Linglong President Zhou Lingkun First Discusses Overseas Expansion Strategy

On May 15, the 18th Xuan Yuan Auto Blue Book Forum was held in Guangzhou.

At the "Ceiling of China's Auto Global Share" peak forum, Linglong Tires President Zhou Lingkun first systematically shared Linglong's "Globalization + Regionalization + Localization" overseas expansion strategy. As a parts company that planned ahead of the whole vehicle overseas expansion wave, Linglong is now using its deeply rooted comprehensive capabilities to help the Chinese automotive supply chain leap to the global stage.

Regarding the topic of "Whether China's Auto Global Share Can Break 25% in 2030", Zhou Lingkun pointed out that this depends on the enterprise's real capabilities in local production, governance, and services, not just the volume of local exports.

Globalization: Upgrading from "Selling Products" to "Building Capabilities"

Zhou Lingkun stated that true globalization is building R&D, manufacturing, and management capabilities globally. Currently, Linglong has established a "Three Countries, Eight Locations" R&D system across China, Germany, and the US; the manufacturing side has laid out 5 bases in China and 2 overseas; the management side has formed international teams and a localized talent matrix to ensure the ability to mobilize global resources to serve customers in any market.

Regionalization: Production Capacity Follows the Market, Entering the German Luxury Mainstream

"Wherever the OEM goes, Linglong builds its factory." The core of regionalization is "local production, local delivery". Linglong uses Thailand and Serbia as pivots. The Thailand factory, put into production in 2014, has an annual capacity exceeding 17.2 million units; the Serbia factory achieved mass production in 2024, has passed potential supplier audits by Volkswagen, Audi, and BMW, and started supplying Renault and Ford, marking that Chinese tires have moved from the "margin" to the "mainstream" in top OEM supply chains. Zhou Lingkun analyzed that foreign OEMs are tightening in the strategic component field, but the new requirements of new energy vehicles for tire rolling resistance and quietness have opened a larger window for Linglong to cut into foreign high-end supply.

Localization: Refusing to be an "Outsider", Exporting Commercial Civilization

True overseas expansion is not just capacity transfer, but growing together with the local area. Linglong is deeply localized in three aspects: personnel, supply chain, and community: Overseas bases hire a large number of local employees; relying on Thailand's rubber resources for local procurement, building local supply support in Serbia; actively participating in local public welfare to become an recognized "corporate citizen". Zhou Lingkun emphasized that manufacturing overseas expansion is more about exporting commercial civilization that makes the local area prosperous, achieving mutual success with the local area.

Looking to the long term, Linglong targets becoming a locally trusted supplier in Europe and Asia-Pacific, and a Top 5 global partner for new energy vehicle supply, will collaborate side by side in every key market of Chinese automakers' overseas expansion. With a "difficult but correct" layout, let the roots of the Chinese supply chain root deeper and deeper globally.