Michelin Uptis airless tire takes to the road for the first time in public
Munich, Germany – At the IAA Mobility car show in Munich, Michelin presented a concrete vision of how it plans to build tomorrow’s mobility, focusing in particular on the circular economy.
The MICHELIN Uptis took to the road for the first time in public on a Mini Electric. This was an exclusive experience for certain lucky members of the general public who had the opportunity to take a ride and test this revolutionary tire. “The truly distinctive structure of the MICHELIN Uptis prototype, or its ‘weirdness’ as we have often heard it called, really attracted the attention of many visitors and left a lasting impression on them. It was an exceptional experience for us, and our greatest satisfaction came at the end of the demonstration when our passengers, who were admittedly a little wary at first, said they felt no difference compared with conventional tires,” said Cyrille Roget, Michelin Group Technical and Scientific Communications Director. This experience bodes well for Michelin, which remains on course to bring the first Uptis tire to market in 2024.
As a leader and supporter of sustainable mobility, Michelin was eager to attend this event dedicated to mobility. As Yves Chapot, General Manager of the Michelin Group, pointed out while visiting the event, “Michelin’s strategy is focused on sustainable mobility. That’s why our ambition is to be using 100% sustainable materials in our tires by 2050. The VISION concept demonstrates Michelin’s ability to meet this challenge and our commitment to offer products and services that are environmentally sound throughout their entire life cycle.”
MICHELIN Uptis is the first step in the Group’s VISION Concept, which features airless technology that eliminates the risk of punctures and reduces environmental impact. With its unique material structure, MICHELIN Uptis is a true technological breakthrough and underscores Michelin’s pioneering spirit and commitment to innovation.
For Michelin, sustainable mobility inevitably goes hand in hand with sustainable materials. First unveiled in June at the Movin’On Summit 2021, Michelin’s first tire made of 46% sustainable materials was also on display. This innovation demonstrates Michelin’s ability to use an ever-increasing proportion of sustainable materials in its products without compromising their performance. This year, Michelin announced its ambition to be using 100% sustainable materials in all its tires by 2050.
To meet the major challenge of using 100% sustainable materials by 2050, the Group is relying heavily on the circular economy. This approach aims to create value for the greatest number of people, in all areas and stages (production, manufacturing, use, etc.), while consuming fewer raw materials to preserve natural resources. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Renew: with its 4R Strategy, Michelin only consumes what is strictly necessary. The Group is accelerating its investments in bio-based materials and new recycling technologies.