Scrollez

The VISION Concept

A compelling illustration of Michelin’s sustainable development model

Innovation Strategy

Michelin believes in putting innovation at the heart of its strategy. It is a major competitive asset that sets us apart from the competition and ensures our Group’s long-term success.

Research & Development

We believe that for mobility to have a future, it has to be increasingly safe, accessible, efficient and eco-friendly. Those four goals drive all our innovation on products and services, with over 350 areas of expertise already represented on our R&D teams.

Open Innovation

At Michelin, we believe that looking outside the group to access skills we don’t have in-house can be a positive and productive approach. That’s why we are developing an ambitious Open Innovation policy.

Industrial innovation

At Michelin, our employees are at the heart of our industrial innovation process. We rely on their expertise and practical knowledge in all our plants, because they are the only people who can express the needs that digital technology can meet.

  • Innovation timeline

  • 1891

    Edouard Michelin developed and patented the first detachable tire with an inner tube for bicycles making punctures easy to repair.

  • 1898

    A star was born: the Michelin Man.

  • 1900

    The first MICHELIN guide was published. 35,000 copies were distributed.

  • 1908

    The Driver Information Office was launched. It provided road users with free, personalized driving directions. The office later became the Driving Directions Office.

  • 1910

    The first Michelin road map specially designed for motorists was published. It featured the famous "accordion" fold patented by Michelin.

  • 1926

    Michelin created a new collection of guides, each containing information and driving directions for exploring a particular region. The first guide featured Brittany. Originally with a red cover, the regional guides later developed into the famous collection of "Green Guides".

  • 1929

    To give passengers a more comfortable ride, Michelin came up with the idea of fitting tires on trains. The Group designed a tire that could run on rails, as well as a new type of light railway vehicle known as a "Micheline". The name soon caught on.

  • 1930

    Michelin filed a patent for a tire with a built-in inner tube, the forerunner of the tubeless tire.

  • 1933

    Michelin designed the very first snow tire: the MICHELIN N. It offered excellent road holding in winter conditions.

  • 1946

    Michelin’s extensive research resulted in an amazing technological breakthrough: a tire with a radial casing. It was not just new, it was also safer, more economical and longer lasting offering up to four times higher mileage than a conventional tire. Michelin filed the patent for this innovation on June 4. The first radial tire was released in 1949 under the name of MICHELIN X. it was gradually rolled out across all the different segments: Truck tires (1952), Earthmovers (1959), Winter XM+S (1964), Agricultural Bib X (1978), Aircraft Air X (1981) and Motorcycle (1987).

  • 2001

    ViaMichelin was set up to develop digital services for travel assistance. These free services give users all the useful information they need to prepare their trips.

  • 2015

    Michelin launched the MICHELIN CrossClimate tire, the first summer tire with winter certification thanks to a savvy mix of previously incompatible summer and winter tire technologies.

  • 2017

    Michelin showcased a revolutionary prototype of its Vision Concept at the Movin’On Sustainable Mobility Summit. This connected airless tire has a tread which can be recharged using a 3D printer.  Michelin had invented the tire of the future.

  • Uptis

    Michelin unveiled the UPTIS prototype (Unique Puncture Proof TIre System) at the Movin’On Sustainable Mobility Summit. This new generation of airless wheel technology for passenger vehicles eliminates the risk of flat tires and blowouts. A major advancement toward achieving Michelin’s VISION concept.

  • 1891
  • 1898
  • 1900
  • 1908
  • 1910
  • 1926
  • 1929
  • 1930
  • 1933
  • 1946
  • 2001
  • 2015
  • 2017
  • 2019
  • Key figures

    0.5% Improvement in Michelin products energy efficiency in 2021 vs. 2020

Incoming events

  • Publication of Annual Financial Results 2022
    Mon, 13 Feb. 2023
    Paris

Subscribe to our newsletters