Chinese tyre manufacturer eyes North African expansion following Vietnam success

Guizhou Tyre Co., Ltd. said it plans to establish a second overseas production facility in Morocco, as the Chinese tyre manufacturer seeks to strengthen its international presence and diversify its manufacturing footprint.

The company, which already operates a production base in Vietnam, said the proposed Moroccan facility forms part of its strategic focus on "internationalisation, intelligent manufacturing, green development, and high-end orientation".

Guizhou Tyre said the project would help "optimise production capacity layout, strengthen operational resilience, improve risk resistance, and promote high-quality development".

The announcement comes as Chinese manufacturers increasingly look to establish overseas production bases to reduce supply chain risks and gain better access to international markets.

However, the company cautioned that the project remains in early planning stages, with feasibility studies and evaluations still underway. No formal agreements have been signed and specific construction details or investment amounts have not been determined.

"The implementation of this project is subject to approval by the relevant administrative authorities, and is affected by factors such as policy changes, macroeconomic conditions, and market environment," the company said in a regulatory filing to the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.

The firm warned there was "significant uncertainty" over whether the project would proceed and advised investors to "make prudent decisions and pay attention to investment risks".

Should the feasibility assessment prove positive, Guizhou Tyre said it would submit the proposal to internal approval authorities and make appropriate regulatory disclosures in line with exchange listing rules.

The move would mark the latest expansion by a Chinese tyre manufacturer into Africa, a continent seen as offering growth opportunities for automotive and industrial sectors.

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ContiTech, a group sector of Continental AG, has been distinguished with two significant supplier awards in the Chilean mining industry. The company was named the Best Conveyor Belt Supplier for the third time in a row and, in a new achievement, was also recognised as the Best Supplier of Belt Cleaners.

These accolades are based on Phibrand's independent 2025 survey, a highly respected benchmark in the sector. The extensive research involved interviews with approximately 400 users from nearly 60 mining companies. The evaluation criteria included essential factors like quality and performance, with sustainability newly added as a critical category. The honours were conferred during a special ceremony by Carlos Hunt, Regional Ministerial Secretary (Seremi) of the Chilean government, and Antiza Vladilo from Corporación Alta Ley, underscoring the award's significance.

Andreas Gerstenberger, CEO of ContiTech USA and Head of Industrial Solutions Americas business area, said, “Being recognised for the third time in a row as the best conveyor belt supplier and, for the first time, as best supplier of belt cleaners in Chile is a testament to our team’s unwavering commitment to excellence. These awards reinforce our dedication to supporting Chile’s mining industry with reliable, high-performance and sustainable solutions that keep operations moving efficiently and safely.”

Thomas Lau, Head of Plant Management at ContiTech Industrial Solutions Americas in Santiago, Chile, said, “These awards belong to our people. They reflect the daily effort of every team member to deliver not only top-quality products but also the technical support and service flexibility that our customers rely on. We are especially proud that sustainability has been highlighted as a key criterion this year... it’s an area where we continue to innovate and lead.”

Sven Hlywiak, Vice President – Customer Engineered Solutions, ContiTech Industrial Solutions Americas, said, “At ContiTech, we believe that engineered solutions must go beyond product performance; they must integrate seamlessly with each customer’s operational goals. This recognition demonstrates that our customer-centric and collaborative approach together with our deep technical expertise are making a tangible difference in the success and growth of Chile’s mining operations.”

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In a significant expansion of its global retail footprint, NEXEN TIRE has inaugurated its first dedicated brand shops in Bahrain and Kuwait. This strategic move underscores the company's focused effort to grow within key emerging markets, including the Middle East, South America and Southeast Asia. The Middle East is particularly vital, representing the company's third-largest overseas market, a position cultivated since establishing its Dubai branch in 2009.

The expansion is driven by a ‘shop branding’ strategy, which involves collaborating with local partners to apply a consistent and recognisable brand identity to tire stores. This approach ensures a uniform customer experience through standardised purple signage, interior design and displays, thereby strengthening brand recognition and loyalty in a cost-effective manner. This flexible model allows NEXEN TIRE to create tailored, immersive brand environments that adapt to the specific needs of each local market while maintaining a cohesive global image.

The company's global branding initiative has seen remarkable progress. In 2025 alone, NEXEN TIRE introduced its brand identity to more than 130 stores worldwide. This builds upon a substantial foundation of approximately 400 stores that have been similarly branded over the preceding four years. This rapid growth has been evident across diverse regions. In Europe, the brand's presence was solidified in major cities including Frankfurt, Milan, Lyon and London. Simultaneously, a significant rollout occurred in Turkey, with 50 local stores in metropolitan hubs like Istanbul and Ankara adopting the new identity.

Beyond established markets, NEXEN TIRE is making substantial inroads in high-potential emerging economies. Recent efforts have resulted in 12 branded stores across the Middle East and North Africa, 16 in South American nations such as Brazil and Argentina and 13 throughout Southeast Asia, including Malaysia and Thailand. Through these partnerships with local distributors, NEXEN TIRE is systematically enhancing its international profile and market penetration.

John Bosco (Hyeon Suk) Kim, CEO, NEXEN TIRE, said, “Our shop branding project serves as a strategic foundation for enhancing brand value in developed markets while unlocking growth potential in emerging economies. Moving forward, we will continue to strengthen localised, customised marketing and build global partnerships, expanding customer touchpoints to further solidify our position in the global market.”

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Yokohama Rubber Co has announced that its Mexican subsidiary, Yokohama Industries Americas de Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V. (YIA Mexico), will expand its production capacity. YIA Mexico manufactures air conditioning and transmission oil cooling hose assemblies for the North American market.

The expansion involves constructing a new building on approximately 32,000 square metres of land adjacent to the existing plant, more than doubling the current site area. Construction is scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2025, with operations expected to start in the fourth quarter of 2026.

The expansion aims to strengthen YIA Mexico’s profitability and support the continued growth of Yokohama Rubber’s hose and couplings business.

The move is part of the growth strategy within Yokohama Transformation 2026 (YX2026), the company’s medium-term management plan, which positions the hose and couplings business as a driver. Expanding capacity at YIA Mexico is an effort to restructure the MB Segment’s value chain and North American production network.

Prior to construction, a groundbreaking ceremony was held on 14 October, attended by local government officials, including the governor of the state of Aguascalientes and the mayor of the city of San Francisco de los Romo.

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In a significant move to reinforce their strategic partnership, ZC Rubber recently hosted a delegation from International Tyres, the exclusive UK distributor for its WESTLAKE tyre brand, at its Hangzhou headquarters. The visit, which included Managing Director Andy Jackson and Commercial Director Richard Allen, was centred on a mutual dedication to providing superior product quality, reliable supply chains and excellent service for commercial vehicle operators in the United Kingdom. The itinerary provided a comprehensive look into ZC Rubber's operations, beginning with a corporate showroom that detailed the company's brand history, global presence and future innovation strategies, including its sustainability efforts.

The tour then progressed to two key manufacturing facilities. The first was the Future Factory for passenger car tyres, where the delegation observed highly automated production lines. This facility demonstrated a commitment to smart manufacturing through real-time quality monitoring, end-to-end traceability and automated logistics, all designed to ensure consistent product quality while improving environmental efficiency. The second site visited was the Zhongce Qingquan TBR plant, which specialises in all-steel truck and bus radial tyres. Here, the guests witnessed the entire production process, from initial material mixing to final inspection.

The tour emphasised robust construction techniques, precise engineering and stringent quality checks that contribute to the tyre's durability and potential for retreading. This collaborative visit has set a strong foundation for the two companies to continue aligning on product availability and responsive support, ensuring that UK fleets receive dependable performance and value from WESTLAKE tyres across various demanding applications.

Leo Liao, European Sales Director of ZC Rubber International Business, said, “International Tyres is a trusted partner, and visits like this ensure we stay closely aligned with the expectations of UK customers.”

Andy Jackson, Managing Director, International Tyres, said, “We appreciated the open access to ZC Rubber’s teams and facilities. Seeing the manufacturing and quality processes behind WESTLAKE strengthens our confidence in the product and our ability to support fleets across the UK.”

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