MICHELIN LAUNCHES NEW CERTIFIED CENTRE AGRICULTURAL DEALER PROGRAMME

Stoke-on-Trent – March 30, 2012

For the first time, accredited Michelin Exelagri dealers in the UK and Ireland will now also be able to secure prestigious Michelin Certified Centre (MCC) status; a new accolade being introduced throughout Europe to recognise those tyre specialists which offer exceptionally high standards of customer service and expertise.

To gain MCC status, dealers must pass a rigorous 48-point quality audit, carried out independently, which examines every aspect of their business, from the cleanliness of workshops and the standard of equipment used, to levels of staff training and the quality of advice given to customers.

Mike Lawton, Commercial Director of Michelin’s agricultural tyre division, explains: “The MCC designation is designed to give farmers, contractors and tractor dealerships the confidence that they have chosen a service provider with proven skills and experience in this specialist sector.  There’s simply no room for amateurs when it comes to servicing tyres on expensive farm machinery.

“If a tractor or combine harvester has suffered a tyre failure in the field, customers need to know that their service provider will respond quickly, arrive on site with the correct tyre and that the technician is equipped to carry out the job safely.”

Inspection audits are currently underway, with Tanvic Tyre & Service Centre in Grantham the first to secure its place within the new network.  Michelin expects around 30 additional dealers to join the network over the coming weeks; even though the Company points out that the requirements for qualification have justifiably been set very high.

“MCC status and a place in our Exelagri network will only be granted when an organisation can demonstrate it is amongst the best in its field.  Our MCC and Exelagri programmes will represent the cream of the crop in terms of agricultural tyre specialists,” adds Lawton

All MCC dealers must be committed to offering an extensive range of Michelin agricultural tyres and services, 24/7 breakdown support, quality tyre repairs, wheel alignment checks and have the ability to fit tyres both on-site and in the field.  They must also offer a tyre delivery service to customers, backed up by the provision of expert technical advice and aftersales support.

The Michelin Certified Centre accreditation scheme also includes car and truck tyre dealers and will include earthmover tyre specialists towards the end of 2012.

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MICHA/037/12

Michelin (www.michelin.co.uk)

Dedicated to the improvement of sustainable mobility, Michelin designs, manufactures and sells tyres for every type of vehicle, including aircraft, bicycles, cars, earthmoving machines, farm equipment, trucks and motorcycles. Michelin employs 115,000 people, has sales organisations in more than 170 countries and operates 69 production sites in 18 countries throughout five continents. The Company also publishes travel guides, hotel and restaurant guides, maps and road atlases and offers electronic mobility support services on ViaMichelin.com. Research and development is undertaken in technology centres in Asia, Europe and North America.

For further press information please contact:

Paul Cordle, Michelin Press Office
Tel: 44 (0) 1782 402341      Email: paul-m.cordle@uk.michelin.com

James Keeler, Garnett Keeler PR, Inver House, 37-39 Pound Street, Carshalton, Surrey, SM5 3PG
Tel: 44 (0)20 8647 4467   Fax: 44 (0)20 8544 4711   E-mail: james.keeler@garnettkeeler.com

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