Michelin

A Better Way Forward

In 1889 two brothers, André and Edouard Michelin, embarked one of the great human and industrial adventures of our times: one that shaped and continues to drive progress in modern means of transport through constant innovation

From the invention of radial tires to that of Pax System, and from the first gastronomic guide to the steel wheel, Michelin has played an active role at every stage of the automotive adventure.

Faithful to its tradition, the Company that gave birth to Bibendum constantly designs innovative equipment for all types of vehicles.

1832 - Aristide Barbier and Edouard Daubrée open in Clermont-Ferrand a factory for farming equipment and rubber items.
1889 - Edouard Michelin becomes manager of the company renamed “Michelin et Cie”.
1891 - Michelin develops the detachable tire for bicycles.
1895 - Michelin fits the first automobile with pneumatic tires: the Eclair.
1898 - Birth of Bibendum, the Michelin Man.
1900 - The first Michelin Red Guide is published.
1914 - Michelin takes part in the war effort by building 2500 Breguet aircraft.
1929 - Michelin invents the “Micheline” and the train tire.
1935 - Michelin acquired a majority stake in Citroën, and retained it until 1975.
1938 - Introduction of “Michelin Metalic” the first ever tire with a steel casing. Edouard Michelin appoints Robert Puiseux and
           Pierre Boulanger joint Managing Partners.
1946 - Michelin filed a revolutionary patent for radial tires.
1952 - Michelin adapts radial technology to truck tires.
1955 - François Michelin becomes a Managing Partner in the Company.
1959 - Michelin launches the first radial tire for earthmover equipment.
1965 - The Ladoux research and testing center opens north of Clermont-Ferrand.
1979 - With Ferrari, the Michelin radial tire wins the World Championship in Formula 1 racing.
1981 - The first radial tire for aircraft, Michelin Air X, is developed.
1984 - Launch of the first radial tires for motorcycles, marketed in 1987.
1986 - François Michelin appoints René Zingraff as joint Managing Partner.
1991 - François Michelin appoints his son Edouard Michelin as joint Managing Partner.
1993 - Michelin develops a new tire manufacturing process: C3M.
1994 - The new “Energy” tire range promotes better fuel efficiency.
1996 - Michelin invents the vertically anchored tire which will be called PAX System in 1998.
1998 - The Colombian company Icollantas becomes part of the Michelin Group. Bibendum celebrate its 100th birthday. Michellin
          creates Challenge Bibendum, global clean behicle and sustainable mobility forum.
2001 - Michelin develops the world's largest earthmover tire. ViaMichelin launched. Michelin develops a new technology for
           aircraft enabling Concorde to return to the skies, the NZG radial technology.
2003 - XeoBib, the first agricultural tire to run at a constant low pressure.
2004 - First Michelin plant in Russia inaugurated at Davydovo near Moscow. Michelin showcased three trail-blazing projects in
           tire and wheel technology and two Michelin-built clean concept-cars.
2005 - Michel Rollier becomes a joint Managing Partner. Airbus A380's first flight took off on Michelin tires. The light quality of
           Michelin's new tire develop for the A280, lends it added competitive edge.
2006 - Michelin Tweel, a revolutionary, non-pneumatic wheel concept. An innovative answer to the crucial issue of
           earthmover tire resistance to damage. Containing no pressurized air, it is puncture-proof, hence the vehicles'
           uninterrupted mobility.
2006 - Mr Michel Rollier, acting Joint Managing Partner, assumed the Group's leadership upon the accidental death of Mr.
           Edouard Michelin.