IN BRIEF (Page 24)

EDF Group launches wind-energy project

French energy company EDF Group announced its first wind-power development project in China on July 12, after the acquisition of the Chinese firm UPC Asia Wind Management by its renewable energy subsidiary, EDF Energies Nouvelles. The French renewable energy company calls China a priority market with strong growth potential. The Chinese government intends to reach 200 gigawatts in installed wind-energy capacity by 2020, which represents an average increase of 15 gW per year.

Anti-dumping duties on TCE to be scrapped

China will end its anti-dumping duties on trichloroethylene imports from Russia and Japan on July 21, the Ministry of Commerce said on July 11. In 2005, China levied anti-dumping duties ranging from 3 percent to 159 percent on TCE imported from the two countries and extended the measures in 2011 for another five years. Since no applications for expiry reviews have been received from domestic TCE producers 60 days prior to the expiration of the measures, the ministry will end the anti-dumping duties.

Siemens innovation center on the way

Siemens AG will build an innovation center in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, in September to develop digitalization-focused technologies, products and solutions, company officials said on July 12. The center will deploy resources for technical innovation and application in the fields of intelligent manufacturing, robotics, modern logistics, big data, information security and smart city, with a strong focus on digitalization. The German engineering and electronics conglomerate established its first innovation center in intelligent manufacturing outside Germany in February in Qingdao, in eastern China's Shandong province.

ZTO Express plans IPO on New York exchange

ZTO Express Co, one of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd's logistics partners, is aiming to list as early as September, in what would be the second-biggest initial public offering by a Chinese firm in the United States, according to a report. The Shanghai-based logistics company has submitted a filing in New York for the IPO, aiming to raise up to $2 billion, International Financing Review reported. ZTO Express declined to comment on the report when contacted by China Daily.

LeEco to acquire US TV maker Vizio for $1.5 b

Chinese internet firm LeEco Holdings Co reportedly is to acquire US TV maker Vizio Inc in a deal that could amount to $1.1 billion to $1.5 billion. The deal could help LeEco become one of the world's largest TV makers and is part of the Beijing-based company's efforts to expand into the US, where it just purchased a 20.23-hectare development site in Santa Clara, California. LeEco started as an online video-streaming site but quickly evolved into a heavyweight with presence in smartphones, TVs, virtual reality and electric vehicles.

Mercedes to recall mainland vehicles

German carmaker Mercedes-Benz will recall 16 vehicles in China with defective clutches, according to China's quality watchdog. The affected vehicles are the 2016 A, GLA and CLA series, manufactured between Oct 22, 2015 and Nov 4, 2015, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine said. Mercedes-Benz will also recall 12 vehicles, including the 2015 AMG and GT series, produced between June 9 and July 22, 2015, due to defective carbon fiber drive shafts.

Otis opens training center in Hunan

Otis Elevator, the US-based elevator manufacturer, opened its first technical training center in China. Located in Xiangtan of Hunan province, the center aims to develop professional service mechanics to meet growing demands in the Chinese elevator market. Otis China plans to establish training centers in Hangzhou, Tianjin, Chengdu and Zhengzhou. The company will train about 4,000 new workers and current mechanics each year by working with more than 20 institutions and academies.

(China Daily European Weekly 07/15/2016 page24)