Michelin Announces Global Theme for 2019 Michelin Challenge Design Program

GREENVILLE, S.C., Aug. 20, 2018 — Michelin North America has issued the theme for its 2019 Michelin Challenge Design competition, “Inspiring Mobility,” which examines questions of why joy, trust, security or freedom are important factors in designing mobility solutions for megacities of the future.

Discussions around the future of mobility often focus on what people will drive, the technologies they will use and the brands they will prefer. To meet the world’s future economic, environmental, emotional and social needs, hundreds of billions of dollars will be spent over the next 20 years to manufacture these technologies to support sustainable mobility.

“Across the globe, millions of people are migrating to urban centers every year, which has accelerated the emergence of megacities,” said Ben Ebel, chairman of Michelin Challenge Design, Michelin North America. “What will transportation look like in these cities in 2035? We are encouraging designers to appeal to the emotional side of design by first asking why a user in a megacity would choose a particular mobility system — more than just a specific vehicle concept — and what emotional need can be met with that design.”

The 2019 Michelin Challenge Design theme, “Inspiring Mobility,” invites entrants to design a mobility solution that will invoke one of several emotions — joy, trust, security or freedom — for users in Berlin, Mumbai, New York, São Paulo or Shanghai in the year 2035.

Created by Michelin in 2001 to encourage and recognize young designers, Michelin Challenge Design has become one of the most prestigious global design competitions, thanks in part to its jury members, who are often the advanced design leaders for major automakers. Since its inception, the competition has drawn more than 13,000 entries from 130 countries. Recent winners and finalists have hailed from Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, China, France, India, Italy, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, United Kingdom and the United States.

Entries open Aug. 20, 2018, at www.michelinchallengedesign.com. Winners will be recognized at the 2019 Movin’On International Summit for Sustainable Mobility in Montreal.

About Michelin North America

Dedicated to the improvement of sustainable mobility, Michelin designs, manufactures and sells tires for every type of vehicle, including airplanes, automobiles, bicycles, earthmovers, farm equipment, heavy-duty trucks and motorcycles. The Company has earned a long-standing reputation for building innovative premium tires. In addition to tires, the Company also publishes travel guides, hotel and restaurant guides, maps and road atlases. Headquartered in Greenville, S.C., Michelin North America (www.michelinman.com) employs more than 20,000 people and operates 19 major manufacturing plants. Forbes magazine has ranked Michelin No. 1 on its annual survey of “Best Large Employers in America” for 2018. Learn more about purpose-driven careers with a purpose-driven company at jobs.michelinman.com.

For more information and images, www.michelinchallengedesign.com or contact:

Tom Sullivan
Michelin North America
Cell: 704-222-5488
Email: tom.sullivan@michelin.com | www.michelinmedia.com