Cars
Component maker Federal-Mogul opens Jinqiao tech facility
By Ma Zhenhuan (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-07-12 11:00
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SHANGHAI - Federal-Mogul Corp, a global automobile parts manufacturer, is boosting its investment and technical innovation to better serve the growing Chinese automotive industry.
"China is and will continue to be a strategic market for the global automotive industry and for us," said Federal-Mogul President and CEO Jose Maria Alapont at a ceremony last month marking the opening of its $20 million Asia-Pacific headquarters and technical center in Jinqiao at Shanghai's Pudong New Area.
"We are here because China has become the best market for auto parts suppliers - since 2009 it has been the No 1 country in vehicles sold. We want to obtain the growth that the Chinese auto industry is having."
The technical center will enable the auto parts maker to increase technical support to its Chinese powertrain and vehicle customers, offering onsite technology development and product engineering in addition to testing.
Southfield, Michigan-based Federal-Mogul's China sales revenue witnessed stunning 98 percent growth in the first quarter, almost doubling the figure in the same period last year, the CEO said.
Covering 9,000 sq m, its new facility is home to 300 employees engaged in engineering, sales, purchasing and other administrative activities.
One of its 18 globally networked engineering and technical centers, the Jinqiao site also has powertrain dynamoters, vehicle and braking test cells and an array of laboratory equipment required to develop and test new technologies.
Federal-Mogul now has seven plants in China employing 2,000 people and manufacturing all major products from its global portfolio for original equipment and aftermarket customers.
It develops and manufactures a variety of leading products including pistons and rings, valve seats, bearings, seals and brake materials.