French auto parts manufacturer Valeo SA opened a new facility in Changshu, in China’s Jiangsu province, dedicated to developing and producing smart cabin and other lighting products for new energy vehicles (NEVs) produced in the country. The company held a grand opening ceremony for the plant earlier this month.
The facility, managed by the recently established Valeo New Energy Lighting (Changshu) Company Ltd, will produce a wide range of products, including ambient lighting systems, human-machine interaction lighting, headlamps, high-mounted brake lights, position, emblem and grille lighting for vehicles. It is expected to supply lighting products to automakers such as Geely Auto.
The facility, which covers an area of 8,000 sq m, will strengthen Valeo's lighting innovation and manufacturing capabilities in China. It is expected to be expanded to cover 16,000 sq m by 2026.
Valeo, a global automotive components supplier, employing 112,700 people in 175 production facilities and 66 R&D centres in 29 countries worldwide – including 44 in China. In Changshu, it also has an electric vehicle drivetrain R&D and manufacturing facility which it built in 2017.
