China’s ‘Wheel Queen’ Chen Ailian rises from tractor driver to head of $1.6B manufacturing empire

Chen, 68, founded Wanfeng Aluminum Wheel Company, now known as Wanfeng Auto Holding Group, in Zhejiang Province in 1994, according to Fortune.

Her company is now the world’s largest producer of aluminum wheel hubs and magnesium alloy. It is also a leading aircraft manufacturer with operations spanning the entire aviation supply chain.

When her hometown of Xinchang County received a tractor from the government in the 1970s, Chen applied to be its driver. Although her application was initially rejected because of her gender, she eventually persuaded local officials to let her attend tractor-driving training, where she outperformed all her male classmates and secured the position with her driving skills.

Chen was later assigned to a local textile factory before becoming manager of an aluminum alloy company. She went on to establish Wanfeng Aluminum Wheel Company a few years later with a 500,000-yuan bank loan, and its products quickly found success in the mid- to high-end market.

In 1995, Chen ordered a batch of wheel hubs to be discarded after minor cracks were discovered, even though inspections found no safety concerns. “If an enterprise produces bad-quality products, it is a waste of public resources and a crime against society,” she told her employees at the time.

The incident helped establish Wanfeng’s reputation for quality, and the company went on to become a leading producer of motorcycle wheel hubs.

Around 2000, Chen shifted focus to automotive wheels in anticipation of a boom in China’s car industry, according to U.S. publication Automotive News. More than a decade later, she acquired Canadian magnesium alloy producer Meridian Lightweight Technologies, saying she expected demand for lightweight materials to grow, particularly in the aviation and aerospace industries.

She added that Meridian supplied car manufacturers like Tesla and Porsche, which would give Wanfeng access to the international market.

In 2016, Chen acquired Austria’s Diamond Aircraft Group and increased investment in the general aviation industry. The move again demonstrated her business foresight, as China’s low-altitude economy emerged as a major developing industry several years later.

Chen is known for maintaining a polished public image, often appearing in brightly colored clothing and wearing makeup at public events. She said the practice reflects respect for her profession and helps protect the company’s image.

Although she only completed middle school because of political upheaval during her youth, Chen has maintained a habit of reading for an hour every evening. “I have been reading for 20 years. Reading is not only enjoyable for me, it also helps upgrade my knowledge and cognition of the world,” she said.

Chen has reportedly prioritized employee welfare throughout her career. Salaries at her company increase by at least 8% each year, and she has said human resources chiefs should be held responsible if employees are paid substantially less than their peers at a different company.

In 2010, Chen purchased 100 BMW cars and gifted them to what she described as her “capable assistants” in recognition of their contributions, local outlet Theirs reported. She said her goal is to create a workplace where employees can “work happily, live joyfully.”

Forbes estimates Chen’s net worth at $1.1 billion while the Hurun Richest Self-Made Women in the World 2026 ranking places her 95th worldwide. She has received several national awards, including recognition as one of China’s Top 10 Outstanding Women, according to global consulting and accounting firm EY.

Her two sons now serve as executives at the company. “My regret in life is that I spent little time with my sons when they were young,” the South China Morning Post quoted Chen as saying.