You may not be seeing electric vehicles in your shop now, but, as market data predicts, they are coming, and tyremakers are preparing in a variety of ways to provide for this new vehicle segment. Thanks to its OE relationships and technology-driven development, one OE that is making significant strides in this segment is Pirelli, the Italian tyremaker who snagged more than 250 homologations (OE fitments) globally for its “Elect” tyre line specifically suited for EVs in 2021.
“Our speed is driven by the speed of the electric market,” said Claudio Zanardo, CEO of Pirelli Tire North America, who sat down with Tire Review at a recent ride-and-drive event with Lamborghini that ended with attendees watching Pirelli tires track-side at Watkins Glen International (more on that for another story). “Over the next few years, the number of electric vehicles that our dealers will see will be higher and will grow. They need to have the right answer (tyre) for that customer, and we have the right answer (tyre).”
As a part of this push toward electric, Zanardo said around 70% of the company’s OE fitments in North America are currently for electric and hybrid vehicles, which translates to a higher replacement rate down the line. That’s why the company has started rolling out its Elect line of tyres for the aftermarket, starting with the P Zero line, this year. It’s also why Pirelli is investing heavily in the North American market in R&D and capacity as it looks to be the leader in the EV tyre segment around the globe and grow its North American presence.
