HZ info: At present, the domestic motorcycle coatings sector is undergoing significant trends of electrification and large-displacement upgrades. Combined with the mandatory requirements of the "dual-carbon" policy for low-VOCs coatings, industry competition has shifted from a simple product performance competition to a comprehensive strength competition of "environmental compliance + technical adaptability." In the automotive coatings market, the issue of high reliance on foreign brands has gradually become prominent due to tariff environments and the demand for supply chain autonomy. Import substitution has become an important direction for the industry, and the rise of new energy vehicles has set higher standards for the weatherability and lightweight adaptability of coatings.

At this node of industry transformation, Yilong Coatings, founded in 2001, started as a specialized enterprise focused on the coatings track. Through continuous deep cultivation in technological research and development and precise control of strategic layout, it has gradually embarked on a path of leapfrog development. Today, it not only ranks among the national specialized and innovative "little giant" enterprises but also stands firmly in the first echelon of China's motorcycle coatings industry.

However, how does Yilong Coatings respond to the ever-changing market demands through technological innovation? And how will it lay out its development blueprint for the future? These questions have always been the focus of industry attention. Recently, Chen Yun, Chairman of Yilong Coatings, was invited to accept an exclusive interview with Huicong Coatings Network. He not only reviewed the core logic of the company's development but also delved into the strategic value of synergistic layout, clearly outlining the development path for the next stage of Yilong Coatings.

 Figure: Chen Yun, Chairman of Yilong Coatings

 Integration of Technology and Environmental Protection: The Core Engine of Leapfrog Development

When talking about the key driving force behind the more than 20 years of development of Yilong Coatings, Chen Yun believes that the deep integration of independent R&D technological innovation and environmental transformation is the core for the company to achieve leapfrog development. The establishment of the water-based coatings R&D team in 2015 and the breakthrough in the "oil-to-water" product transition were the most critical turning points. "At that time, the industry had not yet paid massive attention to environmentally friendly coatings. Our early layout was not only a prediction of industry trends but also a manifestation of the company's strategic perseverance." 

In terms of technological innovation, Yilong Coatings has always regarded R&D as a strategic focus. In 2013, Yilong Coatings invested more than 20 million yuan to build a research and development center. After its official operation in 2016, R&D personnel accounted for more than 40%, forming a closed-loop management system of "topic selection and project approval - scientific research plan - achievement transformation." As of 2025, Yilong Coatings has 14 patents, including 4 invention patents, and has led the drafting of 3 industry and group standards. Its technological strength directly supports the industry-leading position of its product performance. The water-based coatings research and development launched in 2015 enabled Yilong Coatings to seize the opportunity in the field of environmentally friendly coatings. Its leading product, the "flash-drying-free two-coat one-bake water-based acrylic amino baking paint for carriages," ranks among the top three in the industry. It not only complies with the requirements of the "Air Pollution Prevention and Control Law" for low-VOCs coatings but also quickly seized the market with its mature water-based product matrix when the mandatory standards such as the "Limits of Harmful Substances in Vehicle Coatings" were implemented in 2019.

To break through technological bottlenecks, Yilong Coatings has also established an in-depth industry-university-research cooperation system. Chen Yun introduced that Yilong Coatings has jointly built a graduate training base with Chongqing University of Technology and an internship base with Chongqing University of Science and Technology. "This model not only introduces cutting-edge technologies but also cultivates professional talents, forming a complete team from basic research to applied development."

Environmental transformation has enabled Yilong Coatings to precisely align with policy dividends and industrial upgrading rhythms. Since the 2010s, environmental policies in China's coatings industry have gradually tightened. The 2018 "Three-Year Action Plan for Winning the Blue Sky Defense War" prohibited the construction of new high-VOCs content coating projects. Multiple mandatory standards in 2020 further limited the content of harmful substances. Yilong's water-based transformation was highly consistent with this. "We reduced the VOCs content of our products through technological transformation while ensuring that the construction process is compatible with customers' existing coating lines, significantly reducing customers' transformation costs. This has made us a benchmark for green transformation in the industry and also laid the foundation for being rated as a national specialized and innovative 'little giant' enterprise," Chen Yun said.

 In terms of customer synergy, Yilong Coatings has deeply integrated into the downstream industrial chain through technological cooperation and established long-term supply relationships with mainstream vehicle companies such as Longxin, Yadea, Zongshen, and Jinpeng, providing customized solutions. "'Technology-demand' bidirectional driving not only enhances customer stickiness but also accelerates technological iteration through joint R&D, allowing technology to truly land in market demands."

Three Technological Breakthroughs: Creating Competitive Advantages for Customers

In the current fierce competition in the motorcycle and automotive coatings fields, Yilong's core technological breakthroughs are concentrated in three directions. Chen Yun introduced one by one how these technologies empower customers.

 The first is the breakthrough in import substitution. "Against the backdrop of the tariff war, China's manufacturing industry has a high dependence on foreign coatings brands, and many companies lack confidence in domestic brands." Chen Yun said that Yilong Coatings has made significant progress in the field of automotive coatings. The performance, appearance, and construction effects of some products are completely comparable to those of foreign brands, and the price is more advantageous. "This can help customers reduce costs and reduce their dependence on foreign brands."

The second is the continuous deepening of water-based coatings research and development. Since the establishment of the water-based R&D team, Yilong Coatings has always upheld the principle that "what oil-based products have, water-based products must also have; what oil-based products can achieve in terms of performance, water-based products should strive to achieve." "Currently, we have water-based coatings in the high-temperature sector that can replace oil-based products, and breakthroughs have also been made in low-temperature products, which can meet the process requirements of different customers while helping them achieve environmental compliance."

The last is the combination of customization and rapid response. Chen Yun believes that customization is the core of "creating differentiated competitiveness" - by precisely matching appearance texture, functional safety, and substrate adaptation, it helps customers stand out in a homogeneous market; rapid response is the bottom line for "ensuring production rhythm" - through emergency order delivery, on-site problem solving, and rapid adaptation to changes, it avoids delays in mass production due to coatings issues. "The combination of the two ultimately achieves 'coatings empower vehicles and timeliness supports production,' helping vehicle companies seize the initiative in the 'fast iteration, high competition' market."

 Tuoyu's Production: Opening a Synergistic New Pattern of "1+1>2"

Regarding the production of Tuoyu Coatings' new factory, Chen Yun defines it as a milestone in Yilong Coatings' strategic transformation from a "specialized coatings enterprise" to a "comprehensive industrial coatings group." "We hope to form a synergistic effect of '1+1>2' between Yilong and Tuoyu through product complementarity, market synergy, and R&D sharing, not only consolidating Yilong Coatings' leading position in the motorcycle coatings field but also establishing a second growth curve in emerging markets such as automotive and new energy."

In terms of product categories, the two parties form a clear complementarity: Yilong Coatings focuses on motorcycle coatings, commercial vehicle coatings, and 3C coatings, while Tuoyu focuses on passenger car coatings, rail transit coatings, and new energy equipment coatings, "covering more industrial coatings segments to meet the diversified needs of different customers."

In terms of market layout, the Yilong factory is located in Jiangjin, Chongqing, and the Tuoyu new factory is located in Nanchuan, Chongqing. Both are in the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle, forming a one-hour industrial synergy circle. Chen Yun explained the advantages of this layout: In terms of production capacity, Tuoyu's annual production capacity of 50,000 tons of environmentally friendly coatings can alleviate the production pressure of Yilong Coatings' motorcycle coatings during peak seasons and can also undertake orders from Yilong Coatings' existing customers. In terms of quality, Tuoyu's digital workshop (such as MES and DCS systems) achieves precise dosing, ensuring product consistency. At the same time, the two parties share supplier resources, which not only stabilizes raw material quality but also enhances bargaining power and controls costs. In terms of logistics, the two parties share the raw material procurement and storage system. For example, Tuoyu's 21 raw material storage tanks can centrally purchase bulk raw materials such as resins and solvents, reducing marginal costs. In terms of regional penetration, Yilong Coatings has deep cultivation in the domestic market, and Tuoyu can quickly enter industrial clusters in Sichuan, Guizhou, and other places with its channels.

The synergy in the export market is also highly anticipated. The Tuoyu new factory is positioned as a "local coatings brand in the southwest region" and plans to expand its export business. The cooperation experience between Yilong and Propan's overseas factories can be directly reused. "For example, providing coatings for the Indonesian factories of domestic first-tier brands such as Yadea and Tailg, helping Tuoyu quickly open up overseas markets."

R&D sharing is an important support for the synergy between the two parties. The Tuoyu new factory has established an "Environmental Industrial Coatings Engineering Technology Research Center." Yilong has a "research and development center" with R&D personnel accounting for 40%. Chen Yun said that the two parties will achieve a breakthrough from "independent innovation to joint research" through equipment sharing (such as Yilong Coatings' more than 200 sets of experimental and testing equipment being open to Tuoyu), joint talent research, reuse of industry-university-research resources (introducing Yilong's cooperation experience with Chongqing universities to Tuoyu), and Yilong's opening of technology patents to shorten Tuoyu's R&D cycle.

Next 3-5 Years: Towards an International Industrial Coatings Solution Provider

Standing at the starting point of the production of the Tuoyu new factory, Chen Yun has clarified the strategic focus of Yilong Coatings for the next 3-5 years, with the core being the transformation from a "regional coatings enterprise" to an "international industrial coatings solution provider."

In the segment market, Yilong Coatings will build differentiated competitive barriers: In the motorcycle coatings field, it will consolidate its position as an industry benchmark, continue to increase R&D investment in segments such as large-displacement motorcycles, electric motorcycles, and three-wheeled leisure vehicles, and give full play to the role of the CMF center to understand customer needs in advance and carry out front-end development work. In the automotive coatings field, it will enter the mid-to-high-end market and achieve a breakthrough from "following" to "running side by side," further promoting import substitution.

The overseas layout will use ASEAN as a springboard to enter the global market. "We plan to set up an overseas warehouse in Jakarta, Indonesia, to first serve the Southeast Asian factories of domestic brands such as Yadea and Tailg, while simultaneously expanding local motorcycle brands in Indonesia, and gradually expanding our overseas market share," Chen Yun said.

Tuoyu Coatings Modern Production Workshop

Investment in new factories and optimization of production capacity will also continue. The Tuoyu environmentally friendly coatings project, launched in 2021, invested 500 million yuan to build a flexible production line with an annual output of 50,000 tons of industrial coatings, equipped with a digital workshop and an intelligent storage system. "In the future, we will continue to optimize the production capacity structure with such high standards, strengthen strategic pivots, support the large-scale production of environmentally friendly products, and at the same time strengthen industrial chain integration and consolidate market position."

Chen Yun said that under the dual drivers of the "dual-carbon" policy and industrial upgrading, Yilong Coatings will establish sustained leading advantages in the three tracks of motorcycle coatings, automotive coatings, and other industrial protective coatings through the three strategies of technological innovation, capacity synergy, and global layout, "striving to become a benchmark enterprise for the green transformation of the global coatings industry."