Continental Tires, a major player in the global tyre industry, is optimistic about its growth prospects in India. The German company sees increasing demand for safer tyres, especially for premium and luxury vehicles, as Indian consumers become more aware of vehicle safety and road conditions improve. With India’s booming economy and infrastructure development, Continental expects significant growth in both the passenger and commercial vehicle tyre segments.
Samir Gupta, Managing Director of Continental Tires India and Head of Central Asia Region, noted in an interview with a magazine that India’s robust economic growth, driven by sectors like construction, manufacturing, and mining, is helping boost the tyre industry. He highlighted that better roads and the rise in sales of premium cars and SUVs are increasing average vehicle speeds, which in turn is creating higher demand for safer, more reliable tyres.
“The safest car can be unsafe if the tyres don’t meet safety standards. This puts significant responsibility on manufacturers like us,” Gupta said. He also pointed out the growing need for more durable and quieter tyres with the rise of electric vehicles (EVs), which require strong performance in braking and wet conditions.
Continental Tires has anticipated these trends and has been developing products with a strong focus on safety, durability, and efficiency. For commercial vehicles, the emphasis is on tyres that offer high mileage without compromising safety. Gupta revealed that the company’s next-generation tyres provide up to 3 percent fuel savings and up to 20 percent higher mileage, along with smart features that alert drivers to potential tyre issues like low pressure.
Gupta stressed that safety, long life, and efficiency are Continental’s key priorities across both passenger and commercial vehicles. Currently, the company estimates that tyres 17 inches and larger hold a 12-15 percent market share in India’s replacement market, a figure they expect to double in the next 5-7 years due to the surge in SUV sales.
“With more than half of new vehicles being SUVs, the penetration of larger tyre sizes is much higher in the OEM segment,” Gupta said. He also noted that 17-inch and larger tyres already make up more than 25 percent of Continental’s sales in India.
Continental currently produces 19- and 20-inch tyres locally with the Sports Contact 5, which will soon be replaced by the PC6 series. The company is now evaluating the feasibility of manufacturing 21-inch and larger tyres in India to meet growing demand.
