According to Ruto, the manufacturing plant will serve the entire continent while creating jobs for thousands of Kenyans.
Thousands of Kenyan job seekers are set to win big after Chinese tyre manufacturing company, Linglong Tires, revealed on Friday, January 17 plans to set up a factory in Kenya.
This was announced by President William Ruto, who met the company’s chairperson, Wang Feng, at State House, Nairobi in the company of his associates and those from Kenya, including newly-sworn in Trade Cabinet Secretary (CS) Lee Kinyanjui.
According to Ruto, the manufacturing plant will serve the entire continent while creating jobs for thousands of Kenyans.
Additionally, he reiterated his commitment to enhancing incentives which in turn reels in potential foreign investors.
President William Ruto in a meeting with Wang Feng, chairman of Linglong one of the biggest tyre companies in the world, at State House, Nairobi on January 17, 2025. /PCS
“Kenya continues to position itself as a premier destination for foreign investment, offering a range of attractive incentives designed to encourage investor confidence,” stated Ruto in part on his social media pages.
“The government remains committed to enhancing these incentives to ensure a competitive and investor-friendly environment. At State House, Nairobi, held talks with Linglong Tyres Chairman Wang Feng, who plans to set up a factory in Kenya to serve the African market.”
While the plans to set up the company were announced on Friday, details on the location of the factory and the starting date were not revealed.
Linglong, fully named Shandong Linglong Tire Co., Ltd, is a Chinese tire manufacturing enterprise, which has been among the global top 10 tire enterprises and top five in mainland China for many years. According to stock analysis, since July 2016, its market cap has increased from Ksh2.9 trillion (22.43 billion dollars) to Ksh3.38 trillion (25.76 billion dollars) – a figure which indicates an annual growth rate of 1.63%.
Linglong Tire, which was started in the 1970s has been producing tyres for saloon cars, trucks and buses. Some of the products are already sold in Kenya.
The company’s products are exported to 173 countries across the world, covering Europe, the Middle East, the Americas, Asia Pacific and Africa, and provides equipment and services for over 100 manufacturing bases of 60 global well-known automakers.
Notably, the company has a partnership with English Premier League (EPL) football club Chelsea, which was unveiled in September 2024 during the ongoing 2024/25 football season.
As part of the partnership, Linglong Tire will provide tires for the Chelsea FC men’s team bus in the UK. The collaboration also includes exclusive content creation, player interactions, and branding opportunities in key markets worldwide.
For Chelsea’s international fanbase, Linglong is collaborating with the club to create engaging content and experiences in key strategic markets, as well as building Linglong’s global presence through pitchside placements with the men’s and women’s teams, at Stamford Bridge in West London, United Kingdom (UK).
Commenting on the occasion, Casper Stylsvig, Chelsea FC’s Chief Revenue Officer, said via its official website, “We are delighted to welcome Linglong Tire as our new official global tyre partner, an ambitious and innovative company who are committed to excellence in manufacturing, service and brand. We look forward to contributing to Linglong’s global growth plans and collaborating with a respected Chinese brand to grow our footprint in China.”
Feng, who is also President of Linglong Tire, added, “Becoming the official global partner of Chelsea Football Club is an important milestone in Linglong Tire’s internationalization strategy. We cherish this opportunity and will fully utilize this to showcase the brand charm and product strength of Linglong Tire to the world. We look forward to working with Chelsea to deliver passion and excellence to fans and consumers worldwide, jointly writing a new chapter in our brand development.”
