Michelin

The French traditional rubber company is one of the oldest existing tyre manufacturers in the world. The quality of its tyres is renowned all over the world, after all, who in the civilized world would not know the mascot of Michelin - Bibendum. It is to this company that we owe a plethora of new technologies and ways to protect the environment through tyres.

About Michelin

Michelin maintains a leading position in both tyres and travel services. In addition to the unprecedented quality of its tyres, which regularly top the tests, Michelin also publishes very popular guides and maps. Michelin was the world's largest tyre manufacturer until 2005 and today employs 110,000 people working in 69 production sites in 18 countries. As of 2010, it has produced more than 150 million tyres and 10 million maps and guides. Overall, Michelin recorded a profit of CZK 25.5 billion in 2010. Based on the huge production of tyres, Michelin targets the environmental performance of tyres such as low wear and fuel efficiency.

History

The company was founded in 1888 by brothers André and Edouard Michelin. The initial idea was to produce easily replaceable bicycle tyres. In 1891, the industrial production of interchangeable tyres begins, on which cyclist Charles Thery wins the Paris-Brest-Paris race. Such publicity is, of course, a huge success and increases the demand for Michelin tyres. In 1895, the company also starts to produce inflatable tyres for cars, but since nobody trusts inflatable tyres, Michelin has to build its own car and enter a race to make its tyres popular. It succeeds and the tyres are taken up by successful racers all over the world, which of course gives Michelin publicity. The company builds its races all over Europe and America near famous car companies and counts one success after another. At the beginning of the 20th century, the company introduced new technologies such as the low-pressure tyre, the interchangeable steel wheel, the tyre with an integrated inner tube and a new type of tread, and it was also involved in the production of aircraft tyres. During this period, it also publishes the first hotel and restaurant guides. In 1946, the company introduces the radial tyre, with which it wins the F1 race in 1979. The following years mark further successes for the company, from winning races to landing the space shuttle on their tyres. More recently, Michelin has focused on the environmental friendliness of its tyres through the Michelin Energy Saver.

Action

Since its inception, Michelin has been involved in a plethora of automotive races. It is the second most successful tyre supplier in the F1 series and has also enjoyed success in the World Motorcycle Championship and the Le Mans race. His guides are some of the most respected in the world, and his Michelin Star award, which recognises fine restaurants, is one of the most important gastronomic awards.