Michelin sets up aircraft tire subsidiary in China

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Shanghai, China- Michelin has set up an aircraft tire subsidiary in China – MSAT (Michelin [Shanghai] Aircraft Tire Trading Co. Ltd.) – to improve service levels and product availability for its aviation customers, the French tire-maker announced 20 Sept.

The company already provides tires to Air China, China Eastern, China Southern, Hainan Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines and Xiamen Airlines.

More recently, Michelin has also been selected as the tire supplier for Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China Ltd., specifically for its twin-engine narrow-body C919 aircraft.

Commenting on the new organisation, Frank Moreau, president of Michelin Aircraft Tire, said: “This is an important step for our business in China and through MSAT we are confident that we can provide better service to our customers.”

According to Michelin, the Aviation Industry Corporation of China expects an increase of more than 4,500 civilian aircraft over the next 20 years.

By the year 2030, China's share of the global aircraft fleet will increase from 9 percent to 15 percent, it added.