China's tire manufacturing industry is set for a period of "strong development", with domestic demand providing a key driver for growth, said Sentury Tire president Lin Wenlong.
Addressing the 20th China Rubber Annual Conference on 25 March, Lin Wenlong noted that the Chinese government had listed "expanding domestic demand" as a top priority for 2025: creating new opportunities for the tire industry to grow locally.
According to the industry leader, China's new energy vehicle production and sales increased by more than 30% year-on-year in 2024, and the growth rate in the first two months of 2025 exceeded 50% compared to the previous year.
However, he said, local tire makers mainly supply to mid-range and low-range automotive models, with the proportion of supply to mid-to-high-end new energy vehicles remaining "relatively low."
To address that, Lin Wenlong called for "the continuous improvement of local tire R&D, quality, and domestic consumer recognition".
Combined with strong national policies, these will help Chinese local tire brands achieve more breakthroughs in mid-to-high-end EV models, he added.
Another key driver of growth will be the use of artificial intelligence and humanoid robotics in the industry.