BUSINESS

Michelin looks to become more than a tire company

April 14th, 2021

PARIS — France's Michelin plans to add about 14 billion euros ($17 billion) to its annual revenues by 2030, by recovering from a pandemic-induced slowdown and diversifying beyond its tire-making heritage into new activities including hydrogen power and medical devices.

The firm said in a strategy presentation on Thursday that it anticipated revenue in 2030 of 34 billion euros, compared to 20.5 billion last year.

It expects the fastest growth to come from its business making hydrogen power systems for vehicles. It said that would grow from a forecast 200 million euros in 2025 to 1.5 billion by the end of this decade.

It said it also hoped for rapid growth in the new fields of 3D metal printing and medical devices.

"While staying true to our DNA, the company's profile will evolve greatly by 2030, with a bigger role for new, high-value activities around, and beyond, tire-making," chief executive Florent Menegaux said in a statement.

In its traditional tire business, it said it would achieve growth by shifting some production to lower-cost locations and focusing on higher-margin tires.

Alison Training Information Technology

Like many other businesses linked to the auto industry, Michelin has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, which led to a global slump in demand for cars.

The company forecast that it would recover fully from the effects of the pandemic by the end of 2022.

Michelin and French auto parts manufacturer Faurecia together own a business called Symbio, which makes hydrogen fuel cell systems for light vehicles, utility vehicles and trucks.

Hydrogen has been touted for decades as an alternative to fossil fuels, but attempts to commercialize it for use in vehicles and industry have faltered.

Toyota, Honda and Hyundai are the only major carmakers selling hydrogen fuel cell vehicles to consumers. Sales are modest.

Nevertheless, the European Union, Britain, Japan and South Korea, as well as leading oil and gas companies such as Royal Dutch Shell, BP and Total have set out plans to invest heavily in hydrogen power.

Curated By

Kaito Tanaka
Strategic Innovation Consultant | Technology Investment Analyst | Operations Research Director
Kaito Tanaka is a futurist journalist who approaches news through the lens of optimization and efficiency. Specializing in cutting-edge technologies like CRISPR, robotics, and supply chain innovations, he distills complex developments into their most actionable insights. Known for his clinical analysis style, Kaito cuts through traditional narratives to identify systemic inefficiencies and opportunities for progress. His commentary reflects a pragmatic worldview where sentiment yields to solutions, and every story is evaluated based on its potential to advance human capability. When he's not tracking breakthrough research, you'll find him optimizing his own workflow or planning his next travel adventure with mathematical precision.

Suggested Reading

Transition to Hydrogen: Pathways Toward Clean Transportation

This book is a comprehensive and objective guide to understanding hydrogen as a transportation fuel. The effects that pursuing different vehicle technology development paths will have on the economy, the environment, public safety and human health are presented with implications for policy makers, i...

Switching Gears: The Petroleum-Powered Electric Car

The new rock stars of the transportation industry are radical entrepreneurs with visions that may change the landscape of energy as drastically as computers changed the landscape of communication. Electric vehicles (EVs) are steadily gaining acceptance. Countries like Norway, France, India, and Chin...

American Icon: Alan Mulally and the Fight to Save Ford Motor Company

At the end of 2008, Ford Motor Company was just months away from running out of cash. With the auto industry careening toward ruin, Congress offered all three Detroit automakers a bailout. General Motors and Chrysler grabbed the taxpayer lifeline, but Ford decided to save itself. Under the leadersh...

The Michelin Men: Driving an Empire

This is the remarkable story of how two brothers - Edouard and Andre Michelin - turned a sleepy, family tire firm in the heart of rural France into one of the most innovative and successful industrial empires in the world. Edouard, a landscape painter at the Ecole des Beaux Arts, displayed an engine...

We use cookies to improve your experience on our website. By continuing to browse, you accept our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.