Linglong Americas, Inc. is a subsidiary of Shandong Linglong Tyre Co., Ltd., a Top 12 global tire manufacturer with headquarters in Zhaoyuan City in the Shandong Province of China. Shandong Linglong Tyre Co., Ltd. is a technical tire manufacturer integrating tire design, development, manufacturing and sales. Founded in 1975, the company, with over 40-year forging ahead, has seven R&D centers, seven manufacturing bases across the world currently and over 17,000 employees, with its products widely used on passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, and engineering machinery vehicles. It has built diversified brand system for different markets.
Linglong collects global extraordinary wisdom to demonstrate intelligent Linglong with technological innovation. The company has established R&D institutions in Germany, America, Beijing, Shanghai, Jinan, Yantai and Zhaoyuan, owning national enterprise design center, national recognized testing laboratory and national industrial design center, to form global integrative R&D pattern. Through its leading innovative strength, Linglong successfully developed dandelion rubber tire, graphene reinforced tread tire, racing tire, 3D printing polyurethane tire, run-flat tire, and low odor tire.
Linglong Americas was established in the U.S. near Akron, Ohio in 2009 as the company's first international design and technical center. In 2014, in conjunction with IDIADA Automotive Technology S.A. of Spain, the company broke ground on a 365 acre tire proving grounds near the headquarters in Zhaoyuan City. This will be one of the first and most complete tire proving grounds established in China. The facility became operational near the end of 2016. For American market tires, Linglong Americas conducts performance testing of products at proving grounds in the U.S. on a contract basis.
In order to promote its high-quality global industrial layout and increase its core brand competitiveness in global market. In June 2021, Linglong plans to change its 6+6 global layout into 7+5 global layout to build seven Chinese manufacturing bases as well as five overseas manufacturing bases. At present, the company has five Chinese manufacturing bases in Zhaoyuan, Dezhou, Liuzhou, Jingmen, Changchun (under construction) and two overseas manufacturing bases in Thailand and Serbia (under construction). Meanwhile, Linglong will carry out active inspection of its new factory's location, aiming at completing the full completion of 7+5 global layout, and fully utilizing global resources and expanding its global tire market.
In the future, the company will fully implement its global layout and six internationalization, fully improve its core competitiveness, and strive to achieve its annual production and sales volume reaching 160 million units, sales revenue of over RMB 80 billion and production capacity among global top five tire manufacturers by 2030, becoming a technology-oriented enterprise with world-class technology, management and brand influence.
Corporate Mission：
Create Value for Customers, Create Profit for Shareholders, Create Opportunities for Staff, Create Wealth for Society
Corporate Spirit：
Responsive, Hard-working, Pursuing Excellence, Striving for a first-class enterprise.
Management Policy：
Customer Centric, Staff Oriented, Environmental Protection, Energy Conservation, Promote Safety, Lean Manufacturing, Develop Linglong Brands, Build Harmony
New Company Venture
The predecessor of Shandong Linglong Tire Co., Ltd., the Zhaoyuan Tire Manufacturing & Repairing Plant was officially established in 1975. Until 1986, the plant’s production methods were inflexible and the equipment was outdated. As the Chinese economy converted to a market-oriented economy, the plant was on the verge of bankruptcy.
New Leadership
In 1987, current Group Chairman Wang Xicheng became director of the factory. Mr. Wang proposed many new ideas and policies for improvement. As a result, the company’s products gradually progressed from lower-tier trailer tires to truck, OTR and advanced passenger car tires. By the year 2000, the company had formed more than 200 specifications in multiple categories of tires, which included TBR, agricultural, light truck, and passenger car. This completed the transformation from tire repair to full-scale tire production and made Linglong one of the largest manufacturers of bias-ply tires in China, ranking in the Top 10 domestically,
Radial Tire Expansion
Beginning in 2001, the company expanded into radial tire production, developing new radial tire projects and opportunities. Adopting a business strategy that included stabilizing bias-ply tire production, vigorously developing radial tires and constructing a tire industrial park, Linglong rapidly grew its radial tire production capability. The first passenger car radial production lines were put into operation in September of that year, with truck and bus radial lines following the next month. In October, 2002, the company started the "Linglong Speed" project which led to truck and bus radial tires being developed and put into production within 11 months.
Plan for the Future
Current Chairman and CEO Wang Feng has great plans for the future of Linglong. The company’s "3 + 3" strategy has already seen the manufacturing base expand internationally beyond the initial three tire plants in China, with a state-of-the-art tire manufacturing facility in Thailand. Future growth is planned for Europe and the Americas. With a total international R&D staff of over 1000, there are currently R&D Centers in Zhaoyuan City and Beijing, China as well as the U.S. Linglong markets and sells tires in more than 180 countries and all regions of the world, making the company a true global competitor. Linglong continually strives to be a first-class enterprise and a Top 10 Global Tire Manufacturer.