In Episode 49 of F+L Webcast, Vicky Villena-Denton sat down with Henry Liu, vice president for Asia Pacific at Lubrizol Corporation, to discuss the company’s latest white paper entitled "Envisioning Sustainable Growth for China’s Automotive Lubricants Industry." The paper explores how electrification, intelligence and connectivity are reshaping the automotive sector, and the implications for lubricants and additives.
Liu, who joined Lubrizol in 2023 after nearly three decades in the energy and chemical sectors, brings deep international experience with companies such as Honeywell, Johnson Matthey and ICI. He explained that while he is relatively new to the lubricant industry, his background in energy and technology provides valuable perspective on the profound shifts now underway in China’s automotive landscape.
China is driving forward with ambitious carbon neutrality goals, expanding electric vehicle infrastructure and setting stricter emissions policies. Unlike in Europe and the United States, where consumer resistance has slowed electrification, Chinese consumers are embracing the shift.
Alternative fuels such as methanol and hydrogen are also gaining traction, supported by existing production capacity and government initiatives. These changes are pushing the lubricant industry away from general-purpose solutions towards “fit-for-purpose” products tailored to specific applications and energy systems.
Liu emphasised the increasing importance of collaboration with OEMs, the rise of Chinese domestic standards and the growing need for regionalised product strategies. He also highlighted Lubrizol’s localisation strategy in China, where around 700 employees—500 focused on additives—are developing products and services to meet local requirements.
Looking ahead, Liu sees significant opportunities for lubricant companies in adjacent markets, such as protective films and liquid cooling for data centres, and stressed the importance of innovation not just in technology, but also in business models. Sustainability, he said, must be practical, delivering both environmental and economic value: “We shouldn’t just wait for passive adaptation. The industry must take active leadership in this transition.”
