WABCO dedicated its new Asia Pacific headquarters in Shanghai with a continued commitment to playing a central role in developing the long-term potential of the region’s commercial vehicle industry.
WABCO, the vehicle control systems business of American Standard Companies, is one of the world's leading producers of electronic braking, stability, suspension and transmission control systems for heavy duty commercial vehicles. A recognized global leader, WABCO’s 136 years of commercial vehicle experience help provide truck, trailer and bus owners and operators with improved vehicle safety and operating cost benefits throughout the life of the vehicle.
In a ceremony attended by customers, government officials, media, employees and colleagues from other American Standard businesses, WABCO President Jacques Esculier emphasized the region’s importance to WABCO’s long-term strategy.
“This new, larger, regional headquarters symbolizes WABCO’s continuing commitment to the long-term potential and customer requirements of the region’s commercial vehicle industry,“ said Esculier. “We were one of the first in the industry to establish an Asia Pacific headquarters, in 1996 in Hong Kong. We are now honored to have many deep relationships with truck, bus and trailer manufacturers in China, India, Japan, Korea and the Oceania area, and to also serve multinational customers active here.
“Today this region produces more trucks than either Europe or North America,” he continued. “To respond to this growing market’s demand, we will continue to adapt our technology and technical expertise to local requirements. We will continue to invest in production facilities and employee skills, and explore the opportunities the region offers to our global supply chain. In the last two years alone, we invested more than (US$25 million) in Asia Pacific. These investments very visibly demonstrate to our local and export customers that WABCO’s five advanced Asia Pacific facilities manufacture products of world-class quality and performance.”
Leon Liu, regional president for Asia Pacific welcomed guests to the headquarters office, which coordinates regional original equipment (OE) and aftermarket sales as well as customer service teams and production facilities.
“We are committed to being a preferred supplier by understanding local market trends and requirements, and providing products and services customers need and want throughout the life of their vehicles,” said Liu. “Asia Pacific customers are demanding increasingly advanced commercial vehicle systems such as anti-lock braking systems (ABS), stability control and new compressor technology.
“National governments, now in China and next in India, are launching legislation requiring ABS on commercial vehicles in order to reduce traffic accidents and make national roads safer, “ he continued. “Having pioneered ABS technology for trucks, trailers and buses 25 years ago, WABCO is today the largest and preferred anti-lock braking system supplier in this market. We are honored to be working closely with the Chinese government and local manufacturers, sharing expertise that can help them implement the new national ABS legislation to make roads safer before and after the 2008 Olympics and 2010 World’s Fair.”