National Press Release

Michelin named the Official Tire of the Yellowstone Park Foundation

GREENVILLE, S.C., April 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Michelin has been named the "Official Tire of the Yellowstone Park Foundation" as part of a new environmental stewardship initiative to provide Michelin energy-saving tires to the Yellowstone National Park vehicle fleet. Adding Michelin tires will improve the fleet's fuel efficiency and lower CO2 emissions by an estimated 8 to 10 percent. The program was announced today during an event at Michelin North America's headquarters.

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"Michelin has for many years focused on using the latest advancements to design the most efficient and environmentally friendly tires possible," said Dick Wilkerson, chairman and president of Michelin North America. "We believe that the future of transportation lies not only in the constant improvement of fuel economy and mobility, but also in an overall commitment to sustainability. We are excited to assist Yellowstone National Park, a leader in the areas of conservation and environmental stewardship, in the effort to lessen the environmental impact of its vehicle fleet."

In addition to providing tires and related service for park-owned vehicles, Michelin also will engage in programs for Yellowstone employees that demonstrate how to improve fuel efficiency and maximize tire life through proper tire inflation.

"Maintaining Yellowstone National Park and serving its 3 million annual visitors requires hundreds of employees, many of whom must travel vast distances to perform their duties," says Suzanne Lewis, superintendent of Yellowstone National Park. "We are very pleased to have Michelin, the world's leading tire company, assist in our efforts to reduce the ecological footprint of our operations and decrease the consumptive use of natural resources."

Michelin leads the industry in the development of fuel efficient tires that deliver top performance while reducing environmental impact. Tires require a significant part, up to 20 percent, of the energy needed to operate a car. For commercial trucks, the impact may be even higher, up to 30 percent and more. By reducing rolling resistance, the force that must be overcome to move the tires on a vehicle forward, Michelin reduces the amount of tire-related energy consumed, improving fuel economy and reducing CO2 emissions.

Michelin's donation of energy-efficient tires complements the Yellowstone Park Foundation's mission to raise $5 million as part of the Yellowstone Environmental Stewardship (YES!) Initiative, a multi-year program started in 2008 to help the park further reduce its carbon footprint, increase operational efficiency, and better preserve resources for future generations.

To further support the park's sustainability program, Michael Fanning, vice president of Corporate Affairs for Michelin North America, has joined the Yellowstone Park Foundation Board of Directors. Don Baldwin, product marketing manager for Michelin Americas Truck Tires, has additionally joined the foundation's Advisory Council.

"Environmentally-minded corporations like Michelin are creating the technology that will help elevate Yellowstone National Park as a worldwide leader in our operational environmental stewardship," said Paul Zambernardi, president of the Yellowstone Park Foundation. "We are proud that Michelin has joined with us to help ensure Yellowstone's legacy of sustainability and we are pleased to name Michelin as the Official Tire of the Yellowstone Park Foundation."

As part of today's ceremony, Michelin was presented with the Yellowstone Park Foundation's prestigious Environmental Stewardship Award to recognize the company for its efforts to help the park reduce its impact on the environment. The award features the work of Utah artist Owen Mortensen whose dried leaf designs represent the beauty and the renewal that occurs in the cycles of nature.

The nonprofit Yellowstone Park Foundation (www.ypf.org) has been Yellowstone National Park's official fundraising partner organization since 1996. The foundation works in cooperation with the park to fund projects and programs that protect, preserve, and enhance the natural and cultural resources and the visitor experience of Yellowstone. The foundation receives no annual government funding; it relies instead upon generous contributions from private citizens, foundations, and corporations to help ensure that Yellowstone's great gifts to the world will never diminish.

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, motorcycles and the space shuttle. The company also publishes travel guides, hotel and restaurant guides, maps and road atlases. Headquartered in Greenville, S.C., Michelin North America (www.michelin-us.com) employs approximately 22,600 and operates 19 major manufacturing plants in 17 locations.

SOURCE Michelin North America