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Michelin has unveiled an automated tyre regrooving system designed to reduce technicians' hands-on time and improve the consistency of a traditionally manual workshop process. NAZCA, presented at IAA Transportation 2026 in Hannover, is undergoing pilot testing at around 20 locations across Europe ahead of a wider rollout planned for 2027.
Michelin has introduced NAZCA, an automated system for regrooving truck, bus and coach tyres, at IAA Transportation 2026.
Regrooving restores tread depth by cutting a new pattern into the undertread rubber of a suitable tyre. Although widely established in commercial tyre management, the operation has traditionally relied on technicians manually following the manufacturer's specified regrooving pattern and depth.
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NAZCA is designed to automate that process while working to manufacturers' recommendations.
The machine uses a high-resolution laser scanner and algorithms to measure an individual tyre and account for its geometry, deformation and wear. Michelin says the system then adjusts cutting depth continuously across the width and circumference of the tyre.
This allows the equipment to adapt the regrooving operation to each individual casing rather than applying a fixed cutting depth throughout.
According to Michelin, NAZCA has undergone more than a year of testing in operational conditions, including technical proof-of-concept trials at three Euromaster branches. More than 400 regrooving operations were completed during those trials.
The manufacturer says the system could increase workshop regrooving capacity by between 30% and 50%, depending on operating conditions. Michelin also estimates that each tyre requires less than three minutes of technicians' hands-on time, although these figures are based on its own operational testing.
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Reducing the manual element could allow technicians to spend more time on other workshop activities such as tyre fitting, removal, repairs and wheel alignment.
NAZCA is not restricted to Michelin tyres. The company says its catalogue of regrooving programmes covers a range of brands and sizes, provided the tyre casing is suitable for regrooving. Its programme catalogue is intended to be updated as manufacturers' recommendations develop.
Around 20 machines are currently undergoing pilot testing in Europe. Michelin plans to expand deployment into several countries during 2027, with commercial availability introduced progressively according to individual market conditions.
NAZCA is being demonstrated at Michelin's stand during IAA Transportation in Hannover. The exhibition opened to accredited media on 14 September before its public opening from 15 to 20 September 2026.
Tags: Michelin NAZCA, automated tyre regrooving, truck tyre regrooving, commercial tyre maintenance, tyre workshop technology, fleet tyre management, bus tyres, truck tyres, IAA Transportation 2026, Euromaster
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