Linglong Tire
Chinese tire manufacturer producing passenger-car, truck, bus, commercial, and other specialized tires for domestic and international markets.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
Linglong Tire is the shortened English name commonly used for Shandong Linglong Tire Co., Ltd., a Chinese tire manufacturer headquartered in Zhaoyuan, Shandong Province. The company produces tires for passenger cars, trucks, buses, commercial vehicles, and other applications, selling through the Chinese market and international export channels. It has also developed overseas manufacturing and sales operations, making it one of the more internationally oriented tire producers headquartered in mainland China. The company traces its origins to the Zhaoyuan Tire Manufacturing & Repairing Plant, established in 1975. During the 1980s, the enterprise faced obsolete equipment, inefficient production methods, and weak finances. In 1987 it was reorganized as Shandong Linglong Tire Co., Ltd. under the leadership of Wang Xicheng. The reorganization marked the beginning of a more commercially focused expansion. Linglong subsequently entered passenger-car tire production and expanded its range to include bias tires and other products. The business grew particularly quickly during the 1990s and 2000s. Its annual production value rose from approximately RMB 100 million in 1991 to RMB 1.1 billion in 2002, and reached approximately RMB 10.6 billion by 2008. By 2013, annual production value was reported at approximately RMB 20 billion. Linglong established Linglong Americas in Ohio in 2009 and expanded its international footprint further through Thailand. In November 2012 it established Linglong International Thailand, followed by construction of a passenger-tire factory in Chonburi. The Thai operation later added truck and bus tire capacity. Linglong became a publicly traded company on the Shanghai Stock Exchange in July 2016. Its Chinese manufacturing network includes facilities in Zhaoyuan, Dezhou, Liuzhou, Jingmen, and Changchun. The company has also pursued overseas production as part of a strategy to serve export markets closer to their destination and to build a broader international manufacturing base. In 2019 it began construction of a major plant in Zrenjanin, Serbia. The Serbian project was planned for annual capacity of approximately 13.6 million tires and represented an investment reported at roughly US$994 million. The project was intended to strengthen Linglong's access to European markets, although its construction later became the subject of labor and human-rights controversy. Brand building has been an important part of Linglong's international expansion. Since the 2010s, the company has used football sponsorships to increase visibility outside China. It became a top sponsor of German club VfL Wolfsburg in 2015, an official partner of Juventus in 2018, and the title sponsor of Serbia's top football league in 2019. The company has also been associated with sponsorship arrangements involving Chelsea and Real Madrid from 2024. Linglong's reputation has developed alongside criticism and legal disputes. In 2009, Consumer Reports testing found that one Linglong tire required substantially more stopping distance than the best-performing tires in its comparison and ranked last in that test. The company was also sued in the United States by a Florida-based tire business over alleged copying of proprietary tire designs. A Virginia court ruled against Linglong in 2010 and ordered approximately US$26 million in damages; the judgment was upheld on appeal in 2012. In 2021, allegations concerning Vietnamese workers employed by a contractor at the Serbian factory raised questions about accommodation, wages, passport custody, and labor conditions. Linglong stated that the workers were employed by Tianjin Electric Power Construction Company rather than directly by Linglong, and denied that the allegations reflected unlawful treatment by the company. The Serbian project continued to attract scrutiny, and the reference material reports that U.S. Customs and Border Protection blocked imports of Serbia-made Linglong products in December 2025 over forced-labor concerns. Today, Linglong is positioned as a large Chinese tire producer seeking global scale through a combination of domestic plants, overseas manufacturing, export distribution, original-equipment and replacement-market sales, and high-profile sports marketing. It has been described as one of the world's top ten tire enterprises and one of the five leading tire companies in mainland China for several years. World Brand Lab ranked Linglong 110th among China's 500 Most Valuable Brands in 2024.
History
Linglong Tire originated as the Zhaoyuan Tire Manufacturing & Repairing Plant, founded in 1975 in Shandong Province. By the middle of the 1980s, the enterprise was in poor financial condition. Its equipment was outdated and its production methods were inefficient, reflecting the difficulties faced by many Chinese industrial enterprises before and during the early reform period. In 1987, it was reorganized as Shandong Linglong Tire Co., Ltd. under Wang Xicheng's leadership. After the reorganization, Linglong expanded from its earlier manufacturing base into passenger-car tires and bias tires. The company experienced rapid growth in the 1990s and early 2000s. Its annual production value increased from about RMB 100 million in 1991 to RMB 1.1 billion in 2002. Expansion continued through the following decade, with annual production value reaching approximately RMB 10.6 billion in 2008 and approximately RMB 20 billion in 2013. Linglong began building an international commercial presence before establishing its major overseas factories. Linglong Americas was established in Ohio in 2009. In November 2012, the company expanded into Thailand through Linglong International Thailand. It opened a passenger-tire manufacturing facility in Chonburi in 2014 and added truck and bus tire capacity in 2015. These operations gave the company a production base outside China and supported its efforts to serve Southeast Asian and export markets. The company was listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange in July 2016. Its Chinese production network developed across Zhaoyuan, Dezhou, Liuzhou, Jingmen, and Changchun. Linglong subsequently pursued a second major overseas base in Serbia. Construction at Zrenjanin began in March 2019. The project was planned for annual production of approximately 13.6 million tires on a 136-hectare site in an industrial and free-trade area, with reported investment of about US$994 million and an original production target around 2021. International brand promotion became an important part of Linglong's strategy. The company sponsored German football club VfL Wolfsburg from 2015, partnered with Juventus from 2018, and became the sponsor of Serbia's leading football league in 2019. From September 2024, the reference material also identifies sponsorships involving Chelsea and Real Madrid. These partnerships helped the company associate its name with globally visible sporting properties while expanding awareness beyond the Chinese market. Linglong's growth has been accompanied by product-quality criticism and legal controversy. In 2009, Consumer Reports testing criticized the stopping performance of a tested Linglong tire. A U.S. lawsuit brought by a Florida tire company over alleged copying of tire designs resulted in a 2010 judgment against Linglong, with the ruling upheld in 2012. The company later faced scrutiny connected to labor conditions at the Serbian construction project. Allegations by Vietnamese migrant workers concerned housing, wages, electricity, heating, hot water, passport handling, and access to the media. Linglong attributed employment arrangements to its contractor and said passports were held for visa and work-permit processing. The reference material states that separate inquiries by Serbian and Vietnamese authorities and other bodies did not establish the alleged human-rights abuses, while also reporting a later U.S. import-blocking action concerning Serbia-made products. Linglong is now a major Chinese tire producer with domestic plants, overseas manufacturing, international distribution, and sports sponsorships. It has been described as a global top-ten tire enterprise and a top-five mainland Chinese tire company for multiple years. In 2024, World Brand Lab ranked it 110th in its China 500 Most Valuable Brands list.
- 2024
China brand ranking
[1]World Brand Lab ranked Linglong 110th in China's 500 Most Valuable Brands.
- 2019
Serbian plant construction begins
[1]Construction started on a major overseas manufacturing base in Zrenjanin, Serbia.
- 2016
Shanghai Stock Exchange listing
[1]Linglong became a publicly traded company on the Shanghai Stock Exchange.
- 2015
Truck and bus capacity added in Thailand
[1]The Thai manufacturing operation added capacity for truck and bus tires.
- 2014
First overseas factory opens
[1]Linglong opened a passenger-tire plant in Chonburi, Thailand.
- 2012
Thailand expansion
[1]Linglong International Thailand was established as part of the company's international expansion.
- 2009
Linglong Americas established
[1]The company established its American arm in Ohio.
- 1987
Corporate reorganization
[1]The predecessor was reorganized as Shandong Linglong Tire Co., Ltd. under Wang Xicheng's leadership.
- 1975
Predecessor established
[1]The Zhaoyuan Tire Manufacturing & Repairing Plant, Linglong's predecessor, was established in Shandong, China.
Products and positioning
A large Chinese tire manufacturer combining domestic scale, international production, export reach, and sports sponsorship to build a globally recognized tire brand.
Automotive tires
Passenger-car tires
Passenger-car tires are a core Linglong product category. The company entered passenger-car tire production after its 1987 reorganization and manufactures products for both domestic and international replacement markets, as well as automotive supply chains where applicable. Its passenger-tire production includes facilities in China and Thailand, with the Serbian project intended to expand access to European markets.
Commercial-vehicle tires · 2015
Truck and bus tires
Linglong produces tires for trucks and buses, extending its portfolio beyond passenger vehicles into commercial transport. The company's Thailand operation added truck and bus tire capacity in 2015. These products serve fleet, logistics, public-transport, and other heavy-use applications, although individual model names and specifications are not identified in the supplied reference material.
Automotive tires
Bias tires
Bias tires formed part of Linglong's product expansion after the company's 1987 reorganization. They use a construction category distinct from modern radial designs and have historically served various commercial, industrial, agricultural, and other vehicle applications. The supplied sources confirm the product category but do not provide a current model list.
Controversies
2025
Reported U.S. import block over forced-labor concerns
The supplied reference material reports that U.S. Customs and Border Protection blocked imports of Linglong products made in Serbia, citing forced-labor concerns.
2021
Labor allegations at Serbian construction project
Vietnamese migrant workers involved in construction of Linglong's Serbian factory alleged poor accommodation and other labor abuses. Linglong said the workers were employed by contractor Tianjin Electric Power Construction Company and disputed claims concerning pay and passport handling.
2009
Consumer Reports stopping-performance criticism
A Consumer Reports test found that a Linglong tire required 22 additional feet to stop from 50 miles per hour compared with the best tire in the comparison and ranked it last among the tested products.
2009
U.S. tire-design litigation
A Florida-based tire company alleged that Linglong had copied proprietary tire designs. A Virginia court ruled against Linglong in 2010, and the decision was upheld on appeal in 2012.
Marketing campaigns
- 2024Chelsea and Real Madrid sponsorships
United Kingdom · Spain · Europe · International
From September 2024, Linglong was reported as sponsoring the main teams of Chelsea and Real Madrid.
Outcome. The arrangements further increased the brand's exposure through two internationally prominent football clubs.
- 2019Serbian SuperLiga sponsorship
Serbia · Europe
Linglong began sponsoring the Serbian SuperLiga, Serbia's highest-level football league.
Outcome. The sponsorship linked the brand to the country where Linglong was developing a major manufacturing base.
- 2018Juventus partnership
Italy · Europe · International
Linglong became an official partner of Italian football club Juventus as part of its international sports-marketing strategy.
Outcome. The partnership extended the brand's visibility through a globally followed football club.
- 2015VfL Wolfsburg sponsorship
Germany · Europe · International
Linglong became a top sponsor of German football club VfL Wolfsburg, using a prominent European sports property to support international brand awareness.
Outcome. The sponsorship established Linglong's broader football-marketing program in Europe.
Brand decisions
2019
Build a Serbian manufacturing baseStrategyBackground
Linglong aimed to expand overseas production and improve its position in European and nearby markets.
Action taken
The company began construction of a tire complex in Zrenjanin, Serbia, planned for approximately 13.6 million tires of annual capacity.
Aftermath
The project became a significant overseas investment but later attracted labor-condition and supply-chain scrutiny.
Reported planned project investment. Approximately US$994 million (2019 project announcement)
2016
List on the Shanghai Stock ExchangeStrategyBackground
After years of domestic and international expansion, Linglong pursued access to public capital markets.
Action taken
The company listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange in July 2016.
Aftermath
The listing established Linglong as a publicly traded Chinese tire manufacturer.
2012
Establish an overseas manufacturing presence in ThailandStrategyBackground
Linglong sought to internationalize its production and reach markets outside mainland China.
Action taken
The company established Linglong International Thailand and developed a manufacturing operation in Chonburi.
Aftermath
Passenger-tire production began in 2014, followed by truck and bus tire capacity in 2015.
1987
Reorganize and broaden tire productionStrategyBackground
The predecessor enterprise faced financial difficulties, aging equipment, and inefficient production methods during the 1980s.
Action taken
The business was reorganized as Shandong Linglong Tire Co., Ltd. and expanded into passenger-car and bias-tire production.
Aftermath
The reorganization preceded substantial production-value growth during the 1990s and 2000s.
Recent events
- 2019
Linglong begins Serbian manufacturing-base project[1]
Other · Product generation
The company started construction of a large tire manufacturing complex in Zrenjanin, Serbia, planned to produce approximately 13.6 million tires annually.
Sources13 sources
- 1Wikipedia - Linglong Tireen.wikipedia.org
- 2Linglong Tire official website homepageen.linglong.cn
- 3Linglong International Thailandlinglongth.com
- 4Linglong Tire official websitelinglongtire.com
- 5Linglong Vietnamlinglong.vn
- 6Linglong Tire official website - Historyen.linglong.cn
- 7Linglong Tire official website - Newsen.linglong.cn
- 8Linglong Tire official website - Profileen.linglong.cn
- 9Labor allegations at Serbian construction projectcna.com.tw
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