BUCHAREST (Romania), June 2 (SeeNews) – French tire maker Michelin sees tire sales in Romania rising 11-12 percent to some 3.4 million units this year, Romanian news agency Mediafax reported on Thursday.
"Romania has the biggest tire market growth potential in the region, considering it has the biggest car park in the Balkans," Mediafax quoted the head of Michelin Romania and the Balkans, Eric Faidy, as saying.
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He said that tire sales this year will be impacted temporary by new legislation forcing car owners to equip their cars with snow tires. "This year, sales of snow tires will grow but people won't need to buy new snow tires next year."
Michelin said tire sales in Romania rose by 25% to 3.0 million units last year, fueled by demand from clients who bought new cars in 2007 - 2008, when the domestic car market hit record highs, Mediafax (www.mediafax.ro) said.
Michelin started operations in Romania in 2001. Currently it owns three factories and employs 3,000 in the country.