Beijing, China – Lubrizol, a global leader in specialty chemicals, today released its latest white paper "Envisioning Sustainable Growth for China’s Automotive Lubricants Industry." The paper presents a strategic framework for the transformation of China’s lubricants sector, emphasizing sustainable innovation and ecosystem collaboration as drivers for industry advancement. It provides insights for value chain upgrades amid the nation’s energy transition, showcasing Lubrizol’s deep commitment and technical expertise in supporting China's lubricant innovation journey.

As China accelerates its shift toward new energy and low-carbon mobility, propelled by its dual carbon goals and the rapid rise of electrification, the automotive sector is undergoing transformative change. Electric vehicle (EV) adoption is soaring, hybrid vehicle penetration is increasing, and alternative fuel technologies, such as hydrogen fuel cells and biodiesel, are moving toward scaled deployment. This shift brings three critical challenges to the lubricants and additives industry: stricter emissions regulations, the need to support a broader range of powertrains, and breakthroughs in lubrication technologies tailored for emerging energy systems.

The white paper offers a comprehensive analysis of industry trends, forecasts technology evolution paths, and highlights innovative practices, especially in sustainable lubrication. It serves as a roadmap to help stakeholders navigate disruption and seize new opportunities.

Since its founding in 1928, Lubrizol has continuously driven efficiency improvements in the global mobility space through innovative solutions that reduce emissions, enhance fuel economy, and extend equipment life. This legacy of innovation supports the development of diverse transportation platforms and contributes to the evolution of mobility itself.

With China now the world’s largest and fastest-changing automotive market, Lubrizol is furthering its localization strategy. “China is not only a hub for technological breakthroughs but also a key participant in global standard setting,” said Henry Liu, Vice President of Lubrizol Asia Pacific. “Lubrizol's agile system—integrating R&D, testing, and technical services—enables close collaboration with local OEMs and industry partners. By blending global additive expertise with a strong local technical team and advanced testing capabilities, we are helping to accelerate ecosystem-wide upgrades.”

Key Insights and Actionable Strategies, as outlined in Lubrizol’s White Paper:

Four Key Technology Pillars for Industry Transformation: The white paper highlights how transformative energy shifts are redefining lubricants from basic functional fluids into critical enablers of vehicle efficiency, emissions control and system stability. This transition is being driven by four key forces: rising engine thermal efficiency is placing greater demands on lubricant durability and stability; the rapid proliferation of NEVs is spurring the need for dedicated solutions that address electric drive system challenges; the increasing application of alternative fuels requires lubricants capable of performing across diverse fuel environments; and ongoing consumer upgrades are stimulating demand for high-performance, high-value products, which in turn pushes technological innovation to new heights.
Innovations for a Low Carbon Future: The white paper details a range of breakthrough innovations designed to support a low-carbon future, showcasing practical case studies that highlight Lubrizol’s latest achievements in lubricant technology. These include the development of low-viscosity lubricant technologies to enhance fuel economy, ultra-low ash formulations to meet increasingly stringent emissions standards, and advanced anti-corrosion solutions addressing the unique challenges of hybrid and electrified powertrains. In addition, Lubrizol is refining multi-fuel compatibility technologies to meet the demands of China’s rapidly diversifying fuel landscape.
Building a Sustainable Ecosystem: The white paper calls for the creation of a sustainable ecosystem anchored in technological collaboration, joint standard-setting and coordinated green innovation across the value chain. Lubrizol advocates for a shift in industry mindset from passive compliance to proactive leadership, urging stakeholders to engage in systemic collaboration that transforms and upgrades the lubricants industry in a holistic way.

Lubrizol looks forward to working with industry stakeholders to harness the opportunities presented by this transformation and jointly build a more sustainable future for the lubricants sector.

If you are interested in reviewing the Lubrizol white paper, please find more information on the company’s WeChat platform or reach out to your Lubrizol account manager.

Lubrizol Releases White Paper on Automotive Lubricants in China Market: Propelling Growth through Collaborative Innovation and Ecosystem Collaboration