Michelin chose its industrial facility in Cuneo, Italy, the largest car tyre factory in western Europe and one of the most modern, to organise the first edition of its International Media Day, devoted to two strategic transformations for the Group.
On this occasion, Michelin highlighted its environmental commitment, in particular its goal of achieving 100% sustainable materials in its tyres by 2050.
In this context, Michelin is a key player in supporting the tire market’s main trends:
1- Increasing tyre sizes as a result of heavier vehicles. This trend has a direct effect on consumption and CO2 emissions in the context of global warming and resource scarcity. Michelin is responding to this paradox with technology. The reduction in rolling resistance in its products has, for example, allowed for savings of 3.4 billion liters of fuel over tyres’ life span in 2021, thereby preventing 8.7 million metric tons of CO2 compared to 2010. Michelin will continue its efforts through 2030, improving this energy efficiency by 10% (Michelin data).
2 – All-season tyre strong development in Europe: the all-season tyre, long shunned by drivers on this continent, has seen a remarkable success in Europe, with sales multiplied threefold over the last few years. This tyre is indeed recognised for its ease of use and remarkable performance through technological breakthroughs developed by Michelin in particular. On this market, the Group anticipates growth of more than 11% over the next five years.
Several factors contributed to this success:
- global warming and the occurrence of unpredictable snowy weather;
- changes in European regulations;
- advantages for consumers who avoid needing two sets of tyres;
- the development of vehicle fleets and leasing.
3 – The electric boom. With the development of electric vehicles, tyres take center stage. In fact, the performance and constraints of electric vehicles make much greater demands on tyres than combustion engine vehicles.
Factories engaged in an in-depth transformation
This first International Media Day also reviews the transformations currently undertaken in the Group’s factories. For several years, the Group has been engaged in a triple revolution on its production sites:
- A human revolution with profound questions on meaning, organization, and
- A technological revolution, with the generalised use of data and digital technologies.
- An environmental revolution, with the pressing need to reconcile economic activity and sustainable development.
Human factories: stemming from its leadership model, Michelin has launched an ambitious work transformation around the concept of empowerment, which is thriving today. Michelin has been developing this breakthrough managerial innovation in its factories for 15 years, to improve production teams’ work. Today this in-depth change is contributing to the factories’ better economic performance especially in responding to the challenge of industrial professions’ attractiveness.
