The Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) has awarded Linglong Tire an ‘A’ rating for information disclosure for the fifth consecutive year. The SSE’s rating system, ranging from A to D, evaluates listed companies based on the quality, accuracy, and timeliness of their information disclosure. An A rating highlights Linglong’s commitment to transparency, regulatory compliance, and strong corporate governance.
In early August, Linglong Tire hosted a visit to its new factory in Zrenjanin, Serbia, for approximately 130 dealers from the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific regions. During the visit, Linglong Tire signed long-term cooperation agreements with 16 strategic partners, establishing a framework for closer future collaboration.
Some 1.6 million passenger cars were sold in China in July 2024, and for the first time the number of new energy vehicles sold surpassed sales of combustion vehicles. The top ten selling cars accounted for around 230,000 units, and local association the Car and Wheel Shop Owners Alliance provides information about the tyres these popular models wear as original equipment. Linglong is a reoccurring name, with six of the ten best-selling models available with Linglong OE tyres.
In the brief time since its launch, the Linglong Grip Master Winter range has grown to 70 sizes, with dimensions available for 14- to 20-inch rim diameters, cross-sections of 35 to 75 and tread widths of 165 to 315 mm in the speed ranges T, H, V and W. Furthermore, Linglong Tire intends to introduce an additional 30 sizes next year.
Linglong Tire will continue its sponsorship deal with the Bundesliga club VfL Wolfsburg, starting with the club’s 2024/25 season-opening cup match at TuS Koblenz. VfL Wolfsburg are famously supported by Primary Partner Volkswagen, Europe’s largest automaker, out of whose sports club the team developed – one of the reasons the club is particularly attracting to the globalising Chinese tyre manufacturer, which is one of the club’s “Top-Partners”. In addition to the men’s team, Linglong will support the women’s team of VfL Wolfsburg, reigning German Cup winners.
On 28 April, Linglong Tire and JD.com business JD Auto Care signed an agreement that, according to the tyre maker, officially establishes a “long-term, stable, and comprehensive strategic partnership between the two parties.” Under this agreement, Linglong Tire and JD Auto Care will cooperate in regard to product sales, omnichannel service networks and omnichannel marketing.
It is only a short while since Linglong Tire began producing 49-inch OTR tyres at its facility in Jilin, China, but these are no longer the largest tyres made there. Linglong has upsized its production portfolio in Jilin by manufacturing the first 57-inch tyres.
Wang Lin was recently elected as vice chairman of Linglong Tire. According to the Linglong’s announcement of the news, Wang Lin’s appointment is intented to “meet Linglong Tire’s future development needs, further improve the corporate governance structure, and improve the operating level and work efficiency of the company’s board of directors.” His responsibilities are to “assist the chairman in carrying out his work.”
Linglong Tire has established a new wholly owned subsidiary in North America to expand its footprint in the region. As of this month, Geoff Doster, former president and chief operating officer of TBC Corporation’s TBC Brands and TBC International operations, heads the new Linglong N.A. Sales LLC business as its president. Linglong will announce further additions to the team in due course.
Earlier in the month, Tyrepress.com reported that Kumho Tire has succeeded Nexen Tire as official tyre partner of football club AC Milan. Nexen Tire has now announced a new partnership but remains within Italy’s Serie A championship as partner of Juventus FC. The Korean tyre maker takes over from Linglong Tire, who had partnered with Juventus since 2018.
A new strategic cooperation between Linglong Tire and SAIC Volkswagen will facilitate the development of products and innovations. Wang Feng, chairman and president of Linglong Tire, signed the agreement on behalf of the tyre maker during a ceremony held at SAIC Volkswagen headquarters in Shanghai, China on 12 June.
Linglong Tire intends to have 35 per cent sustainable and renewable resources in its tyres by 2025 and 40 per cent by 2030. One source of such materials will be dandelions. The tyre maker established the Dandelion Rubber Industry Technology Innovation Strategic Alliance in 2015, partnering with more than 20 universities, research institutes and rubber companies.
The recent opening of a plant in Serbia testifies that Shandong Linglong Tire has big plans for Europe. One of its key markets within the region is Germany, and the tyre maker has now found a new distribution partner for this country, as well as for Austria and Switzerland – the ‘DACH’ region. German tyre wholesaler and retailer Reifen Straub has taken on this role.
Linglong Tire has provided further details of its original equipment partnership with MAN Truck & Bus, which it first announced at The Tire Cologne in May. The world’s 12th largest tyre maker will equip the MAN TGL with the Linglong KLS200 steer axle tyres and KLD200 drive axle tyres in sizes 245/70 R17.5 136/134M and 265/70 R17.5 140/138M.
The first tyre manufactured at Linglong’s Serbian factory – an “all steel radial truck and bus tyre” – rolled off the production line at 6:58am on 27 June 2022 China time (23:58 European time). Whatever the precise time, production on 27 June fulfils Linglong Tire chairman Wang Feng’s commitment that the factory would enter its initial manufacturing phase before the end of the first half of 2022.
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