Forged Wheels Emerge as a Game-Changer in the Automotive Industry, Poised to Replace Cast Wheels Entirely

Amid the profound transformation sweeping the global automotive industry, the rise of new energy vehicles (NEVs) and the push for “carbon neutrality” are reshaping the landscape of the auto parts market. As a critical component of vehicles, wheel technology and product upgrades have drawn significant attention. Currently, forged wheels are gradually demonstrating strong momentum to fully replace cast wheels, thanks to their exceptional performance advantages.

колеса в очікуванні процесу обдирання

In terms of production processes, cast wheels are typically formed by pouring or pressing liquid alloy into a mold and allowing it to cool. Take gravity casting as an example: it simply involves pouring liquid alloy into a mold for natural cooling, which is low-cost but has limitations in product quality, with relatively loose internal structures. Figure 1, a schematic of the gravity casting wheel production process and internal structure,直观 illustrates the characteristics of wheels made using this process. Although low-pressure casting uses low pressure to distribute alloy molecules more evenly, improving strength and design diversity, it still cannot match the forging process. Forged wheels are produced by pressing heated alloy into a rough blank under high pressure, followed by secondary CNC machining. This results in smaller molecules, finer gaps, higher density, and stronger intermolecular forces, with a tight internal structure that far outperforms cast wheels. This gives forged wheels comprehensive advantages over cast wheels in key performance indicators such as weight, strength, and toughness.

Figure 1: Schematic diagram of gravity casting wheel production process and internal structure (Image source: Internet) Figure 2: Schematic diagram of forged wheel production process and internal structure (Image source: Internet)

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With the explosive growth of the NEV market, automotive lightweight design has become a core demand of industry development. Constrained by factors such as battery weight and driving range, NEVs have an even more urgent need for lightweight design compared to traditional fuel vehicles. Research shows that for every 10% weight reduction in NEVs, electricity consumption decreases by approximately 6.3%, and driving range can be increased by 5%-6%. The lightweight design of forged wheels can significantly reduce the unsprung mass of vehicles, not only improving the driving range of NEVs but also making vehicle handling more responsive during acceleration, braking, and cornering, greatly enhancing vehicle safety and maneuverability. In contrast, qualified cast wheels are generally about 20% heavier than forged wheels, which affects overall vehicle performance to a certain extent.

Figure 3: Data chart showing the relationship between weight reduction and electricity consumption, driving range in new energy vehicles (Image source: Internet)

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In terms of energy conservation and emission reduction, forged wheels also play an important role. Their lightweight characteristics help reduce vehicle inertia, reduce tire rolling resistance, thereby lowering fuel or electricity consumption and reducing emissions, which aligns with national “carbon neutrality” and “carbon emission reduction” strategic goals. Against the backdrop of global efforts to promote green mobility, this advantage is particularly prominent.

From a market size perspective, the global automotive wheel market reached 113.711 billion yuan (RMB) in 2023, with the Chinese market reaching 45.621 billion yuan. It is projected that by 2029, the global market size will reach 158.861 billion yuan, with an estimated compound annual growth rate of 5.69%. With the continuous expansion of the NEV market and the increasing demands of consumers for automotive performance, the market demand for forged wheels is continuously rising.

Amid this wave of transformation, Ningbo Jianglu Auto Parts specializes in the R&D and production of forged aluminum alloy wheels. With advanced forging technology and strict quality control, its products are widely used in various NEVs and high-end models. The forged wheels it produces achieve extreme lightweight design while ensuring high strength, providing high-quality wheel solutions for numerous automakers and helping to improve overall vehicle performance. Jianglu forged wheels are also renowned for their exquisite forging technology, focusing on personalized design and customized services to meet the diverse needs of different consumers for vehicle appearance and performance. Whether in the NEV sector or the high-performance fuel vehicle market, Jianglu forged wheels have occupied a certain market share with their own advantages.

As the automotive industry accelerates its transformation towards new energy, lightweight, and intelligent directions, and as consumers’ requirements for automotive performance and quality continue to rise, forged wheels have become a new development direction in the automotive wheel field with their significant advantages in performance, energy conservation, safety, and other aspects. It can be predicted that in the near future, forged wheels are expected to fully replace cast wheels, reshape the competitive landscape of the automotive wheel market, and inject new powerful impetus into the sustainable development of the automotive industry.