Valeo has opened a new production site in Shanghai's Waigang Industrial Park, situated in Jiading District, to enhance its manufacturing capabilities for advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) in China.
This facility is expected to support the development of software-defined vehicles (SDVs) and autonomous driving technologies.
Spanning around 30,000m2, the new facility is primarily focused on research and development (R&D) as well as the production of ADAS sensors, including pivotal light detection and ranging (LiDAR) technology essential for Level 3 and higher autonomous driving.
Additionally, the site will manufacture computing products like domain and zonal controllers, all integral to Valeo's suite of technologies aimed at advancing SDV revolution, autonomous driving, and the transformation of the in-car experience towards sustainable mobility.
China serves as a hub of innovation for Valeo's BRAIN division, with three integrated R&D and manufacturing sites located in Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Shenzhen, complemented by a standalone R&D centre in Wuhan.
Valeo entered the Chinese market in 1994, and its workforce in the country surpasses 18,000.
Valeo Group CEO Christophe Périllat said: “Valeo attaches great importance to China’s automotive market as a global innovation hub, especially with Shanghai leading the global trend in software-defined vehicle, ADAS, and electrification technologies.
"The opening of our new production unit is a key measure to strengthen our innovation capabilities of ‘Invent with China’. It demonstrates our strong commitment and confidence in actively participating in the ongoing transformation of China’s automotive industry."
Regarding financial performance, Valeo reported a total sales figure of €10,660m for the first half of the year, reflecting a 4.1% decrease compared to the same period in the previous year.
