ArvinMeritor opens new manufacturing facility in China

Dec. 13, 2002
ArvinMeritor Inc. has announced the opening of a new manufacturing facility in the Wai Gao Qiao, Shanghai Free Trade Zone to more strongly keep pace with
ArvinMeritor Inc. has announced the opening of a new manufacturing facility in the Wai Gao Qiao, Shanghai Free Trade Zone to more strongly keep pace with China's growing commercial vehicle market. Initially, about 20 persons will be employed at the facility. This operation is expected to produce $5 million in sales in fiscal year 2003.According to Larry Dowers, vice president, business development and China operations, the 2,100-square-meter facility will initially assemble and manufacture bus and coach axles and brakes. These will include components for low floor buses. Subsequently the scope of the facility calls for assembling and supplying total axle assemblies for commercial vehicles to satisfy the needs of major global customers like those in China. This envisioned scope will include localizing major components over time and providing exceptional technical, sales and service support to our customers."Our two joint ventures along with our other business operations in China continue to give us great confidence in the burgeoning commercial vehicle market. The new facility offers our company more growth and the ability to serve more existing and potential customers," said Tom Gosnell, president of the company's Commercial Vehicle Systems business group.At a major industry meeting earlier this year, Gosnell identified China as a major new source of customers. The new facility will be still another key China-based operation from which the company can and will continue to grow its business base in China. The site manager at the Shanghai facility will be Clifford Pride. Marc Suri will continue as the company's Commercial Vehicle Systems director of China operations.The company operates two joint ventures in China - Xuzhou, Jiangsu for specialty axles, which employs about 1,000 persons; and Shiyan City, Hubei which employs about 200 persons and manufactures brakes. The company's two other Chinese manufacturing facilities are located in Zhenjiang and Shanghai, and they produce light vehicle system components and air and emissions products, respectively.