Linglong extends partnership with carmaker Geely

Ningbo, China – Linglong Tire and Chinese automotive giant Geely Automobile have extended their strategic cooperation agreement to cover product design & development and new technology applications.

The two companies have been in cooperation since 2012 with Linglong supplying OE services to the full range of Geely car models, Linglong said in a 28 Aug statement.

With a combined volume of 2.15 million units in 2018, the Geely Group sells passenger cars under the Lotus, Lynk & Co, Proton and Volvo names, which it acquired from Ford in 2010.

The new agreement, according to Linglong, will involve “long-term deep cooperation” in product design and development, new technology application, quality assurance, cost optimisation, and manufacturing globalisation.

In addition, the agreement will see Geely’s global manufacturing bases providing “a stable and high share” of OE allocation to Linglong tires.

Linglong said the new agreement recognised the company’s strength, as it increases focus on new technologies and R&D.

The Chinese tire maker has been aggressively pursuing its “5+3” expansion programme which involves five production bases at home and three overseas.

The company has already built three domestic manufacturing bases in Zhaoyuan, Dezhou and Liuzhou and its first overseas manufacturing base in Thailand.

In addition, Linglong is currently building its fourth local plant in Hubei, China and second overseas production unit in Zrenjanin, Serbia.