Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Rubber News
  • European Rubber Journal
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • Current Issue
  • BEST PLACES TO WORK
  • News
    • HUMANITARIAN
    • TIRE MAKERS
    • COMMERCIAL TIRE
    • GOVERNMENT & LAW
    • MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS
    • OBITUARIES
    • OPINION
    • MID YEAR REPORT
    • SERVICE ZONE
  • ADAS
  • Data
    • DATA STORE
  • Custom
    • SPONSORED CONTENT
  • Resources
    • Events
    • DIRECTORY
    • CLASSIFIEDS
    • SHOP FLOOR
    • AWARDS
    • ASK THE EXPERT
    • LIVESTREAMS
    • WEBINARS
    • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
    • RUBBER NEWS EVENTS
    • BALANCING
    • DEMOUNTING
    • SAFETY
    • TIRE REPAIR
    • TPMS
    • TRAINING
    • VEHICLE LIFTING
    • WHEEL TORQUE
    • Best Places to Work
  • ADVERTISE
  • DIGITAL EDITION
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
September 06, 2002 02:00 AM

Michelin lays claim to No. 1 tire maker title

Bruce Davis
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print

    AKRON (Sept. 6, 2002)—Group Michelin, via organic growth and despite unfavorable currency swings, edged back to the top of the ranking of the world's tire makers last year, posting 2001 tire sales of $13.4 billion, 1.7 percent better than in 2000, according to Tire Business' upcoming Global Tire Report. (Full details and a ranking of the 75 largest tire makers will appear in the Sept. 16, 2002, issue.)

    Michelin's gains coincided with lower sales by Bridgestone Corp., the global leader the past two years. Bridgestone's well-publicized problems in North America left sales by the Bridge-stone/Firestone companies in the Americas 4.4 percent behind 2000, holding down Bridgestone's global tire sales to $13 billion, or 5.8 percent below the previous year when expressed in dollars.

    Michelin added about $100 million in new revenues to 2001 sales through two moves the previous year—the creation of Michelin Shanghai Warrior Tire Co. Ltd. in China and the purchase of two tire plants and retreading and retail assets in Romania from Tofan Grup. These actions helped offset a decline in the euro-dollar exchange rate.

    No. 3 Goodyear also reported lower tire sales last year vs. 2000, down 2 percent to $12.5 billion. That occurred despite the extra sales volume generated in North America by Ford Motor Co.'s recall of 13 million Firestone tires.

    Goodyear's unit sales fell 1.8 percent to 219.3 million, but internally the company claims this still makes it the largest tire maker in the world on a unit basis.

    From a profitability standpoint, Hankook Tire Co. Ltd. topped the charts. The South Korean company reported operating and net sales-to-earnings ratios of 8.5 and 2.1 percent, respectively, nosing out Michelin (6.6 and 2 percent) for the honors.

    Four of the 11 tire makers with more than $1 billion in annual sales were in the red last year—Goodyear with a $203.6 million net loss, Continental ($231.2 million), Sumitomo ($59.3 million) and Kumho Industrial Co. Ltd. ($223.9 million). Only Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. and Hankook improved their earnings in 2001 over 2000.

    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Do you have an opinion about this story? Do you have some thoughts you'd like to share with our readers? Tire Business would love to hear from you. Email your letter to Editor Don Detore at [email protected].

    Most Popular
    1
    Goodyear to trim jobs amid 'uncertain' economic outlook
    2
    Executives on the move: Hankook promotes key U.S. positions
    3
    Our View: Early look at tire industry in 2023
    4
    Point S looks to grow with new initiatives, dealer program
    5
    Goodyear to upgrade Cooper plant in China
    SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Newsletter Center

    Staying current is easy with Tire Business delivered straight to your inbox.

    SUBSCRIBE TODAY

    Subscribe to Tire Business

    SUBSCRIBE
    Connect with Us
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • RSS

    Our Mission

    Tire Business is an award-winning publication dedicated to providing the latest news, data and insights into the tire and automotive service industries.

    Reader Services
    • Staff
    • About Us
    • Site Map
    • Industry Sites
    • Order Reprints
    • Customer Service: 877-320-1716
    Partner Sites
    • Rubber News
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Automotive News
    • Plastics News
    • Urethanes Technology
    RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    • Terms of Service
    • Media Guide
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Classified Rates
    • Digital Edition
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    Copyright © 1996-2023. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • BEST PLACES TO WORK
    • News
      • HUMANITARIAN
      • TIRE MAKERS
      • COMMERCIAL TIRE
      • GOVERNMENT & LAW
      • MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS
      • OBITUARIES
      • OPINION
      • MID YEAR REPORT
      • SERVICE ZONE
    • ADAS
    • Data
      • DATA STORE
    • Custom
      • SPONSORED CONTENT
    • Resources
      • Events
        • ASK THE EXPERT
        • LIVESTREAMS
        • WEBINARS
        • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
        • RUBBER NEWS EVENTS
      • DIRECTORY
      • CLASSIFIEDS
      • SHOP FLOOR
        • BALANCING
        • DEMOUNTING
        • SAFETY
        • TIRE REPAIR
        • TPMS
        • TRAINING
        • VEHICLE LIFTING
        • WHEEL TORQUE
      • AWARDS
        • Best Places to Work
    • ADVERTISE
    • DIGITAL EDITION