By 2024, nearly 40 La Poste vans fitted with the Michelin Uptis airless tyre will deliver letters and parcels in the Lesquin, Valenciennes and Douai sectors, in the Hauts-de-France region (North of France).
Three initial vehicles will be put into circulation as of June 27 within the framework of a two-year partnership between La Poste and Michelin, a first in France and Europe - following partnerships already formed in Asia.
The Uptis prototype is a puncture-proof wheel/tyre assembly with no compressed air, intended for cars and light trucks. The compressed air has been replaced by a structure capable of supporting the vehicle.
Michelin’s main target market for the Uptis prototype is light truck fleets intended for professional use, and particularly deliveries.
Bruno De Feraudy, Director, OEM Activities, Michelin Group, said, “The Michelin Uptis tyre is a major innovation in the tire sector and is a key step in the development of a fully sustainable tyre by 2050. It is the result of some 50 patents in terms of tyre structure and high-tech materials.”
It is currently the only airless tyre in the world to travel on open roads, under real conditions, on three continents, having covered almost three million kilometers.