Pirelli has been named the “Tire Manufacturer of the Year” by an international panel of 30 industry experts and university lectures at the Tire Technology International Awards for Innovation and Excellence 2018.

According to the company, Pirelli achieved this recognition through not only its high-value product strategy focus but also the company’s role as a driver of technical innovation. Specifically demonstrated by the launch of their Connesso product last year: the only system currently on sale that allows the tire to talk to the driver via data analysis through the cloud and an app. Connesso transmits information such as tire pressure, temperature, and wear.

The award was accepted by Marco Spinetto, Pirelli’s head of strategic innovation and knowledge management, government regulations and industry standards.

“It’s a great honor for Pirelli to receive this prize,” said Spinetto. “The tire industry has recognized our company’s transformation, a 145-year-old ‘start-up’ that today is a pure consumer tire firm focused on high-value products… one strategically positioned in the most advanced technical areas. And technology is of course our key driver. Underlining this is our commitment to research and development, where Pirelli has dedicated more than 7% of its turnover over the last three years – one of the highest investment proportions of any tire manufacturer.”