Recently, Huawei Zunjie, a high-end model, has become a hot topic.
Everyone is paying attention to its exterior design, smart cockpit, driving experience and other core configurations, but there is one detail that has triggered heated discussions in the automotive circle and the tire industry – all Huawei Zunjie models are equipped with domestic tires as standard.
For ordinary car owners, tires may be just inconspicuous accessories that can drive normally.
But knowledgeable people know that tires are the only parts of a car that touch the ground. They are related to driving safety, driving comfort, braking distance and handling performance. They are an important part of the safety and practicality of the entire vehicle.
The choice of tires for high-end luxury models reflects the brand’s material selection philosophy, supply chain layout and industry attitude.
In the past, foreign-invested and overseas brand tires dominated the domestic high-end passenger car market.
Most traditional luxury cars and early high-end new energy models give priority to well-known overseas tire brands. This is a reflection of the current status of the industry and the development history of the domestic tire industry.
Now let’s discuss whether the use of domestic tires for high-end models is a “downgrade”.
You must know that the quality of tires mainly depends on performance, craftsmanship, and adaptability. You cannot use “domestic” and “overseas brands” to distinguish between high and low.
Today, the products of domestic leading tire companies are no longer what they used to be.
In the early years, the domestic tire industry started late and had insufficient technical reserves. There was a gap with international first-tier brands in subcategories such as high-end silent tires, sports control tires, and low rolling resistance energy-saving tires.
Car companies choose overseas tire brands, firstly, because of the inherent perception of market users, and secondly, for the sake of product performance.
However, in the past ten years, the domestic tire industry has developed rapidly.
On the production side, domestic tire factories have comprehensively upgraded their automated production lines, rubber formula technology, tire structural design, and vulcanization processes.
Many leading domestic tire companies serve the domestic passenger car market, export their products to many countries and regions around the world, and are also deeply involved in the field of high-end passenger car tires.
On the research and development side, major domestic tire brands have increased investment in research and development, established professional testing teams and material laboratories, and developed tire products for different road conditions, vehicle models, and usage scenarios.
Domestic tire brands have launched adapted products for high-end luxury models, focusing on optimizing the three core properties of quietness, wet grip and braking performance, and comfort.
Huawei Zunjie has gone through multiple rounds of testing during tire selection. If the comprehensive performance of domestically produced tires does not meet the supporting standards, car companies will not install them on all series.
So don’t worry about “changing to domestic tires means reducing the configuration.”
Huawei Zunjie insists on supporting the entire series of domestic tires, which intuitively means to help the development of the domestic tire industry chain and support the local manufacturing industry.
The automobile industry is a huge industrial chain system. Although tires are only a subcategory, they involve upstream and downstream industrial chains.
The coordinated development of vehicle companies and local parts and components companies is the only way for the country’s automotive industry to become strong.
In areas where the global automobile industry is mature, local mainstream car companies give priority to supporting local high-quality parts brands, forming a virtuous cycle.
In the development of the domestic automobile industry, the synergy between complete vehicles and local parts has not been fully realized. Many high-end models rely on overseas brands for parts and components. Local high-quality parts companies lack opportunities to enter the high-end complete vehicle supporting system.
For tire companies, it is of great significance to enter the original supporting list of high-end mass-produced models.
Original equipment is an authoritative recognition of tire performance, stability, and quality control capabilities. Access standards, quality control requirements, and batch supply requirements are strict.
Domestic high-end models use domestic tires as original equipment, which can bring stable orders. Companies have the confidence to expand production scale, invest in research and development, improve product competitiveness, and participate in global competition.
Original factory matching is also the best “product endorsement”, which can change consumers’ inherent impression that “domestic tires are not as good as overseas brands”.
All Huawei Zunjie series use domestically produced tires, opening a new door for local high-end tire products and providing a reference for other domestic vehicle brands.
From the perspective of ordinary car owners, there are many benefits to popularizing domestic original tires on high-end models.
First, the cost of car use and tire replacement in the later period is more affordable for the people. Domestic tires rely on the local supply chain, are reasonably priced, have high market retention, and are easy to replace.
Second, after-sales maintenance is more convenient. Domestic tire brands have complete service networks and after-sales outlets in the country.
Third, product adjustments are more in line with domestic road conditions. Domestic tire companies are deeply exploring the domestic market and optimizing products for domestic road conditions.
We recognize the progress of domestic tires, but we do not deny overseas tire brands.
The market is diversified, and consumers can choose according to their budget and car usage scenarios.
The domestic automobile industry is shifting from the pursuit of “stacking parts from big international brands” to giving priority to local high-quality supply chain products.
Huawei Zunjie’s choice of domestically produced tires reflects the increased confidence of Chinese automobile brands and the upgrading of the entire Chinese automobile industry chain.
From the perspective of industry development, Huawei Zunjie’s selection of domestic tires will accelerate the transformation of domestic tires to high-end, change market consumption perceptions, and promote collaborative innovation of complete vehicles and parts.
Of course, there is still room for improvement in the domestic tire industry, and industrial upgrading requires continuous efforts by practitioners.
Vehicle companies that choose domestic parts and components also need to do matching and control, and develop together with parts and components companies.
Huawei’s choice of domestically produced tires for all Zunjie series is not a marketing or cost trade-off, but a rational choice based on many aspects.
It demonstrates the responsibility of domestic high-end automobile brands to support the local industrial chain, and also proves the strength of domestic parts and components to support high-end models.
In the future, I believe that more domestic vehicle and parts brands will join hands to create more excellent Chinese products to benefit car owners.
