Tire Makers Urge Changes to EU Industrial Accelerator Act

Europe’s tire manufacturers are calling on the European Commission to strengthen the proposed Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA) to support the competitiveness and decarbonisation of the EU tire industry. In a position paper, Tyres Europe welcomed the Commission’s recognition of tire manufacturing as a “strategic, energy-intensive industry” but said the proposal leaves “key gaps” in market scope, demand-side incentives, investment support, and regulatory coherence. The association is seeking targeted adjustments to ensure the IAA effectively supports low-carbon, high-performance, and European tire manufacturing, while reinforcing the resilience of the European automotive value chain. Among its recommendations, Tyres Europe called for tires to be recognised as a “strategic component” in both the OE and replacement markets, noting that replacement tires account for 75% of EU tire sales but receive no support under the current proposal. The association also urged the Commission to adopt a Union origin definition that “truly supports European manufacturing” and to prioritise products made in the EU in public procurement and public support schemes. Additionally, Tyres Europe called for measures to “effectively increase demand” for tires manufactured in Europe, citing a decline in EU-based manufacturers’ domestic market share of over 12% since 2018. The association also highlighted the contribution of tires to vehicle efficiency and decarbonisation, noting that tires account for 20-30% of a vehicle’s energy efficiency while representing only 2-3% of its “ex-works value.” The EU tire label has reduced energy consumption by up to 45TWh/year and avoided around 15 million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually, according to European Commission estimates. Tyres Europe is also seeking stronger financial support for industrial decarbonisation projects, faster permitting procedures, and clearer governance of the proposed industrial manufacturing acceleration areas.