Automotive supplier
Webasto opens new plant in Guangzhou
Automotive supplier Webasto has moved into its new, larger plant in Guangzhou (Guangdong province) in southern China. As part of the opening ceremony, the company announced that sales in China exceeded one billion euros for the first time in 2017. This means that the Webasto Group generates around a third of its sales in China.
"The continuous sales growth in recent years confirms the popularity of our products and our performance in the world's largest automotive market," said Dr. Holger Engelmann, Chairman of the Management Board, Webasto SE, at the opening ceremony in Guangzhou. "Our strong team in China and their outstanding work make a significant contribution to Webasto being a sought-after partner for national and international customer projects. And this secures jobs in the company worldwide," he continued.
The company has been based in Guangzhou since 2006 with a production facility for roof systems. The previous site was rented. With the move to a completely renovated building (around 30,000 square meters) on its own premises (around 65,000 square meters), the company is expanding its presence in China once again. The new site also has potential for further expansion. The investment in Guangzhou thus also contributes to Webasto's dual strategy of "Strengthening & Participating". "Our investment in Guangzhou is a strategic move. On the one hand, we are strengthening our successful roof business. On the other hand, we can also locate battery production here in the future," explained Engelmann.
The new location is only around 500 meters away from the old one, so that the move could be carried out gradually and smooth production was ensured at all times. In his opening speech, Dr. Engelmann thanked the employees for their high level of commitment. The number of employees is set to rise from 500 to over 600.
The demand for large panoramic roofs in particular is constantly increasing in China. In future, up to 1.6 million roofs per year can be produced in Guangzhou. This would make the plant one of Webasto's largest worldwide. The main suppliers are joint ventures such as Dongfeng Nissan, FAW-VW and Guangzhou Honda, which also have production facilities in the region. kp
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