Brussels, 28 September 2026 – As Brussels develops the Industrial Accelerator Act to support industrial competitiveness in Europe, a new Oxford Economics study highlights the tyre sector’s crucial economic and social role, showing why EU industrial policy needs to look beyond raw materials and technologies to the finished products that keep Europe’s economy and essential services functioning.

Commissioned by Tyres Europe, The Critical Importance of the EU Tyre Industry uses tyres to illustrate the links between European manufacturing capacity, external dependencies and the functioning of mobility, freight and public services. Its principal findings include:

• The economic stakes extend far beyond tyre manufacturing. EU-produced tyres potentially enabled sectors such as freight, agriculture and passenger transport, directly generated €1.5 trillion in GDP (9% of EU GDP) and employed 30.5 million people (13% of EU employment).
• European tyre manufacturing is exposed at both ends of its value chain. Imported intermediate inputs account for 11.9% of EU tyre production value, compared with an EU economy average of 7%. The EU is fully dependent on imports for natural rubber.
• The share of imported tyres is increasing in Europe. In 2024, 40% of newly fitted tyres used in the EU were imported.

Adam McCarthy, Tyres Europe Secretary General

“Economic resilience depends not only on access to materials, but also on retaining the capacity to transform them into safe, advanced products in Europe. The Industrial Accelerator Act is an opportunity to recognise strategically-important finished products and support competitive manufacturing in Europe. A strong EU tyre manufacturing base reduces reliance on external suppliers and helps build a more resilient, competitive automotive value chain.”

Pete Collings, Oxford Economics Managing Director

“Europe’s tyre industry is far more than a manufacturing sector: it is a critical enabler of mobility, trade and wider economic activity. Our analysis shows that EU-produced tyres support hundreds of billions of euros in GDP and millions of jobs across key customer sectors, while the industry itself depends on complex global supply chains. The findings underline the economic value of maintaining a strong European tyre manufacturing base.”

The full study and detailed methodology are available at: https://tyreseurope.org/industry-and-competitiveness/tyres-keep-europe-moving/