Sentury Tire, officially Qingdao Sentury Tire Co., Ltd., is a prominent Chinese tire manufacturer known for producing passenger car, light truck, commercial, and aircraft tires. Founded as part of the Sentaida Group in the early 1990s and restructured in 2009, the company has grown rapidly through technological innovation and international expansion. It operates under brands such as Landsail, Delinte, GroundSpeed, Pantera, and Sentury, with factories in China, Thailand, and Morocco. Listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange since 2020, Sentury ranks among the top 40 tire companies worldwide, exporting to over 150 countries and emphasizing smart manufacturing and sustainability.
Early Years: Foundations in China (1992–2012)
Sentury Tire's roots trace back to 1992, when it was established as the Sentaida Group in Qingdao, Shandong Province, China. Initially focused on tire production, the company underwent significant restructuring in 2007–2009, leading to the formal establishment of Qingdao Sentury Tire Co., Ltd. in December 2007, with operations commencing in 2009. The vision was to blend nature-inspired design—drawing from rubber trees—with cutting-edge technology to create high-quality, accessible tires.
In 2009, Sentury opened its flagship manufacturing facility in Qingdao, near Qingdao Liuting International Airport. This plant was touted as one of the most automated tire factories in the world, incorporating Industry 4.0 principles for enhanced efficiency, sustainability, and productivity. By 2014, after full automation, it achieved an annual output of 12 million passenger car radial (PCR) tires. The company quickly gained recognition, ranking 63rd among the top 75 global tire companies by sales in 2013, improving to 61st in 2014.
During this period, Sentury focused on developing its core brands, including Landsail for CUV/SUV tires and Delinte for off-roading, while expanding its product line to include PCR, light truck (LT), and truck/bus radial (TBR) tires.
Growth and International Expansion (2013–2019)
The 2010s marked Sentury's aggressive push into global markets and diversification. In 2013, the company rebranded its U.S. subsidiary from Sentaida International Inc. to Sentury Tire Americas (later Sentury Tire USA), signaling a stronger North American presence. That same year, Sentury entered the highly specialized aviation tire market, producing main landing gear tires for Boeing 737-700/800/900 aircraft, certified under FAA standards. This move positioned Sentury as one of the few players in an oligopolistic industry.
By 2015, Sentury had risen to the 50th largest tire maker globally by sales. In that year, it opened a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Rayong, Thailand, with an initial capacity of 10–12 million tires annually. This plant, accredited as a 4.0 "Smart Factory," featured advanced automation like monorail systems, Machine Visual Technology for x-ray analysis, and VMI Maxx for radial tire building. It began producing the first Landsail tires and helped Sentury achieve ISO certifications across operations.
In 2016, Sentury announced ambitious plans for a $530 million manufacturing plant in LaGrange, Georgia, USA, aiming to produce 10–12 million tires annually and create over 1,000 jobs. The facility was intended to serve as the company's North American headquarters, R&D center, and distribution hub. However, in July 2019, the project was placed on indefinite hold due to U.S.-China trade tensions and challenges with its initial public offering (IPO). This led to the closure of LaGrange offices and the departure of key executives.
Other developments included reorganizing U.S. sales and marketing in 2018 to consolidate brands like GroundSpeed under one operation, and moving to a larger headquarters and warehouse in Hialeah, Florida, in 2019, doubling its space to support growth. By 2016, Sentury had climbed to 58th in global tire rankings.
Public Listing and Recent Developments (2020–2025)
A major milestone came on September 11, 2020, when Sentury completed its IPO and listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, becoming the 10th Chinese tire company to do so. This valued 11% of its shares and provided capital for further expansion.
In the 2020s, Sentury shifted focus to other regions amid the halted U.S. plans. In December 2024, it began pre-commercial production at a new tire plant in Tangier, Morocco—the country's first tire manufacturing facility. Spanning 19.5 hectares with a $620 million investment, the plant aims for 12 million tires annually, with phase two potentially doubling capacity by 2025, depending on conditions.
As of August 2025, the LaGrange project remains on indefinite hold, with no recent updates indicating resumption. Sentury continues to operate its Thailand and China factories, producing 33 million tires annually across more than 3,000 SKUs, while maintaining warehouses in the U.S. to serve North American customers. The company's global sales network spans over 150 countries, with ongoing emphasis on R&D, sustainability, and high-performance products like ultra-high-performance tires.
Conclusion
Sentury Tire's history reflects the rapid evolution of China's tire industry, from its 1992 origins as Sentaida to a technologically advanced global player by 2025. Key achievements include pioneering smart factories, entering aviation tires, and expanding to Thailand and Morocco, despite setbacks like the paused U.S. venture. With a commitment to innovation and quality, Sentury is well-positioned for future growth, continuing to challenge established brands in the international market.