Michelin Malaysia Closed 2018 With 6 Percent Increase In Deliveries, Hints New XM2

Michelin Malaysia ended 2018, the year which also marks the 20th anniversary of Michelin’s operations here in Malaysia, by recording a 6 percent growth in tyre deliveries amidst challenging market conditions.

Tyres for cars and trucks still contribute the bulk of its sales volume, at 85 percent while motorcycle tyres make up the rest.

Speaking to the media at a press event earlier this week, Pascal  Nouvellon, Managing Director for Michelin in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Brunei also added that customer satisfaction improvement initiatives have also yielded positive results. Internal surveys now show that Michelin is the most recommended tyre brand.

Michelin is often recognized as the preferred brand for high performance tyres but the availability of limited volume specialty tyres like the Michelin Pilot Super Sport can sometimes be an issue. This is no longer the case, as the company has spent most of 2018 in improving its logistics to ensure 100 percent product availability.

Later this year, the company will be launching at least two new tyres: a performance-oriented tyre for luxury SUVs, and a mass market tyre that caters to 60 percent of the market. The latter should refer to the aging Michelin Energy XM2. With sizes ranging from 13- to 16-inches, the XM2 is ideal for the Myvi- and Honda City class of vehicles.

Last year, Michelin Malaysia launched two new tyres: the all-terrain LTX Force tyre for off-road capable vehicles, as well as the Honda Accord-class Primacy 4.