Sustainability Channel

PIRELLI FIT "iCHANGE", THE FIRST ZERO EMISSION SUPERCAR

Pirelli tyres for the first sportscar in history that can reach 220 km per hour without consuming a drop of fuel derived from petrol oil.

The car is “iChange“, named for its ability to change shape and adapt to the number of passengers in only three seconds, but its most revolutionary aspect is that it’s the first zero emission supercar, totally powered by a lithium ion battery that propels a 150 kilowatt electric engine.

iChange, trumpeted as one of the stars of the Geneva International Motor Show 2009, arises from collaboration between Swiss company Rinspeed and Pirelli, whose technology focuses more and more on ecological products.

This focus has been recognized, bringing Pirelli Tyre the award for best tyre manufacturer 2008 at the Tire Technology Expo, the most important expo-conference worldwide dedicated to the tyre industry, which organizes each year the ‘Tire Technology Awards for Innovation and Excellence‘. The jury, made up of international experts, gave Pirelli Tyre the title of  ‘Manufacturer of the Year’ thanks to the Group’s 2008 research and development activity in the field of innovative materials and environmental sustainability, and thanks to Pirelli’s partnerships with research institutes such as the Silvio Tronchetti Provera Foundation and China’s Shandong University.

GLOBAL MANAGEMENT CHALLENGE 2

For the second consecutive year, Pirelli is to participate in the Global Management Challenge, the most important international business strategy tournament in the world.

Now in its 28th year, the tournament involves 29 countries throughout the world. It is, in fact, the only world-wide business competition in which teams of company managers, university students of the engineering and economics faculties or MBA/Master students challenge each other in a management race.

Each team of students, guided by the company that supports them, takes on a virtual business, which they must manage as if it were real.
A sophisticated informatics system then simulates the interaction between the various teams/businesses, competitor relations and the general economic situation.

This year, Pirelli will take part in the GMC by supporting nine teams from Italy, China, Rumania and Brazil. The Italian teams are three: two from the Milan Polytechnic and one from the Bocconi University of Milan.

The competition is subdivided into local national competitions, which decree the national championship teams that are to participate in the international final, to take place in Lisbon on 21 April.

The Global Management Challenge constitutes a new opportunity to consolidate the links between Pirelli and the universities, as well as providing the company with a privileged point of observation from which to discover potential new talent.

PIRELLI WINS THE "TYRE TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL AWARD 2009"

Hamburg, Germany, 18 February. A matter of pride for Pirelli Tyre at the Tire Technology Expo, the world’s most important exposition-conference devoted to the tyre industry, which organises each year the prestigious ‘Tire Technology Awards for Innovation and Excellence’.

In 2009, the authoritative jury, comprising international exponents of the tyre industry and research, has awarded the title ‘Manufacturer of the Year’ to Pirelli Tyre.

A choice motivated by research as a key factor in the activity of Pirelli in 2008, characterised by the creation of innovative materials, advantages for the environment and the constitution of partnerships with research organisation and institutes, such as those with the Silvio Tronchetti Provera Foundation and the Chinese University of Shandong.

Gianni Mancini, head of area processes, received the award on Pirelli’s behalf. With him on the podium were the representatives of Coda Development, VMI, Sumitomo Rubber Industries and Standards Testing Laboratories, winners of the other four award categories, which are ‘Tire Manufacturing Innovation’, ‘Environmental Achievement’, ‘Tire Technology’ and ‘Tire Industry Supplier’.