- Sustainability, safety and the latest tyre technology see Arriva UK Bus maintain its long working relationship with Michelin.
- The manufacturer secures contract to supply, fit and manage tyres across the public transport operator’s 4,000-strong bus fleet.
Arriva UK Bus has continued its long-standing working relationship with Michelin, having signed a new five-year contract with the manufacturer’s Connected Solutions division (CXS).
The new agreement will see Michelin supply, fit and manage the tyres across all seven regions of the public transport operator’s business – incorporating a total fleet size of around 4,000 buses nationwide. This includes roughly 1,500 buses, 100 routes and 16 garages that Arriva London operates across the capital on behalf of Transport for London (TfL).
Stephen Middleton, Procurement Category Manager for Arriva UK Bus, says: “We are delighted to continue our partnership with industry-leader Michelin to ensure our fleet runs with the highest standards of safety, performance, and sustainability.”
With an increasingly large number of electric buses being deployed across its operations, the Arriva UK Bus fleet will be fitted predominantly with MICHELIN X InCity EV Z tyres. Designed for electric vehicles but equally suitable for combustion engine powered buses, the multi position tyres offer excellent safety, longevity and load capacity, while helping operators to reduce their environmental footprint by reducing rolling resistance. Some of the company’s smaller vehicles will utilise tyres from the MICHELIN X Multi range.
All tyres will be carefully managed through Michelin’s multi-life policy, helping to minimise the total cost of ownership and boosting sustainability. Michelin’s skilled technicians regroove the tyres once the tread depth reaches 3-4mm, helping to extend each casing’s life in its most fuel-efficient state. Once the regrooved tyres have worn, they are retreaded at the Michelin Remix plant in Stoke – a process which saves natural resources and supports UK manufacturing.
Another important part of the new agreement is the installation of Michelin’s QuickScan technology at five Arriva UK Bus depots. This automated vehicle inspection solution offers fast, crucial data on the health of each tyre, including the tread depth and general wear and tear. The drive over scanner works in all weather conditions and greatly reduces the time spent on inspections, helping to improve compliance and save money.
Arriva UK Bus is also trialling Michelin Connected Fleet’s Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) on 10 vehicles at its Thurmaston depot, in Leicester. When combined with the data from the QuickScan technology this offers the business key insights, which allows it to monitor, manage and proactively anticipate tyre-related maintenance issues. This also facilitates better scheduling of maintenance and can reduce the incidences of roadside events such as tyre deflations.
“Working with Michelin reflects our commitment to not only providing efficient and reliable transport for our customers but also advancing towards a greener future, such as our increased use of Remix tyres provided by the Michelin Stoke-on-Trent factory,” adds Middleton. “Together, we are meeting the needs of our fleet and our passengers today while moving with the times to ensure a tomorrow which is more environmentally friendly.”
Arriva UK Bus is part of the Arriva Group, one of the leading providers of passenger transport in the UK and Europe with services delivering more than 1.5 billion passenger journeys a year.
About Michelin
Michelin is building a world-leading manufacturer of life-changing composites and experiences. Pioneering engineered materials for more than 130 years, Michelin is uniquely positioned to make decisive contributions to human progress and to a more sustainable world.
Drawing on its deep know-how in polymer composites, Michelin is constantly innovating to manufacture high-quality tyres and components for critical applications in demanding fields as varied as mobility, construction, aeronautics, low-carbon energies, and healthcare.
The care placed in its products and deep customer knowledge inspire Michelin to offer the finest experiences. This spans from providing data- and AI-based connected solutions for professional fleets to recommending outstanding restaurants and hotels curated by the MICHELIN Guide.
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