THE MARKET ACHIEVEMENTS HISTORY
THE MARKET The wheel is an ancient device, but it has only been during lhe twentieth century that our lives ha•-e been changed beyond recognition by its use on ears, trucks, airplanes, tmins and subway systems. Hand in hand with this development has been the monumental growth of the world tire industry; now valued at more than USS60 billion annually. The three market leaders are Michelin (France), Bridgcstone (Japan) and Goodyear (US). Other contenders include Continental and Pirelli.
company has a sales network in more than 170countries. Michelin has consistently pursued an effective marlceting strategy, catapulting in ..Bibendum'' Michelin Man corporate symbol into the ranks oflhe great icons of brand history. In 1998, Michelin celebrated the symbol's centenary the same year Philippines is celebmting its IOOth year of independence. Michelin has consolidated its status by pioneering tire products which h.ave set standards for the entire industry.
HISTORY Until I889, the Michelin factory at Clermont-Ferrand, France, produced mainly rubber products such as hoses and gener.d farming implements. Then a cyclist. with both tires of his bicycle punctured, arrived at the factory in an ox can. Andre and Edouard Michelin, the brothers who controlled Michelin, spent many hours repairing the tires but these soon punctured again. This situation puuled IZdounrd Michelin, and he spent some time devising a solution - a detachable pneumatic tire, which could be repaired in just fifteen minutes. This development was to revolutionize the world transport industry.
ACHIEVEMENTS Michelin is based at Clermont-Fen-and in France and operates more than ao manufaeturing plants in 19
Michelin's great breaklhrough came with the car. The first cars used solid tires. To demonstrate their pneumatic tires, the Michelin brothers entered a car race from Paris
countries. five rubber plantations in Africa and South America, five testing faeilities and five n:sean:h and developtnent centres in France, Japan and the U.S. The
to Bordeaux and after a series of trials, breakdowns and even a fin:, finished ninth out of210 competitors. By 1905, a trading house had been set up in London. A manufacturing facility in Italy followed in the next year. Building on the company 's successes in car roces oround Ihe
world, Michelin bought a US rubber company and started manufacturing tires in the USA inl908. When the First World War broke out, Michelin turned its hand to airplane manufacture and made 1,884 planes for the French war effort After the war, Michelin developed tires for passenger rail cars. A wave of international expansion followed, including
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the opening of Michelin plants in the UK. During the Second World War, the compnny refused to collnbomte with the occupying Gennan forces who took control of many of their manufacturing plants. In 1946. Michelin registered the world'$ first radial tire - known as the Michelin 'X' - the prototype of the pneumatic tire we use today. This was truly • momentous event for the tire industry. Michelin soon launched into massive expansion to meet demand. This entlliled o move into the US marlcet in 1950 with the incorporation of the Michelin Tire Corpomtion. based in New Yori
company has a sales network in more than 170countries. Michelin has consistently pursued an effective marlceting strategy, catapulting in ..Bibendum'' Michelin Man corporate symbol into the ranks oflhe great icons of brand history. In 1998, Michelin celebrated the symbol's centenary the same year Philippines is celebmting its IOOth year of independence. Michelin has consolidated its status by pioneering tire products which h.ave set standards for the entire industry.
HISTORY Until I889, the Michelin factory at Clermont-Ferrand, France, produced mainly rubber products such as hoses and gener.d farming implements. Then a cyclist. with both tires of his bicycle punctured, arrived at the factory in an ox can. Andre and Edouard Michelin, the brothers who controlled Michelin, spent many hours repairing the tires but these soon punctured again. This situation puuled IZdounrd Michelin, and he spent some time devising a solution - a detachable pneumatic tire, which could be repaired in just fifteen minutes. This development was to revolutionize the world transport industry.
ACHIEVEMENTS Michelin is based at Clermont-Fen-and in France and operates more than ao manufaeturing plants in 19
Michelin's great breaklhrough came with the car. The first cars used solid tires. To demonstrate their pneumatic tires, the Michelin brothers entered a car race from Paris
countries. five rubber plantations in Africa and South America, five testing faeilities and five n:sean:h and developtnent centres in France, Japan and the U.S. The
to Bordeaux and after a series of trials, breakdowns and even a fin:, finished ninth out of210 competitors. By 1905, a trading house had been set up in London. A manufacturing facility in Italy followed in the next year. Building on the company 's successes in car roces oround Ihe
world, Michelin bought a US rubber company and started manufacturing tires in the USA inl908. When the First World War broke out, Michelin turned its hand to airplane manufacture and made 1,884 planes for the French war effort After the war, Michelin developed tires for passenger rail cars. A wave of international expansion followed, including
68
the opening of Michelin plants in the UK. During the Second World War, the compnny refused to collnbomte with the occupying Gennan forces who took control of many of their manufacturing plants. In 1946. Michelin registered the world'$ first radial tire - known as the Michelin 'X' - the prototype of the pneumatic tire we use today. This was truly • momentous event for the tire industry. Michelin soon launched into massive expansion to meet demand. This entlliled o move into the US marlcet in 1950 with the incorporation of the Michelin Tire Corpomtion. based in New Yori
