In the Commercial Tyre Business annual review of the year, we asked ZC Rubber for their thoughts on the passing year and what was to come in 2026
ZC Rubber works to build on past successes
As the global tyre industry faces intensifying competition, sharper price pressure and increasing homogenisation, 2025 has been a pivotal year for ZC Rubber’s overseas development. Over the past year, the company has strengthened its position across manufacturing, product strategy, OE fitment and brand building, making ZC Rubber’s role in the global value chain more stable and more clearly defined.
A ZC Rubber spokesperson spoke about the growth in 2025; “A major highlight has been the acceleration of our overseas manufacturing footprint. Our second overseas production base, PT. Matahari Tire Indonesia (MTI), located in the Kendal Industrial Park, Semarang, entered Phase 1 production following its announcement in December 2024.
By September 2025, MTI produced over one million tyres in ten months, with continuous improvements in capacity and efficiency. The factory now delivers about 2.3 million all-steel truck and bus radial tyres annually, plus one million bias on-road and OTR tyres. Product lines include truck, bus, bias, OTR, motorcycle tyres, and tubes, supporting Southeast Asia and enhancing overseas competitiveness. For ZC Rubber, this expansion strengthens supply stability, delivery, and global resilience.”
For ZC Rubber, 2025 was not just about production and moving product and the company explained; “Meanwhile, our overseas product strategy became more scenario-driven. In 2025, we moved from simply “selling products abroad” to addressing real operating needs with targeted solutions: in Southeast Asia we launched the X-Elite truck and bus range to deliver durability and fuel efficiency in high mileage and high-load conditions; in Europe we upgraded WESTLAKE and GOODRIDE passenger products aligned with local performance expectations, including products reaching EU wet grip Class A, while our WESTLAKE Gen II commercial tyres saw increasing penetration in fleet operations; in North America we introduced new ARISUN passenger products for electric mobility and all-weather use, complemented by multi-brand commercial offerings for fleets. At the same time, we strengthened higher value off-road portfolios—OTR, forestry and agricultural tyres under WESTLAKE, GOODRIDE and TIANLI—supporting specialized applications and improving profitability.”
As part of that drive to build the company footprint in new markets there was a focus on publicity that would build brand recognition.
“Brand building also took a step forward in 2025,” said the spokesperson. “We continued integrated overseas marketing anchored by our partnership with Arsenal Football Club, activating in the UK, Europe and key Asian markets. Stadium LED exposure and regional activities strengthened visibility, while VIP match experiences, training ground visits and digital co-created content deepened engagement with dealers and end users. In parallel, we showcased product performance in demanding environments through motorsport collaborations such as Westlake Tyre’s partnership with Red Bull Driftbrothers, with presence across drifting and endurance events in Europe and Asia. Together with major exhibitions including Autopromotec, SEMA and BAUMA and regional distributor events, these activities ensured that the “ZC Rubber voice” appeared not only on sports stages, but consistently within industry platforms and partner communications.”
These moves from 2025 will clearly continue into 2026 with the aim of building ZC Rubber as a premium player in the market. The company reported; “Looking ahead to 2026, our direction is clear.
First, the company will deepen its brand strategy so that ZC Rubber is recognised internationally as a high-end Chinese tyre manufacturer, backed by further intelligent manufacturing upgrades that strengthen quality management, improve consistency, and raise operational efficiency.
Second, there will be an expansion of OE cooperation with international OEMs, increasing OE penetration and using OEM endorsement to strengthen trust across channels, fleets and end users.
Third, there will be more globalisation by building more manufacturing facilities and service network closer to priority markets. Based on Thailand and Indonesia, the company will continue capacity ramp-up and smart upgrades, advance work related to the Mexico project, and evaluate potential capacity planning in other strategic regions.
Fourth, ZC Rubber will strengthen “local manufacturing, local sales and local service” by developing local teams and service capability, ensuring each overseas site functions not only as a factory, but also as a market-facing service window.
Concluding, the company stated; “In a market where competition is intensifying, ZC Rubber believes sustainable competitiveness comes from reliable quality, scenario-driven innovation, OE credibility and a brand that is understood and trusted in local markets. That is the direction we advanced in 2025—and the direction we will accelerate in 2026.”
