Cordiant expects 17% passenger tire market decline in Russia

Moscow – Cordiant Holding has forecast a 17% decline in Russia’s passenger car tire market for 2025, linking the downturn directly to weaker vehicle demand.

The outlook was outlined by marketing director Ekaterina Guseva ahead of the annual ForAuto 2026 forum, scheduled to take place in Moscow on 26 Feb.

Cordiant will partner the event’s first dedicated “tires” session, where it plans to discuss market trends and its 2026 outlook.

“The tire market is directly linked to the automotive market,” Guseva addingn “last year was challenging for the auto market, with demand for new cars falling by 16% year-on-year."

This, Guseva added, "inevitably impacted the passenger car tire market as well –we're forecasting a 17% decline in this segment by the end of 2025.”

At the session, participants are expected to review the main factors affecting the tire market in 2025, as well as the role of Chinese brands, which Cordiant said currently account for around 75% of total tire imports into Russia.

The broader ForAuto programme will address trends in the Russian automotive sector, including localisation and the restart of production facilities previously owned by foreign manufacturers.

Cordiant is expected to highlight the restart of former Continental and Bridgestone tire plants in Kaluga and Ulyanovsk, now part of the holding, as well as Bosch facilities in Engels producing heating equipment and spark plugs.

The company will also discuss the expansion of the Gislaved tire brand, acquired as part of the Continental Russia transaction, into the "premium segment", and the launch of the Cordiant umbrella brand for spark plugs.