Abstract
It is a multinational company whose headquarters are in Clermont-Ferrand in France. With a claim over 20% of the global tire market, it is the world's largest tire company. Its net sales amounted to 16.867 billion Euros in 2007, which positioned Michelin in second place behind Bridgestone ($ 29.7 billion in 2007), and before Goodyear. Michelin is established in 19 countries, employing 123 975 people which include 31000 employees in France.
The parent company, “Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin”, is an SCA. The Groups companies outside France are headed by a holding company, “Compagnie Financière Michelin”, established in Granges-Paccot in the canton of Freiburg in Switzerland.
Among its many inventions, there is the detachable tire; the rail tire (pneurail), the radial shape that equips all actual tires, and a tire called "green" as it reduces fuel consumption by providing less resistance to advancing vehicles. Michelin also publishes a popular series of maps and the famous Michelin guide, which mentions many good restaurants, and is selling well even in Japan. In 2009, the factory celebrated the 100th edition of the Rouge Guide.
