Tyre industry pioneers, Michelin has a long history. Having begun in 1889, Michelin is now the second-largest tyre manufacturer in the world after Bridgestone and larger than both Goodyear and Contineantal.
Hinckford Farming has praised Michelin’s “excellent support” after replacing a rubber tracked crawler with a Claas Xerion 5000 fitted with a set of the manufacturer’s Ultraflex high volume AxioBib tyres. The arable farm had been using tracks for many years for its heavy cultivations but had recently struggled with grip in wet conditions, and suffered damage to the soil structure on headlands when turning.
The Brand Finance Global 500 2019 report has listed two tyre brands, Michelin and Bridgestone, in its ranking of the world’s 500 most valuable brands. The top two biggest tyre manufacturers in the world both saw their brand value fall in value this year according to the brand analyst, but hung on to placings in the top 300. Michelin took over from Bridgestone as the world’s most valuable tyre brand in 2018, according to the organisation’s sector-based rankings.
Hankook Tire Europe has appointed Guy Heywood as the new marketing and strategy director for its European truck and bus business. Heywood has 20 years of experience in the tyre industry in leadership positions, most recently active as the commercial director for Michelin UK and Truck, Bus and Service director for the company’s North Europe area. Heywood is taking over from Seok Yun Kim who relocated to Hankook’s organisation in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia where he has become managing director.
Cheshire-based Towing Solutions has praised the Michelin Tyre Pressure Management System Light Fleet a year after it was fitted as offering “ultimate peace of mind” during its trailer towing training courses. The system, developed by Wheely-Safe, is currently fitted to two different specification trailers towed by the firm’s Hyundai Tucson, with the aim to introduce the system across the remaining two trailers and two caravans in the fleet.
Michelin is to become the title sponsor for the 2019 Ginetta Junior Championship as part of a five-year extension to the decade-long partnership between the tyre manufacturer and Ginetta. Michelin will remain the sole tyre supplier for all five of Ginetta’s domestic single marque championships until the end of 2023 under the latest deal. Michelin has been the title sponsor of the Ginetta GT4 SuperCup since its inception in 2008.
Scottish Borders Council is readying itself for the winter with a move to fitting Michelin XDW Ice Grip tyres across its fleet of gritters. The decision follows a trial during the challenging weather conditions earlier in 2018, when drivers found Michelin’s full-on winter fitments – typically the preserve of fleets operating in the Nordic markets and parts of mainland Europe which see extreme winter conditions – offered a significant increase in grip compared to those fitted with standard tyres.
In May Tyres & Accessories reported that Andy Aylward had been appointed as Michelin’s retail programme manager for the UK and Ireland. In this role, the 30-year Michelin veteran is responsible for overseeing the company’s network of over 80 accredited car and motorcycle Michelin Certified Centres, which is now known as the Michelin Automotive Programme. Since then, there has positive feedback from the car tyre retail sign and a number of initiatives have been kick started in the two-wheel as well as car tyre side of things. At the end of November Tyres & Accessories met up with Aylward in order to find out more.
Michelin has bought Tablet, an online travel agency specializing in boutique and luxury hotels. Headquartered in New York, Tablet was founded in 2000 by Laurent Vernhes and Michael Davis to provide a high-quality selection of unique hotel experiences to millions of travellers, and an associated booking platform. The purchase of The Tablet follows Michelin’s earlier purchase of Bookatable.com in January 2016 and Restaurantes.com in December 2016.
Bruce’s Coaches operates some of National Express’s longest routes between Scotland and the south of England, with 14 Scania Caetano Levante coaches, which cover more than 5.6 million kilometres each year. The company recently moved this fleet to Michelin tyres and has reported some startling statistics; it says the brand’s drive axle tyres last up to 130,000km further compared to the previously fitted competitor brand.
It appears that Michelin and Bridgestone are interested in acquiring the TomTom Telematics business unit from Netherlands-based company TomTom. According to Dutch financial daily Het Financieele Dagblad (FD), Michelin – one of four companies vying to acquire the business – allegedly aims to add the business into its Michelin Solutions portfolio. The other interested parties are said to be Pamplona Capital Management, which already holds a 26.5 per cent share in London-headquartered telematics and data analytics solutions provider Octo Telematics, and a second, unnamed investment company.
UK technology company Wheely-Safe has launched ‘Michelin Wheel Security and Tyre Pressure Management System Heavy Fleet’, a solution aimed at truck, bus, coach, trailer and heavy plant operators and designed to tackle the issues of wheel loss and brake and hub overheating. Wheely-Safe says this patented solution is the world’s first in-motion driver alert system that detects the onset of wheel loss before detachment; it also warns the driver of potential brake or hub issues that could lead to a fire if unchecked, as well as tyre over- or under-inflation.
Developing an online identity and regular customer service training for staff are key to boosting profits, Michelin’s Republic of Ireland partner dealers have been told at an annual event.
Delegates at the full-day session at Langton House Hotel in Kilkenny were given advice on developing their digital offering through websites and social media channels such as Facebook and Twitter.
Following a successful trial period, UK-based car transporter company Carlson Vehicle Transfer has rolled out Michelin’s Effitrailer package across its 150-strong fleet. The Groupe CAT company, which operates throughout the UK and Europe delivering cars for the automotive industry, tested the telematics system on a number of units in its car transporter trailer fleet.
Roughly two decades after taking the helm at Nissan (and later chairing the Japanese firm’s alliance with Renault and Mitsubishi), the carmaker’s board voted to remove company boss Carlos Ghosn following his arrest in Japan for underreporting his salary.
We first heard of Zen@Terra at the Agritechnica 2017 show, when Michelin announced its acquisition of tyre pressure control systems companies PTG and Téléflow and outlined the benefits of bringing the two firms into the Michelin fold. Zen@Terra, a combination of Michelin EvoBib tyres with adaptive design technology and a central tyre inflation system (CTIS) from PTG and Téléflow, has been developed over a three-year period and was undergoing testing by European farmers ahead of its market launch. Testing is now complete, and Michelin has announced the introduction of a solution that marks its transition from tyre manufacturer to full provider of technical solutions.
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