CLERMONT-FERRAND, France—Michelin has established a partnership with Chinese textile firm Jihua to make high-performance soles and technical footwear.
According to Michelin, the joint venture aims to ultimately become a global leader with 5 to 10 percent of the market, representing 500 million pairs of soles.
Through their respective units—JV International and Michelin Lifestyle—the two companies are combining their technical expertise and knowledge. The synergy thus created represents a powerful asset.
“The first projects involve soles for work footwear and mountain bike shoes as well as for motorcycle boots,” Michelin said.