The commercial vehicle wheel rim industry is standing at a new starting point of technological innovation and market growth. 

Lightweighting and intelligence have become the core trends driving future development. With the continuous expansion of the global commercial vehicle market and increasingly strict environmental regulations, the commercial vehicle wheel rim industry has ushered in unprecedented technological changes and market opportunities. 

The latest industry report indicates that by 2025, the global commercial vehicle wheel market size is expected to exceed 15 billion US dollars, with the Chinese market accounting for more than 30%. The demand for lightweight and intelligent wheel rims has significantly increased. Lightweight materials are leading technological upgrades. Aluminum alloys, magnesium alloys and niobium-containing microalloyed steels have become the mainstream choices for the lightweighting of commercial vehicle wheel rims.

 Take Chinese enterprise Xingmin Zhitong as an example. The niobium-containing microalloying steel wheels it developed (such as RS590 and SHR780FB) have achieved a weight reduction of 10% to 18% by refining the grain and enhancing the strength, while meeting the National VI emission standards. They have been widely applied in original equipment manufacturers such as BAIC and Chery. In addition, carbon fiber composite materials are beginning to make their mark in high-end models. It is estimated that by 2030, the global market size of lightweight wheel rims will reach 36.5 billion US dollars. Intelligent technologies are empowering safety and efficiency. The Internet of Things and big data are driving the transformation of wheel rims towards intelligence. The new generation of intelligent wheel rims integrates functions such as tire pressure monitoring and temperature sensing, and can transmit data in real time to the vehicle management system, effectively preventing the risk of tire blowouts. It is predicted that by 2030, the compound annual growth rate of the global smart wheel wheel rim market size will exceed 10%, and China will become the main growth pole due to the popularization of new energy commercial vehicles. In terms of market structure and regional development, the Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta regions of China have occupied more than 60% of the national market share thanks to their well-developed industrial chains. Leading enterprises such as CITIC Dicastal and Linglong Tire are accelerating their internationalization through technological cooperation and overseas expansion (such as in Southeast Asia and Africa). The potential of the western market has been highlighted under policy support, and it is expected that its growth rate will lead the country in the next five years. 

The dual drive of policies and environmental protection has created opportunities for the export of wheel rims. Subsidies from governments around the world for new energy vehicles and the Belt and Road Initiative have created opportunities for the export of wheel rims. By 2025, China's wheel rim exports to countries along the Belt and Road Initiative will reach 18.9 billion US dollars. Environmental protection regulations also encourage enterprises to adopt recycled materials and low-carbon processes. 

Picture: Farizon Auto Sets Roadmap for Global Expansion

Looking ahead, the commercial vehicle wheel rim industry will continue to innovate around the concepts of "lighter, smarter and greener", injecting new impetus into the commercial vehicle market in China and even globally.