The global mobility company Michelin India has announced that its Multi Energy Z tyre has been awarded a 4-Star rating by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE).
The star labelling programme was recently introduced by the Government of India with an aim to improve sustainability and newly introduced performance standards for tyres.
The tubeless tyres for truck and bus 295/80R22.5, the X Multi Energy Z is manufactured and designed by Michelin in India and promises up to 8% more fuel saving.
Ranganathan Bhuvarahamurthy, Executive Director, Michelin India Chennai Plant, said introducing and standardising tyres performance and fuel efficiency parameters is a historic milestone for the Indian automotive industry.
Devender Singh, Commercial Director - B2B, Michelin India, said that fuel is the number one cost for any fleet owner, and fluctuating fuel prices have been a major concern recently. This first 4-Star rating for Michelin X Multi Energy Z opens a greater opportunity for the company with fleet customers who are environment and total cost of ownership conscious.
With the introduction of the star labelling, customers will now be better placed to select tyres that are best suited for their driving usage while keeping their vehicles fuel-efficient and safe, he added.
Additionally, more and more certified low rolling resistant tyres on Indian roads will lead to better fuel savings for Indian fleets and reduce CO2 emissions in the country, Singh noted.
As part of an ambitious road map by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways for a smooth transition towards green mobility, a draft notification was issued in 2021 proposing that the tyres of cars, buses and trucks meet requirements of rolling resistance, wet grip and rolling sound emissions, as specified in Stage-II of the Automotive Industry Standards (AIS).
The new regulations will demand that all tyres sold in India meet crucial performance and safety standards such as rolling resistance, wet grip, and rolling sound emission. Domestic and foreign tyre makers and importers for automobiles, buses, and heavy vehicles will be required to follow the proposed mandatory standards starting in 2023.