Tyre News Media examines why Exmile’s growth, anchored in its Shandong and Jiangsu factories, reflects key developments in China's tyre sector. We'll explore how these plants underpin global OEM dynamics and what this means for the UK, Europe, and the expanding EV tyre market.
Exmile began in 2006 as a manufacturer of industrial and OTR tyres from its Shandong plant. Since then, it has supplied OE tyres to over 30 global machinery brands, a 50 % increase in recent years.
The Jiangsu facility, based in Lianyungang, represents the company's leap into passenger car tyres. It has a design capacity of around 8 million PCR units per year and produces car, SUV and light truck tyres under the Milemax brand.
China’s tyre strategy includes vertical integration across segments—industrial, commercial and consumer. Exmile’s dual-site model mirrors this national push. The Shandong site maintains its established industrial OE base, while Jiangsu enables growth into the PCR market, where China has aggressively targeted global OE supply, especially for EVs and mainstream vehicles.
Recent export figures show Chinese passenger tyre shipments to Europe rising by 17 % in the first 11 months of 2024—50 % above 2019 volumes. Exmile’s move fits this broader export wave.
Chinese tyre imports, boosted by capacity expansions like Exmile’s, are reshaping the European replacement tyre space. Passenger tyre imports into the EU‑27 and UK grew by 17 % in late 2024, driven by Chinese supply.
Despite the reinstated EU anti-dumping tariffs on Chinese truck and bus tyres until at least 2030, those only apply to heavy segments—not PCR. This gives car tyre exporters like Exmile significant market potential.
For UK and European fleets—particularly in EV tyre segments—this translates into wider access to competitively priced PCR tyres. Brands like Milemax could position themselves as mid‑range alternatives supporting demand from ride‑hailing fleets, rental services, and EV drivers.
Exmile’s expansion exemplifies a key shift: Chinese tyre makers are expanding from core industrial and OTR roots into high-demand PCR and EV sectors. By hosting both specialized production (Shandong) and flexible consumer tyre capacity (Jiangsu), Exmile supports China’s ambition to diversify into value‑added OE and replacement markets globally.
UK and European tyres sectors should note this change. The rise of brands like Exmile shifts tyre supply chains and consumer options, especially where EV adoption and cost-conscious fleets converge.
Tagged with: Exmile, Chinese OE tyre supply, PCR tyres, EU tyre imports, EV tyre market
Disclaimer: This content may include forward-looking statements. Views expressed are not verified or endorsed by Tyre News Media.
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