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.
Following the news that the European Commission has opened a price-fixing investigation across “several member states”, Michelin has officially confirmed that it too has been investigated as part of EC antitrust case. Nokian, Goodyear, Continental, Pirelli and Bridgestone have also been investigated as part of the EC case.
Together with partners IFPEN and Axens, Michelin has brought an industrial scale bio-based butadiene demonstrator plant into operation in France. The facility is located at Michelin’s Bassens site near Bordeaux. The aim is to develop and commercialise butadiene from plant biomass-derived ethanol as a replacement for petrochemical-based butadiene.
A Yorkshire farmer has praised the Michelin XMCL tyres fitted to its Claas Scorpion telehandler, after it recorded more than 7,000 hours in operation. T Grange & Son said the Scorpion is still operating on the same original equipment 460/70 R24 tyres on which it arrived at Hasling Hall Farm, Otley, in 2011. Part of Michelin’s popular Compact Line range, the XMCL offers high wear resistance thanks to a robust rubber compound.
By introducing a full new range of motorcycle tyres, in 2024 Michelin says it will “accomplish a major technical evolution.” It unveiled the first three of these products at the EICMA show in Italy last November. The new year gets underway with these products’ market debut.
Following the news that Michelin has bought Australian e-commerce business Tyroola, Tyres & Accessories observed that the company also operates certain websites in Europe via a Dutch legal entity – Tyroola B.V.
Michelin has bought Tyroola, Australia’s third-largest tyre e-tailer. As result of the purchase, Michelin intends to “further strengthen its knowledge of customer behaviour and the purchasing process”. Tyroola will continue to operate under its existing brand.
The Murata stand at CES 2024 in Las Vegas, USA has been designed to showcase a range of the company’s chip and Internet of Things (IoT) products including tyre RFID. Specifically, Murata’s embeddable RAIN RFID Tire Tags add a digital ID to track tyres throughout the entire supply chain. Applications include manufacturing, automotive OEM, logistics and transportation, dealer and retail, retread contractor, and end of life.
Czechia-based aircraft manufacturer BRM Aero has entered into an exclusive 100 per cent OEM partnership with Michelin for global retail sales. Announcing the arrangement, Martin Bristela, the general aviation luxury light sport aircraft specialist’s chief executive officer, states that “our partnership with Michelin, a world leader in tyre technology, represents a new chapter for BRM Aero.
In November Michelin announced it would lay off 176 workers at two Spanish plants in response to forecasted weak demand, and this month it will – albeit for an entirely different reason – halt production at four facilities within the country for a two-day period.
After several collaborations with the A110, Alpine and Michelin are partnering once again to supply the future electric models of the ‘Alpine Dream Garage’, starting with the A290. After two years of research, testing and development with Michelin, Alpine is offering three specific 19-inch tyres for its future A290. The two summer tyres and one winter model will feature an exclusive marking created for the planned Alpine electric range.
Rockwell Automation, Inc., the world’s largest company dedicated to industrial automation and digital transformation, has strengthened its collaboration with Michelin. This reinforced relationship focuses on digital innovation across Michelin’s manufacturing processes and builds upon more than three decades of collaborative history.
Ripon-based W Dale & Son has recorded superb longevity from the Michelin BibLoad Hard Surface tyres it specified as original equipment on a JCB Agri Super telehandler. The agricultural and recycling contractor has clocked up more than 5,300 hours on the durable 460/70 R24 fitments, which still have more than 10mm of the original 33mm tread left on the casing.
Michelin North America is the proud recipient of a Caterpillar Supplier Excellence Award 2023. The tyre maker was one of five companies honoured in the Construction Industries category, and Michelin comments that the award demonstrates its “excellence in meeting customer commitments.”
Bridgestone will return to a FIA World Championship for the first time in a decade-and-a-half when it begins delivering tyres to Formula E in 2026/27. The FIA has announced that Bridgestone will serve as tyre supplier to its Gen4 cars, which will debut in Season 13 of the championship. The Japanese tyre maker will follow on from Hankook, which began supplying Formula E in 2023 after accepting the baton from Michelin.
Symbio, Michelin’s equally owned joint venture with automotive supplier Forvia and vehicle manufacturer Stellantis, has inaugurated its SymphonHy facility today. Located in Saint-Fons, within the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France, the site houses Symbio’s headquarters, a production plant, an innovation hub and the Symbio Hydrogen Academy.
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