Valeo has inaugurated a global electronics expertise centre in Shenzhen and a wiper systems production plant in Wenling, China.
The new electronics centre, which will employ more than 100 engineers by the end of the year and 200 by 2015, will develop electronic hardware services for all Valeo Group entities. It will also play a major role in the future development of electronic components for electric vehicles.
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“The opening of the new electronics expertise centre and the new wiper systems plant are a further demonstration of Valeo’s strategy to accelerate its development in fast growing markets, in particular in China where the Group aims to double its sales by 2015,” said Valeo CEO Jacques Aschenbroich.
“The R&D activity is key to support this development. The number of our engineers in China will more than double from 1,300 in 2010 to 3,000 in the next five years. Beyond China, Asia is a key market for Valeo, which
represented 19% of its total sales in 2010 and should increase to around 30% in 2015.”
The centre will provide electronics engineering services, computer-aided design, layout engineering and supplier quality support for all Valeo product lines. It has hardware test benches, thermal chambers and electromagnetic compatibility test equipment.
The new centre is located within Valeo’s Shenzhen production plant which has just been extended by 5,000 sq.m., enabling it to increase its production of top column modules, switches, control panels and ultrasonic systems.
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By GlobalDataThe new wiper systems site in Wenling replaces the former plant opened in 1994, employs around 800 employees and will see a significant increase in wiper and washer systems for China and abroad.
This facility complements another Valeo wiper systems site in Shanghai – in partnership with SAIC.
Valeo is present in China through its four business groups – Powertrain Systems, Thermal Systems, Comfort and Driving Assistance Systems and Visibility Systems – as well as the Valeo Service aftermarket activity.
In 2010, the Group employed nearly 8,000 people in China in 15 production
sites, three R&D centres, eight engineering centres and an aftermarket distribution centre.
