What CITIC Dicastal makes

CITIC Dicastal produces aluminum alloy wheels and aluminum chassis castings for the global automotive industry. Wheels are the core business, accounting for the majority of revenue, and the company has ranked first globally in aluminum wheel sales volume for 16 consecutive years. Annual wheel production capacity reached approximately 95 million units by 2024 across 30 manufacturing facilities in China, the Americas, Europe and Africa.

The wheel portfolio spans cast, forged, flow-formed (cast-spun), and two-piece designs for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles. Production processes include low-pressure die casting (LPDC), counter-pressure casting (CPC), spinning, and forging. Aluminum chassis castings, manufactured under the KSM Castings brand acquired from Germany in 2011, add a second major product line: knuckles, control arms, subframes, cylinder heads, and transmission and differential housings for OEM powertrain and chassis programs. Total casting capacity exceeded 210,000 tonnes per year as of 2024.

A third segment, integrated die-casting, entered commercial development in 2024 when CITIC Dicastal launched its proprietary solution at a Changchun event. The design integrates up to 98 automotive components into a single large-format casting. A dedicated South China base in Jinhua is under construction with a target annual capacity of 450,000 integrated die-cast parts. The product addresses the structural trend of EV body-in-white consolidation.

The company's Engineering Technology Research Institute maintains R&D centers in China and overseas, running 24-hour design and testing capability from styling concept through physical prototype. Surface treatments include painting, clear-coat, machining patterns, bi-color, and diamond-cut finishes for OEM brand programs.

Financial performance

CITIC Dicastal reported revenue of EUR 6.0 billion in FY2025 (Berylls Top-100 Automotive Suppliers study, 2026 edition), up 10.1% from EUR 5.5 billion in FY2024. The Berylls figure covers the consolidated group including the KSM Castings operations in Germany, the Czech Republic and China. In RMB terms, the company's standalone 2024 revenue was approximately RMB 32.4 billion, per company filings. CITIC Limited's 2024 interim disclosures reported that aluminum wheel and casting sales and production volumes each increased 12% and 16% year-on-year respectively in 2024, both described as reaching historical highs. In the first half of 2025, CITIC Limited again described Dicastal's aluminum wheels and castings sales as record-setting, and Dicastal's ranking in the Automotive News global Tier-1 top-100 rose to 42nd in 2025 from 50th the prior year.

The business employs over 9,000 people worldwide, across plants in seven countries, with additional production staff at facilities through KSM Castings. For historical reference, CITIC's 2017 annual report disclosed net profit of RMB 1 billion on RMB 26 billion in revenue, and net profit of RMB 875 million on RMB 19.7 billion in 2016, putting net margins in the 3.8 to 4.4 percent range in those years.

Ownership and history

CITIC Group Corporation established the company on May 26, 1988, in Qinhuangdao, Hebei Province, as Dicastal Wheel Manufacturing Co., Ltd. It was the first aluminum wheel manufacturer in mainland China. A joint-stock reform in October 2007 restructured the company, and in August 2012 it was formally renamed CITIC Dicastal Co., Ltd. CITIC Limited, a diversified conglomerate listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (0267.HK) in which CITIC Group holds a majority stake, is the publicly listed holding entity.

The most significant acquisition came in July 2011, when CITIC Dicastal purchased KSM Castings from London-based private equity firm Cognetas for a reported price above EUR 300 million. KSM, formerly part of ThyssenKrupp, brought four German plants in Hildesheim, Wernigerode, Wuppertal and Radevormwald plus a Czech facility in Hrádek nad Nisou. This move shifted CITIC Dicastal from a Chinese wheel producer into a global aluminum casting group supplying European OEMs directly.

International expansion continued with wheel plants in Greenville, Michigan (opened 2015) and Shelby, North Carolina in the United States, two plants in Kenitra, Morocco's Atlantic Free Zone, and a castings facility in Saltillo, Mexico that delivered its first batch of products in 2024. In December 2023, CITIC Limited announced a proposed spin-off and separate A-share listing of CITIC Dicastal on the Shanghai Stock Exchange; the Hong Kong Stock Exchange confirmed the company could proceed with the spin-off in December 2023. The listing status was not confirmed as of September 2026.

Certifications and quality

CITIC Dicastal obtained ISO/TS 16949 certification (now IATF 16949) in August 2003 and ISO 14001 environmental management certification in February 2004. The company has been a Ford Q1 global strategic partner since 2005. In September 2023 it joined the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative, obtaining ASI Performance Standard V3 and Chain of Custody V2 certifications, currently valid through 2028, covering the East Plant and Headquarters Plant in Qinhuangdao, which together produce approximately 10.4 million wheels per year.

The Morocco Kenitra plant was named Africa's first WEF Global Lighthouse Factory in January 2025, the recognition given by the World Economic Forum to manufacturing sites demonstrating advanced intelligent manufacturing. This was also CITIC Dicastal's third Lighthouse Factory designation overall and its first outside China. The Kenitra plant deployed over 40 digital use cases, achieving a 17% improvement in overall equipment effectiveness, a 27% gain in labor productivity, and a 31% reduction in defects per the WEF documentation.

Known customers

CITIC Dicastal's own published materials name more than 20 OEMs as customers. US customs import records independently confirm Ford and GM as direct import recipients through 2026. For KSM Castings, the CITIC 2016 annual report names Daimler and Volkswagen as major customers for lightweight aluminum cast components, along with Tier-1 suppliers TRW, ZF, Bosch, and Benteler. The top 10 customers across the group accounted for over 39% of total sales in 2016.

Frequently asked questions

What does CITIC Dicastal make?

CITIC Dicastal is the world's largest aluminum wheel manufacturer by sales volume. It produces cast, forged, and flow-formed aluminum alloy wheels for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles, aluminum chassis castings through its KSM Castings operations, and is developing integrated die-casting solutions that consolidate multiple automotive components into large single-piece castings.

Who owns CITIC Dicastal?

CITIC Dicastal is a wholly-owned subsidiary of CITIC Limited, the Hong Kong-listed conglomerate (0267.HK). CITIC Limited is in turn majority-owned by CITIC Group Corporation, a Chinese state-owned enterprise. A proposed spin-off and A-share listing on the Shanghai Stock Exchange was announced in late 2023 and approved by the Hong Kong Stock Exchange; its completion status was not confirmed as of September 2026.

What is CITIC Dicastal's annual revenue?

CITIC Dicastal generated approximately EUR 6.0 billion in FY2025 revenue on a consolidated basis including KSM Castings, per the Berylls Top-100 Automotive Suppliers study. In RMB terms, standalone 2024 revenue was reported at approximately RMB 32.4 billion. Revenue grew 10.1% year-on-year in FY2025.

Where is CITIC Dicastal headquartered?

CITIC Dicastal is headquartered at No. 185 Longhai Road, Qinhuangdao Economic and Technological Development Zone, Hebei Province, China. It was founded in Qinhuangdao in 1988 and has operated from that location since its founding. The company operates 30 manufacturing facilities across China, Germany, the Czech Republic, the United States, Morocco, and Mexico.

Who are CITIC Dicastal's customers?

CITIC Dicastal supplies aluminum wheels to major global automakers including Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Volkswagen, General Motors, Ford, Stellantis, Toyota, Honda, Mazda, Hyundai-Kia, and a range of Chinese OEMs including BYD, SAIC, FAW, Dongfeng, Geely, and Great Wall. KSM Castings supplies aluminum structural and powertrain castings to Volkswagen Group, Daimler, and Tier-1 suppliers including ZF and Bosch.

Last verified September 2026. Is this your company? Request a correction.