The D’Ieteren Group announced in an investor call on Sept. 9 that Belron once again accounted for more than 50% of its sales during the first half of 2026. The group is the majority shareholder of Belron, which operates Safelite Group.
Much of Belron’s business in the United States comes from the Safelite Group, but the United Kingdom-based company also operates brands such as Carglass, Autoglass and Speedy Glass globally.
The D’Ieteren Group reported more than $7 billion in sales (group share) for the first half of 2026, a 0.4% year-over-year (YOY) decrease. The half-year financial report states that Belron’s sales increased YOY by 4.7% and that the company accounted for approximately 50.3% of the D’Ieteren Group’s sales. Belron’s profit before tax was $610 million, a less than 35% YOY increase.
Belron’s North America segment, including Safelite, produces approximately 55% of Belron’s sales, according to the report. The segment’s sales grew 9.4% YOY. The report attributed much of that growth to a 3.9% YOY increase in total job volume, including auto glass repair and replacement as well as recalibration. The recalibration penetration rate increased from 45.9% in the first half of 2025 to 52.1% during the first half of 2026, the report says.
The D’Ieteren Group’s current CEO, Francis Deprez, announced that the company is “exploring strategic options” on the potential sale of Belron shares, but that “no decision has been made at this stage.”
“Our long-term commitment to … Belron remains the same,” he said.
Deprez says this evaluation is a recent development, though financial publications such as Bloomberg began reporting on it in March 2026.
When investors asked why the group hadn’t announced that it was exploring strategic options during the previous financial report, Deprez said that they were not doing so at that time.
“Now we are exploring strategic options,” he said.
Deprez also answered investor questions about its North American marketing efforts, including a Safelite commercial advertising mobile recalibration.
“Both consumers and insurers like the commercial,” he said, adding later that mobile recalibration is “a good way to be a better service company.
Deprez told investors that while Belron’s marketing and staff costs are “significant,” the D’Ieteren group considers them an investment in the company’s topline.
The D’Ieteren Group also announced that Eric Machiels, formerly of the investment group OMERS, will take over Deprez’s CEO role in December.
“I’ve had a good ride over the past 10 years,” Deprez told investors.
