French tiremaker Michelin has conveyed their concept of sustainable and high-quality development by showcasing their innovative products made of eco-friendly materials at the seventh China International Import Expo (CIIE).
In the Automobile Exhibition Area during the expo, Michelin's booth showcases their latest product -- a 71-percent sustainable material tire making its debut in Asia. This tire is filled with eco-friendly materials such as resin, sunflower seeds, and recycled steel.
"China, as the world's largest tire producer, generates a significant number of used tires that are discarded. Today, with our technology, we can apply pyrolysis to extract oil for reuse and sustainable carbon black from these tires for better utilization. This is a new technology," said Ye Fei, president and CEO of Michelin Great China and Mongolia.
With the continuous rise in global automotive production demands for tires, the shift towards higher-end and eco-friendly tire options is a trend of the times.
Besides, Michelin has observed the substantial demand for high-quality development within China's automotive industry. Ye stated that China's dual carbon goals harmonize with the company's sustainable development strategies.
"The Chinese government has set goals to peak carbon emissions and achieve carbon neutrality, and we also aim to achieve carbon neutrality in our production sector. Additionally, we aim to have 100 percent of our tire production using sustainable materials by 2050. Our factory in Shenyang, currently the world's largest single-site passenger car tire production facility, aspires to achieve zero carbon emissions by 2028," Ye said.
At this year's CIIE, Michelin also unveiled new-generation aircraft tire and lunar rover tire capable of withstanding extreme conditions on the moon.
Moreover, the CIIE not only serves as a platform for companies to showcase cutting-edge innovations but also provides more opportunities for cooperation and exchanges among upstream and downstream businesses along the industry chain.
"The CIIE serves as a window to keep abreast of the changes happening in China's vast consumer market, offering insights into the trends in the Chinese market. It enables us to bring more of our quality products, new experiences, and new businesses to China. The CIIE has also bolstered the confidence of many of our partners in Michelin. Throughout the day, we have signed long-term cooperation agreements with three to four partners, outlining plans for the next three to five years," Ye said.
Ye stated that Michelin is optimistic about the Chinese market. The rapid development of the Chinese automotive industry is remarkable, with an increasing number of state-owned new energy brands becoming their partners.
Meanwhile, through the CIIE, the company can promptly grasp market and customer demands, further expand its "circle of friends," and optimize its industrial ecosystem to collaborate with Chinese society, markets, and consumers for mutual development.
"Two years ago, I secured the headquarters' decision regarding investment in China's future development for the next 10 years. Consequently, last year, we commenced the construction of the second phase of our factory in Shanghai. In terms of technology, we need to increase our investment in China to enable more automotive plants and consumers to benefit from our accelerated research and development efforts, thereby achieving better progress," Ye said.
The seventh CIIE, which runs from Tuesday to Sunday in Shanghai, has brought together 3,496 exhibitors from 129 countries and regions to showcase their products and technology this year. The event also marks a significant milestone with the participation of 297 Fortune Global 500 companies and leading industry players from around the world.
Eco-friendly tires by Michelin debut at CIIE
