By submitting this form, you are agreeing to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Sport Utility Vehicles or SUVs as they are widely called have risen in popularity in past 10 years and have outgrown all other vehicle body types in past 5 years. They now account for 35% of new vehicles sold globally, a sharp increase from 21% in 2014.
The reason why they are such an important segment for tire manufacturers is they inherently use bigger, stronger tires due to heavy kerb weight and versatile applications (towing, off-roading, adventure sports) they are subjected to.
The dynamics of OE and replacement SUV tire market segment are completely different. Where the former requires close collaboration with the car manufacturers, the latter requires solid distribution and sales network. The replacement demand has grown at a slower rate than OE demand but is characterized by significantly higher volumes and average gross margin for tire manufacturers.
In US and China, none of the best-selling SUVs had 16-inch tires, whereas in Europe 3 out of top 10 had them.
The high profile (60/65 aspect ratio) tires are popular in US and emerging countries whereas low profile (45-55 aspect ratio) tires are more common in Europe and Japan.
China and US are world`s biggest markets for SUVs, accounting for ~17-18 Million units sold per annum. Together they make up for ~57-60% of global OE SUV tire market.
In China (world`s biggest SUV market), as of June 2019, there are 523 SUV models on sale from 50+ manufacturers. The low-cost, value for money SUVs priced between $14,000-$20,000 like Haval H6, Baojun 560, Trumpchi GS4 are extremely popular in China.
In Europe, SUVs accounted for 5.4 Million-unit sales in 2018 or 36% of total passenger car sales- at par with global average. Small SUVs are the fastest growing segment right now, accounting for almost 39% of SUV sales in Europe. These SUVs are fitted with 16- and 17-inch tires and will generate a sizeable demand of 215/65 and 225/65 section tires in coming years in replacement market. The Japanese trio of Toyota, Nissan and Honda cumulatively account for 21% of total SUVs sold globally in 2018.
In the premium segment, BMW is the market leader with 0.8 million SUVs sold globally in 2018 or ~40% of total car sales. BMW SUVs` tires range from 17 inch to 19 inch for most vehicles with 225/55 and 235/55 being the most common combinations. Also, BMW has the highest share of run flat tire sales which are priced ~70-80% higher than a comparable size tubeless tire in the replacement market.
Globally, in the premium segment, sales of Crossover SUVs with V-speed-rated tires and above have increased by 160% since 2014 and they represent a significant new opportunity in SUV tire market.
Globally, there are 25+ SUV tire manufacturers and we have profiled the top 15. Bridgestone, Michelin, Good year, Hankook and Continental are among top preferred choices in the OE SUV tire market.
The tire manufacturers are working on introducing even lower rolling resistance and airless tires to improve fuel economy and safety worldwide. Nokian tires has reduced rolling resistance of its tires by 8% in past 6 years.
North America
The North American market, particularly the USA, will be one of the prime markets for SUV Tire Market due to the nature of industrial automation in the region, high consumer spending compared to other regions, and the growth of various industries, mainly AI, along with constant technological advancements. The GDP of the USA is one of the largest in the world, and it is home to various industries such as Pharmaceuticals, Aerospace, and Technology. The average consumer spending in the region was $72K in 2023, and this is set to increase over the forecast period. Industries are focused on industrial automation and increasing efficiency in the region. This will be facilitated by the growth in IoT and AI across the board. Due to tensions in geopolitics, much manufacturing is set to shift towards the USA and Mexico, away from China. This shift will include industries such as semiconductors and automotive.
Europe
The European market, particularly Western Europe, is another prime market for SUV Tire Market due to the strong economic conditions in the region, bolstered by robust systems that support sustained growth. This includes research and development of new technologies, constant innovation, and developments across various industries that promote regional growth. Investments are being made to develop and improve existing infrastructure, enabling various industries to thrive. In Western Europe, the margins for SUV Tire Market are higher than in other parts of the world due to regional supply and demand dynamics. Average consumer spending in the region was lower than in the USA in 2023, but it is expected to increase over the forecast period.
Eastern Europe is anticipated to experience a higher growth rate compared to Western Europe, as significant shifts in manufacturing and development are taking place in countries like Poland and Hungary. However, the Russia-Ukraine war is currently disrupting growth in this region, with the lack of an immediate resolution negatively impacting growth and creating instability in neighboring areas. Despite these challenges, technological hubs are emerging in Eastern Europe, driven by lower labor costs and a strong supply of technological capabilities compared to Western Europe.
There is a significant boom in manufacturing within Europe, especially in the semiconductor industry, which is expected to influence other industries. Major improvements in the development of sectors such as renewable energy, industrial automation, automotive manufacturing, battery manufacturing and recycling, and AI are poised to promote the growth of SUV Tire Market in the region.
Asia
Asia will continue to be the global manufacturing hub for SUV Tire Market over the forecast period with China dominating the manufacturing. However, there will be a shift in manufacturing towards other Asian countries such as India and Vietnam. The technological developments will come from China, Japan, South Korea, and India for the region. There is a trend to improve the efficiency as well as the quality of goods and services to keep up with the standards that are present internationally as well as win the fight in terms of pricing in this region. The demand in this region will also be driven by infrastructural developments that will take place over the forecast period to improve the output for various industries in different countries.
There will be higher growth in the Middle East as investments fall into place to improve their standing in various industries away from petroleum. Plans such as Saudi Arabia Vision 2030, Qatar Vision 2030, and Abu Dhabi 2030 will cause developments across multiple industries in the region. There is a focus on improving the manufacturing sector as well as the knowledge-based services to cater to the needs of the region and the rest of the world. Due to the shifting nature of fossil fuels, the region will be ready with multiple other revenue sources by the time comes, though fossil fuels are not going away any time soon.
Africa
Africa is expected to see the largest growth in SUV Tire Marketover the forecast period, as the region prepares to advance across multiple fronts. This growth aligns with the surge of investments targeting key sectors such as agriculture, mining, financial services, manufacturing, logistics, automotive, and healthcare. These investments are poised to stimulate overall regional growth, creating ripple effects across other industries as consumer spending increases, access to products improves, and product offerings expand. This development is supported by both established companies and startups in the region, with assistance from various charitable organizations. Additionally, the presence of a young workforce will address various existing regional challenges. There has been an improvement in political stability, which has attracted and will continue to attract more foreign investments. Initiatives like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) are set to facilitate the easier movement of goods and services within the region, further enhancing the economic landscape.
RoW
Latin America and the Oceania region will showcase growth over the forecast period in SUV Tire Market aIn Latin America, the focus in the forecast period will be to improve their manufacturing capabilities which is supported by foreign investments in the region. This will be across industries mainly automotive and medical devices. There will also be an increase in mining activities over the forecast period in this region. The area is ripe for industrial automation to enable improvements in manufacturing across different industries and efficiency improvements. This will lead to growth of other industries in the region.
USA – $210 billion is allocated to federal R&D with main focus on health research, clean energy, semiconductor manufacturing, sustainable textiles, clean energy, and advanced manufacturing. Investments by private players are mainly focused on technological development including 5G infrastructure and AI in the region.
Europe – EIC is investing €1 billion to innovative companies in sectors like AI, biotechnology, and semiconductors. There is also a focus on developing the ecosystem in the continent as well as improving the infrastructure for developing industries such as electric vehicles and sustainable materials. Private players are targeting data centers, AI, battery plants, and high end technological R&D investments.
Asia – There are investments to tackle a range of scientific and technological advancements in this region mainly coming in from China, India, South Korea, and Japan. This will include artificial intelligence, 5G, cloud computing, pharmaceutical, local manufacturing, and financial technologies. Many countries are aiming to be digital hubs including Saudi Arabia.
Africa – Investments in the region are focused on improving the technological capabilities in the region along with socio-economic development and growth. Private participants of investments in this region is venture capital dominated who are targeting the various growth elements of the region as social stability improves. The major industries are fintech, easier lending, and manufacturing.
Latin America – The focus in the region is for fintech, e-commerce, and mobility sectors. There are also investments in improving manufacturing in the region. Local investments is focused on improving the healthcare, and transportation infrastructure in the region. The region is attracting foreign investments to improve their ability to utilize the natural resources present in the region.
Rest of the World – The investments in this region are focused on clean energy, green metals, and sustainable materials. Funds in Australia are focused on solar energy and battery technologies, along with high end futuristic areas such as quantum computing. The main countries of private investment in ROW will be Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.
