Top 10 Alloy Wheels Factories In The World

Alloy wheels have been the gold standard of the auto industry for a long time now displacing the standard wheels cars have run on for years. Although standard wheels are still used on a massive scale in the industry, alloy wheels offer more value than standard wheels. Posh car brands are now fitted with high end alloy wheels that are more grounded, offer fuel economy, and are easily maneuverable.

Today, global alloy wheel brands dominate the aftermarket wheels with their wheels, but who are they?

Read on to know more about the top 10 alloy custom wheels factories in the world.

11.RayOne Wheels

RayOne Wheels is a notable name in the alloy wheels market with an extensive product list. This company is among the ten largest Chinese manufacturers today, with a factory capacity of 15,000 units monthly. RayOne Wheels are relatively cheap with street models and OEM and ODM models. The brand has more than 1000 different designs for buyers to choose from. They also have  Aftermarket, Replica and Off road categories, so feel free to make your pick. RayOne has come a long way since its inception and is gradually making in-roads into the Fat East Asian market.

10. BBS

BBS has come from humble beginnings to become one of the industry’s leading manufacturers of alloy wheels forged rims. Founded by retired amateur athletes, the company has grown from strength to strength, and in recent times, they have been able to scale up production to release thousands of wheels into the global market. One of their most sought-after models tire package is the Design model produced with low pressure casting. This model may be the cheapest in their product line, but it is much more expensive than conventional wheels costing as much as five digits.

BBS wheels are factory tested for quality and impressive capacity to handle heavy loads in any performance car. The quality of casting technology for all their tires has made their brand a reputable brand in the industry, with several awards won got their product quality. Furthermore, their wheels are used by racing teams, some of which have won race victories in different circuits. Today, more than a few car makers use BBS wheels for their new releases. BBS ships to three continents and dozens of countries worldwide.

9. OZ

OZ is an Italian company with a track record for excellence. They claim on their website that they do not manufacture new wheels using cheap silumin but high end aluminum magnesium alloy cast with complex engineering to achieve thermal strengthening. OZ alloy wheels are lightweight with unique open work shapes that can handle weight pressure. Their wheels are durable and popularly used in racing circuits not just in Europe but in circuits all over North America.

For more than thirty years, the company has been experimenting with their manufacturing process to improve quality; they have also been used by the WRC for decades. Although racing teams popularly use Oz wheels, Private car owners use them too. Their wheels are reliable, have good elasticity, and can absorb ground shocks without cracking or deforming. OZ operates a big factory in Italy with a capacity to produce more than 10,000 wheels monthly that will fit any vehicle perfectly.

8. Alutec

We can’t talk about the biggest alloy wheels manufacturers in the world without mentioning Alutec. This brand has several years of experience producing high-quality free mounting alloy wheels that only very few brands can rival. Today, Alutec wheels are used by many car brands like VK, Audi, Mercedes Benz, and even BMW, to mention a few. Their discs are manufactured according to European standards, and each wheel is tested in the factory for safety and efficiency before it is released to the market.

Alutec alloy wheels are highly rated as the standard wheels of the German industry despite only being in existence for less than three decades.

Alutec engineers have been able to improve their bolt pattern quality so their wheels can perform in any weather conditions, including freezing temperatures, where many wheels will fail. As a way to boost custom confidence, Alutec offers a limited warranty of five years for their wheels. Furthermore, due to the large economies of scale of their factories across three countries, this manufacturer sells its wheels at cheaper prices than its rivals.

Alutec has more than 3000 staff, and their factories can produce thousands of units of alloy wheels of different specs monthly, which are shipped to the rest of the world.

7. Borbet

Borbet is one of the oldest alloy wheels makers in the world. With a rich history spanning a century, this reputable company is a golden oldie in the automobile accessories business. Despite several years of experience, their alloy wheels only hit the market in 1977, but a few years later, different specs of assorted alloys hit the market. Today, Borbet has made a bold statement is the largest supplier of alloy wheels in the whole of Europe, and they are also OEM suppliers. Their wheels are reasonably priced and of guaranteed quality.

Furthermore, their engineers and design teams have been able to achieve durable coating and normal balancing of all their wheels. Borbet wheels have a perfect fit can withstand any weather and have achieved legendary status for speed and fuel economy. As the demand for wheels increases, Borbet is already opening new factory lines and expanding existing facilities to meet the demand.

6. MAK

MAK may not be the most notable brand on our list, but they are a major player in the industry. The strength and quality of MAK wheels don’t just meet European standards and style but global standards as well. They have an extensive product line for trucks, Sportcars, and SUVs. There are even MAK wheels for motorbikes too. MAK wheels share similar characteristics with Alutec wheels for elasticity and pressure retention.

By improving the technology, they have been able to overlap non-European standards to improve competitiveness. MAK alloy wheels are cast with magnesium alloy and heated in furnaces under high temperatures. The Italian brand is one to watch out for in the coming years as they enter into new partnerships within and outside their region.

5. SKAD

The business model of SKAD factories is quite simple and straightforward. Manufacture durable and affordable alloy wheels that buyers across all economic scales can afford and market them massively until they gain acceptability. This model has worked wonders for SKAD and continues to do so. SKAD alloy wheels were already a stable model in the industry since 2002, but the brand’s fortunes changed when it entered into a partnership with Ford and Volkswagen. This move led it has t increase capacity to scale up production as demand spiked after the partnership was activated.

The Russian brand, operating in Divnogorsk, is now owned by Russian Aluminum, which also owns Krasnoyarsk, another brand named after a region with the same name. Formerly a monopolist of the Russian market, SKAD has gradually made inroads into the global market with its partnership with global car and truck brands and suppliers. The company produces alloy wheels of different sizes; each unit carries a certification mark to prove its perfect condition. SKAD wheels are affordable with soft, flexible discs.

4. K&K

K&K is another alloy wheel factory located in Siberia. The brand was initially created as an industrial initiative in Germany after the collapse of the old Soviet Union. The full name of K&K is Krasnoyarsk Metallurgical Plant with a partnership with KOMOS GMBH of Germany. Having evolved into a fully Russian company after purchasing Russian Aluminum, K &K has become one of the secondary market’s largest suppliers of alloy wheels. Today, many European car makers use K&K wheels. Their new set wheels can handle the extra weight and high speeds.

K&K wheels can withstand strong impact and gyroscopic effects. Although they are best suited for cold regions, the versatile feature of their wheels means they can perform well even in temperate regions. By segmenting its products to cater to different market segments, from affordable to high end models, K&K has been able to carve a niche for itself in the ultra competitive alloy wheels market by adding new customers to its network.

 3. Foshan Nangai

No list of the world’s top 10 alloy wheels factory will be complete without Foshan Nangai. This company operates one of the largest factories in the world, with a total of more than 5 million wheels released into the global market annually. Foshan is one of China’s largest auto accessories manufacturers and the first to release a flagship Chinese model of wheels for the local and international market. Foshan produces wheels for tricks, cars, SUVs, and motorbikes.

Furthermore, their mega factory in China had increased significantly in terms of manpower and production capacity. Since 1990 when the company was founded till date, Foshan has expanded its reach into new markets like Australian, East Asia, and North America. The signs that Foshan may be looking to break into the European market are clear with an expansion of capacity in light of growing global trends. The brand remains one of the biggest alloy wheels makers in Far East Asia and is gradually expanding westward.

2. Enkei

Enkei is the second Far East Asian brand to appear on our list alongside Foshan Nangai. Enkei is a Japanese brand a d holds the enviable record of being one of the oldest alloy wheels makers in the world. One advantage Enkei had over other brands was its pioneer status. They started experimenting with alloy wheel technology in 1950, and the results have been outstanding. Firstly, their factories can manufacture millions of units annually to meet the growing demand. Suffice it to say that Enkei started marketing high end wheels when alloy wheels were not so cool.

Secondly, they have achieved large economies of scale, so they can afford to sell their wheels at low prices that rivals cannot afford. Enkei wheels use advanced MAT technology, the global standard in the auto industry. This technology combines needles and a cast hub with a special forged disc rim to achieve structural integrity. Furthermore, their wheels have hollow spokes for balance. All Enkei wheels are lighter than your average wheel and boast excellent strength.

Although Foshan is competing for number one status in the Far East Asian market, Enkei remains the undisputed market leader and is quite popular among countries in the region. Funny enough, Enkei has also expanded into the Chinese market by establishing its Chinese arm ‘Enkei China,” but the quality of wheels produced in all its factories remains the same.

1.Replay

Replay is another Chinese and Far East Asian brand to make our list. This brand has recorded phenomenal growth over the last few years, and the trends are positive heading into the future. Replay alloy wheels are one of the few wheels from the region to pass Western standards for safety and durability. A few years ago, the company experienced rough times when many of the wheels released into the supply chain failed safety tests. The wheels were recalled, and standards were improved by tweaking the technology in reaction to the failures. The results were positive, and slowly, the wider market began to accept the brand once more.

Today, Replay catalog of wheels are not only demanded by drivers but also by car brands. The price advantage Chinese brands have is one that Replay has used to its advantage by offering quality wheels are affordable rates. This has created an opportunity for car makers who wish to scale down production costs. Another strategy that has worked well for the Chinese company is replicating the wheel designs of popular brands like Lexus and many other brands. When you combine the market share with its growing international popularity, you have a thriving brand that will only grow its reach.

Conclusion

These ten brands produce standard quality alloy wheels to the tune of millions of units globally, holding a significant chunk of the global market. As the demand for alloy wheels increases in line with the growing popularity, expect some brands to break into the top ten in the nearest future.