Michelin to invest Euro 5 million in fuel economy research

Tire Business staff report

Greenville, South Carolina -- Michelin North America Inc. will invest $6.8 million (Euro 4.5 million) over three years in research and development to increase fuel economy by reducing tyre rolling resistance.

Michelin Americas Research Co. will lead the project, which includes a $1.9 million research contract with Clemson University's International Center for Automotive Research in South Carolina, where development will be headed.

“The eyes of the transportation industry are fixed squarely on the upstate of South Carolina,” said Jim Micali, chairman and president of Michelin North America. “We believe that the future, not only of the automotive industry but also of the transportation and mobility, lies in the imaginations and hands of these researchers searching for ways to improve fuel economy and overall mobility.”

The project will begin immediately and is expected to lead to the development of new materials, modeling tools and manufacturing processes for future tires.

From Tire Business (A Crain publication)