Michelin launches blitz against counterfeiters

Paris -- Groupe Michelin has launched a blitz against other makers of truck tyres who copy Michelin tread patterns and then claim that their tyres are as good as Michelin products, while selling at around half the price.

Philippe Verneuil, in charge of Michelin's truck tyre business in Europe said that Michelin has issued legal action against Aeolus Tyre of Henan, China and its distributors in both North America and in Europe alleging that the company has copied its tread patterns and made misleading claims in brochures and publicity materials, suggesting that the tyre performs as well as the Michelin tyres it mimics.

Asked how much Michelin had lost through these copied tyres, Verneuil said, "our concern is not for the losses incurred by Michelin, it is for our customers. These suppliers are putting them at risk." Although Verneuil declined to give any data on specific performance, he said the competing tyres offer worse grip, increased wear and the casings do not last as long as the true Michelin tyre. If they are sold as equivalent to the Michelin product, he said, it is putting the truckers and other road users at risk.

Verneuil said a Michelin truck tyre is designed to deliver a life of up to 1 million km, and run at speeds of 90 kph and carry 40 tonnes over a 10year casing life. He said Michelin has tested the counterfeit tyres against this specification, but said it was not for him to comment on the performance of another manufacturer's tyre.

Verneuil said Michelin is talking with its dealers and is currently collecting data. He suggested that the company may well take further measures if other companies are found to be copying Michelin's tread patterns or other characteristics. He added that tyres originating in Asia -- and especially China -- were Michelin's first concern.

The company said that its action was prompted by seeing tyres at the European Road Transport Show in Amsterdam (14 - 22 October, 2005). Other tyre manufacturers exhibiting at the Amsterdam event include Cheng Shin/Maxxis of Taiwan, MRF of India, Trelleborg of Sweden, Bridgestone of Japan and Continental of Germany.