Brose in Asia continues on expansion course
Gary Tan (President Brose Asia Pacific), Wang Ruijin (Operation Manager Faurecia Automotive Systems Co. Ltd, Changchun), Li Fuchun (Vice Mayor Changchun City), Jürgen Otto (CEO Brose Group) and Herwin Baumgartner (Senior Manager Supply FAW-VW) at the official opening ceremony of the new Brose plant in Changchun.
Brose Changchun Automotive Systems Co., Ltd in the northern Chinese province of Jilin is the first wholly foreign-owned enterprise of the Brose Group in China. With a headcount of approx. 140, the plant produces seat adjusters and window regulators for FAW-VW, Shiroki, Faurecia, Johnson Controls, Lear Seating und Sitech.
Construction of the new production site covering approx. 16,000 square meters of usable floor space was completed within eight months. Approx. 10 million euros have been invested in the building, manufacturing equipment and information technology. Peter Ahlbeck (38) has been appointed General Manager of the plant.
One of the main reasons for choosing the location of Changchun - the second-most important automotive metropolis in China after Shanghai – was its close proximity to Volkswagen’s production facility which Brose, for the first time, is supplying manual and power seat adjusters to.
For several years now, Brose has had a majority stake in two joint ventures in Zhangjiagang and Shanghai, producing window regulators, door systems and seat adjusters for BMW Brilliance, PSA, FAW-VW/SVW, Ford, Johnson Controls, JMC, Shanghai-GM and Volvo.
“The new plant in Changchun will play a major role in the implementation of future projects for the Asian market,” said Jürgen Otto, CEO of the Brose Group, during the official opening ceremony.
The aim is to extend business relations with local OEMs as well as with the Japanese and Korean automakers. Furthermore, it is planned to supply customers in Japan and Korea from Changchun, too.
Development, sales and purchasing activities for the entire Asian region is coordinated by Brose Asia-Pacific Headquarters based in Shanghai.
Over the past ten years, the Brose Group has consistently strengthened its presence in Asia and currently has six locations in China, Japan and Korea.
Brose expects to generate a turnover of 130 million euros on the Asian market in 2006; the business volume in Asia is forecast to more than double in the next five years.
Press contact:
Gabi Rujoub
Telefon: +49 9561 21 1653
Telefax: +49 9561 21 1704
E-mail: gabi.rujoub@brose.net
