The Michelin Man

Michelin Man Bibendum

The Michelin Man is the symbol of the MICHELIN brand and has been its standard bearer all over the world since 1898. Because of his longevity, visibility among his different audiences and the values that he has stood for from the beginning, he has been voted Best Logo symbol of all time. The Michelin Man is called "Bibendum", a word taken from the slogan "Nunc est bibendum" (Now is the time to drink - in this case drink obstacles) appearing on one of the earliest posters depicting the figure. In other countries than France, he is known as "The Michelin Man" to stress the connection between the character and the MICHELIN brand.

In 1897 by the Michelin brothers, Édouard and André, saw a stack of tires in their warehouse and remarked that they looked like a man, inspired them to commission the French artist O’Galop to bring the character to life. The jovial, rotund Bibendum is an unlikely Frenchman, but a memorable corporate mark that has endured and evolved over the past 100 years.

Inspiration of Michelin brothers to make Bibendum