Bulgarian News Digest reported that French tyre maker Michelin Group will strive to gain a 25% share of the Bulgarian tyre market by 2005, citing comments made by the official representative of the Michelin Group for Bulgaria, Ivan Troshanov, at a news conference on Thursday.

Michelin currently holds a 19% share of the Bulgarian tyre market. At the start of 2003, Michelin introduced its Energy and Pilot Sport tyres which are expected to further boost sales. Bulgaria’s average annual new tyre sales stand at about 750,000 while the average annual second hand tyre sales total 800,000, the report said.