% to 6% | ||
| Industrial production | ||||
| Eurozone | 0% to 2% | |||
| USA | 1% to 3% | |||
| China | 4% to 6% | |||
Sources:
Replacement-tire business (Europe with Western, Central and Eastern Europe (excl. Russia) and Türkiye): LMC International Ltd. and own estimates.
Vehicle production (Europe with Western, Central and Eastern Europe (excl. Russia) and Türkiye): S&P Global and own estimates.
Industrial production: Bloomberg and own estimates.
