ZC Rubber mulls new overseas plant in America or EMEA

Hangzhou, China – Chinese tire manufacturer ZC Rubber has posted ‘historic performance’ for the year 2020 and is aiming to strengthen its position through ‘global expansion’, it was announced last week.

The Hangzhou-based tire maker generated sales of Yuan28.22 billion (€3.6 billion) during 2020, up 2.25% compared to the year before, said Shen Jinrong, the chairman of ZC Rubber Group during the group's first online dealer conference on 19 March.

According to Shen, ZC aims to strengthen its position through technological innovation and further expansion. 

"We have been pursuing the strategy of technological innovation and have realised the overall improvement in product quality, production efficiency, and quality control since last year," Shen said at the event, themed "innovate into the great future."

ZC Rubber, Shen went on to say, aims to achieve “full digitalisation” and would focus on smart manufacturing, ‘future factory’, and sustainable development. 

The tire manufacturer is also currently “eyeing a new overseas plant in America, Europe, or the Middle East,” as part of its expansion plan, said Shen without giving further details.

Also addressing the event, Ge Guorong, VP ZC Rubber Group, said the company had benefitted, in recent years, from digital marketing and online-to-offline sales expansion.

"ZC Rubber's successful experience in the Chinese market is not only to be enjoyed in China but also shared globally," he added. "Our digital development will empower global distributors and retailers in coming years," he said.

In terms of growth plan in international markets, Ge Guorong said demand was “pretty strong” in several segments and that ZC Rubber aimed to export 15% of its products in 2021.

In 2021, ZC Rubber intends to globally launch its new top-tier passenger car tire line, the “flagship series” for four Westlake, Goodride, Trazano, and Chaoyang globally.

The series made its debut in China last year and features core technologies, such as noise reduction, high grip fuel efficiency.