This graph shows the world's largest tire manufacturers in the fiscal year of 2015, based on new tire sales revenue. Pirelli's revenue from new tire sales amounted to around seven billion U.S. dollars in FY 2015.
The world's largest tire makers
In 2014, the ranking of the world’s largest tire manufacturers was dominated by European and Asian manufacturers. Third–ranked Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. and eleventh–ranked Cooper Tire and Rubber Co. were the key tire makers with headquarters in the United States. In terms of tire-related sales revenue, Japan's Bridgestone continues to be the main player in the tire manufacturing business, while Germany's Continental is the major player based on overall revenue. However, Continental is active in various fields, including the production of tires, brake systems, tachographs and automotive safety, while Continental’s closest rival, Bridgestone of Japan, generated around 85 percent of its revenue from the tire segment in the fiscal year of 2013. Continental was founded in 1871 as a rubber manufacturer. The company generated more than 33 billion euros in revenue, and had over 177,000 employees worldwide in the fiscal year of 2013. That same year, some five percent of Continental’s worldwide sales went to the company’s research and development division. Following a takeover bid in 2009, Schaeffler AG became Continental’s controlling shareholder. Today, the manufacturer of roller bearings owns just under 50 percent of Continental shares.
