Michelin solutions has secured a deal with Abellio for the first time in five years to supply, fit and manage the tyres across its 800-strong fleet.
The deal, which runs for the next five years, will see Michelin solutions work with Abellio on a cost-per-mile EFFITIRES contract.
The agreement has been structured to deliver maximum compliance and safety for Abellio’s fleet of single and double-deck buses, and Abellio will become involved in new product testing for Michelin to support the development of the company’s next generation of urban tyres.
Jon Eardley, Engineering Director at Abellio UK Bus, said: “At the start of the tender process we set out our requirements which centred around road safety, product quality, price and fuel economy – and Michelin solutions demonstrated it could meet the full spectrum of what we wanted early in the process, even answering our questions before we’d asked them. They clearly understood the product and support requirements of operating in a heavy urban bus environment as well as the cost pressures of being a fixed revenue business, and provided us with transparent pricing at every stage.”
Paul Davey, Commercial Director of Michelin solutions North Europe, added: “We were ready to hit the ground running from day one of the contract commencing, and we’re already demonstrating the positive impact we can have on Abellio’s fleet. They don’t rest on their laurels and they don’t expect suppliers to do that, either. It’s a fantastic customer to win back.”
Michelin solutions has placed a team of tyre fitters into Abellio bus garages to carry out all tyre management, and this same team will ensure a 100% Michelin policy is adhered to across the fleet, replacing the current brands, as wear dictates.
Michelin solutions will manage all new Michelin tyres through a multi-life process including regrooving and retreading. From October 2017, all new vehicles joining the fleet – currently ADL buses – will be proactively specified with Michelin tyres as original equipment.
