Aeolus Tyre Co. Ltd. is celebrating 50 years of tire manufacturing, but the Chinese tire maker is also looking ahead to what the next 50 years will bring.
Chairman Feng Wang recalled how Aeolus began, in September 1965, as the Henan Tire Factory. Through the years the company responded to the Chinese government’s rules, increased its presence in China’s domestic tire market, and eventually adapted into a global tire company. The company adopted the Aeolus name in May 2003, and in December 2007 joined China National Chemical Corp. (ChemChina.)
In the chairman’s remarks during the anniversary celebration, he pointed to that partnership with ChemChina as a bright spot for the future. In March 2015 Pirelli & Cie SpA announced its main shareholder was entering into a partnership agreement with ChemChina.
“We will fully utilize the opportunity now that ChemChina has become the largest shareholder of the Pirelli tire company,” Wang says. “We will strive to make every customer comprehend Aeolus, connect with Aeolus, trust Aeolus and approve of Aeolus.”
In the U.S. Aeolus faces a big hurdle. In September 2012 the company announced plans to bring passenger and light truck radial tires to the U.S. Tariffs imposed on consumer tires made in China have since forced the company to suspend those sales since Aeolus passenger and light truck tires would be subject to tariffs in excess of 100%, according to U.S. Department of Commerce orders.
The tariffs aren’t affecting the company’s outlook for domestic or European sales. As part of the 50th anniversary Aeolus introduced eight new products — three consumer tires, including an ultra-high performance summer radial tire, a mud tire for sport utility vehicles, and a run-flat tire — plus five truck tires.
“As a professional enterprise that creates value for customers and partners, Aeolus builds not just our own reputation, but also reflects upon the status of China’s manufacturing,” Wang says. “To turn China from a tire country to a tire power, Aeolus has to shoulder the responsibility, fulfill its duties and lead China’s tire manufacturers to push into the high end of the global market.”
To read more about Aeolus, see:
