Michelin is preparing for the future of electric vehicles, as are original equipment manufacturers, according to Pierluigi Cumo, North American director of Michelin brand and retail marketing.
Cumo noted, for example, the Michelin Defender 2, a passenger and CUV tire, is designed to handle the extra weight and torque of an EV.
Cumo addressed some key topics for Michelin at the mid-point of the year:
In terms of the "Michelin in Motion" campaign, what are some examples of how the company has supported "people, profits and planet"?
Michelin continues to lead the Movin'On Challenge Design program, which recently concluded the 22nd edition of its annual global design competition with a jury meeting held in Greenville, S.C. This year's theme, "Delivered — Bringing People What They Need," resulted in 108 entries from 34 countries.
All entries were focused on delivering essential services to people living in underserved areas of the world. The proposals were reviewed by a jury of eight design leaders from global mobility companies and design schools.
This year's jury meeting also featured a Mobility Roundtable with design leaders and representatives from all three transportation domains—ground, aviation and maritime—with a focus on how these domains are becoming increasingly interconnected and the growing influence of design on the transformation of mobility. Teams from Spain and India were selected as the winners for the 2022 competition, inspiring others to find a way to create motion for life throughout the world.
What continued plans do you have for the EV tire market?
OEMs are showing deep commitment to the EV market, and in some cases. transitioning entire product lines to battery-electric vehicles in the coming years.
By 2030, we estimate that roughly 65 percent of models offered in North America will be electric, with a lot of that volume coming from well-established players.
Michelin has been preparing for this evolution, and consumers are already seeing the advantages of our leadership in the tires they buy today. The Michelin Pilot Sport EV tire can extend battery range by 35 miles, and in Europe our Michelin ePrimacy tire offers a 7 percent increase in battery range. We have also leveraged this expertise for our other product lines, like the Defender 2, where all vehicle types can see the benefits of the extended wear we provide.
Do you expect to roll out any additional products in 2022?
Our newest launch is the Michelin Defender 2 tire for CUV and passenger vehicles. It features an 80,000-mile warranty with an expansion into 19- and 20-inch rim sizes. To take the Defender powerline to the next level, the Defender 2 has also been designed to handle the extra weight and torque of EVs.
As the tire comes to market, the Michelin Defender 2 is engineered to outlast the competitors. Using a combination of updated MaxTouch 2.0 technology, the new Evertread 2.0 compound, and a redesigned tread pattern, the Defender 2 outlasted three leading competitive tires by more than 25,000 miles on a treadwear test, delivering two extra years of treadlife [based on internal treadwear testing against top competitors].
How is the company addressing sustainability?
As the importance of sustainability grows, we have the responsibility to balance the consumption of natural resources. With this, our hope is to reach 40 percent sustainable raw materials within our tires by 2030 and 100 percent by 2050.
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