Autoneum expands in China

Autoneum has acquired a 25% stake in a joint venture with its long-time partner and Japanese supplier Nihon Tokushu Toryo (Nittoku) and Chinese supplier TGPM Automotive Industry Group (TGPM).

As a result, new components for acoustic and thermal management will be produced for Japanese car manufacturers at the existing plant of Wuhan Nittoku Autoneum Sound-Proof  in Wuhan, Hubei province.

Employing around 200 people, the JV manufactures comonents including dampers, inner dashes, hoodliners and outer dashes based on nonwovens and other materials, and due to its high production volumes, an expansion of the 7,500 square metre production area is planned for 2014.

“This stake enables us to expand our existing production capacity in China and strengthen our position as the global market leader for acoustic and thermal management solutions for vehicles,” Autoneum CEO Martin Hirzel. “In light of the strong demand from our customers, we see significant opportunities for a further increase in our market share in the emerging market of China."

Wuhan is one of China's most important automotive clusters and the domicile of European, American and Japanese vehicle manufacturers and their suppliers.

In addition to three wholly-owned plants in Chongqing (since 2006), Taicang (2010) and Shenyang (2011), Autoneum operates production sites in Guangzhou (2003) and Tianjin (2004) together with Nittoku in China.

With around 20 million light vehicles produced annually, China is now the leading autmotive manufacturer, with over 27 million light vehicles scheduled to be built there in 2017.