Thales Partners with Michelin to Protect IP and Monetize Software Innovation Globally through Sentinel Platform
Thales, a global leader in advanced technologies spanning aerospace, defense, cybersecurity, and digital identity, has officially announced a strategic collaboration with Michelin, one of the world’s most iconic tyre manufacturers. The partnership centers on securing Michelin’s proprietary software innovations and enabling scalable global deployment through the Thales Sentinel Software Monetization Platform. This collaboration reflects a broader shift across the manufacturing sector toward digital transformation, where software is emerging as a critical revenue stream and a new frontier for innovation.
Michelin’s Transformation: From Rubber to Code
Long recognized as a pioneer in the world of tyres—from humble bicycle tyres to those capable of operating in outer space—Michelin is now carving out a formidable position in the digital landscape. At the heart of this transformation is Michelin’s transition toward software-led services and subscription-based business models. These software products, designed to enhance vehicle performance, simulation, and predictive analytics, mark a new chapter in Michelin’s history, one where data and algorithms hold as much importance as rubber compounds and tread patterns.
TameTire: A Flagship Software for Real-World Simulation
Among Michelin’s flagship digital products is TameTire, a powerful simulation tool aimed at vehicle manufacturers and motorsport teams. The software utilizes advanced algorithms to model and predict tyre behavior with remarkable precision. By simulating how tyres respond to varying levels of force, torque, and thermal dynamics, TameTire allows automotive engineers to optimize vehicle handling, reduce testing time, and lower development costs.
For motorsports teams, TameTire offers a significant competitive advantage. The software provides a safer and more efficient alternative to track testing, enabling teams to fine-tune setups in virtual environments before making real-world adjustments. With such capabilities, TameTire is not just a product—it’s a performance enhancer and cost-reduction tool rolled into one.
Expanding the Digital Arsenal: Canopy and SiMiX
TameTire is just the beginning. Michelin has developed a suite of simulation-based digital products to support its software-led strategy. Canopy, for example, brings powerful lap time simulation and vehicle modeling to the table. By leveraging cloud computing and Michelin’s proprietary collocation solver, Canopy enables users to conduct setup explorations and performance modeling at unparalleled speed and accuracy. It serves racing teams and automotive developers who need rapid iteration and insights without relying solely on physical trials.
Another critical offering is SiMiX, a solution that provides high-quality datasets to vehicle manufacturers, racing outfits, and key players within the automotive supply chain. These datasets encompass components such as tyres, chassis, and suspension systems. SiMiX facilitates smarter design choices and faster development cycles by giving engineers access to highly accurate virtual representations of physical systems.
Thales Sentinel: A Unified Platform for Licensing and IP Protection
To ensure the secure deployment and monetization of its growing software portfolio, Michelin turned to Thales and its Sentinel Software Monetization Platform. Sentinel provides Michelin with a unified system for software licensing, IP protection, and customer access management—capabilities that are critical for a company whose digital products are both technically complex and commercially sensitive.
“Given that Michelin’s innovative software is complex and proprietary, we recognized their need for an agile licensing platform that was both easy to deploy and able to protect against IP theft,” explained Damien Bullot, Vice President of Software Monetization at Thales. “Thales Sentinel manages all Michelin’s software licensing under one solution that is fully compatible with Michelin’s infrastructure. We are pleased to see reported operational efficiencies and revenue growth from this collaboration.”
Safeguarding IP While Enabling Business Growth
For Michelin, ensuring that its software assets are protected from unauthorized use while remaining easily accessible to paying customers was a central concern. The Sentinel platform’s ability to flexibly support on-premises, cloud-based, and hybrid deployments makes it ideal for Michelin’s diverse portfolio. While TameTire is often used in offline or hybrid environments due to its high-performance computing demands, Canopy and SiMiX are deployed exclusively via the cloud, leveraging the Sentinel Cloud License Manager for seamless global access.
The partnership with Thales also empowers Michelin to experiment with and scale new business models, particularly subscription-based software licensing. “As an organization whose reputation is based on quality, focusing on quality was essential to us as we expanded our business to software-led offerings,” said Pierre-Yves Mauriere, Product Owner for TameTire at Michelin. “We are the clear market leader for this type of solution, and partnering with Thales ensured we could not only protect this valuable software IP, but also offer a new subscription business model and scale our license-based revenue stream. Relying on the Sentinel platform allows us to focus on further innovating our software and creating value for our customers.”
Cloud-Native Licensing: Adapting to a New Software Economy
The Sentinel platform’s adaptability is particularly important in today’s cloud-centric world. With the automotive and motorsport industries increasingly embracing cloud-native tools, Michelin’s ability to offer both hybrid and cloud-only solutions ensures it remains at the cutting edge of technology while delivering maximum convenience to customers.
Sentinel also supports a wide array of licensing models—from feature-based and usage-based to metered licensing—giving Michelin the freedom to align product access with customer value. This flexibility not only aids revenue generation but also enhances customer satisfaction by ensuring that clients only pay for what they use.
Building the Future of Automotive Innovation
Michelin’s journey from tyre manufacturer to digital innovator reflects broader trends across the mobility and industrial sectors. The company’s commitment to software development, predictive simulation, and data-driven design positions it at the forefront of automotive innovation. By choosing to partner with Thales, Michelin ensures that its cutting-edge software offerings are secure, scalable, and ready to meet the needs of a global customer base.
As more manufacturers embrace digital transformation, partnerships like this one between Thales and Michelin underscore the critical importance of IP protection, flexible licensing, and cloud enablement in unlocking the full value of industrial software. For Michelin, the road ahead is paved not just with rubber—but with code.
