Michelin North America CEO talks EV, sustainability in South Carolina.

• Position: Alexis Garcin, electric vehicle

Eighty percent of electric vehicles on the road right now are equipped with Michelin tires.

That's according to Alexis Garcin, president and CEO of Michelin North America Inc., who was the keynote speaker at the 12th Annual South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance Automotive Summit on Wednesday.

Michelin has more than 130 years of innovation under its belt. As going 50 years in the South Carolina and one of the first partners of the Inland Port Greer in 2013, Michelin now has 8,000 employees and 14 sites in South Carolina alone. In 2020, Michelin invested $75 million into the state and plans to invest even more in its latest technologies, which will be announced in the next few weeks, said Garcin.

"South Carolina is a place we love to call home," he said.

While investing heavily in its people and talent, profitability and sustainability of the planet, Michelin's focus areas can be broken down into four smaller units: electrification, green trucking with the use of hydrogen, connectivity, and smaller environmental footprint.

From the maker of the first detachable tires of the 19th century, to this idea of "green tires," Garcin said Michelin believes that at least 50% of every new car to be sold will be fully electric or hybrid by 2030 in the U.S.

Today, that percentage is at around 7% to 8%, Garcin added. "But that figure is increasing very fast."

Consumers underestimate the important role of a tire, said Garcin.

"I mean they are what keeps you on the road," he added. "The tire is the most important feature of EVs today, and we believe we are well-positioned to leverage this transition of the market."

By leveraging data and connectivity, the...