The Economy

Automotive Supplier Visteon Opens New Plant in Southwest China

April 9, 2012

The 39,800-square-foot facility in Chengdu, Sichuan province, specializes in making mechanically assembled aluminum radiators.

Josh Cable

Visteon Corp. said its joint venture in China has opened a plant in Chengdu to produce aluminum radiators for vehicle manufacturers.

The new facility is a wholly owned subsidiary of FAWER Visteon Climate Control Systems, a joint venture of Visteon Corp. (IW 500: 134) and FAWER Automotive Parts Co. Ltd.

The facility will support the FAW-Volkswagen manufacturing base in Chengdu, as well as other automakers in southwest China, according to Van Buren Township, Mich.-based Visteon.

"This marks Visteon's first climate manufacturing facility in Chengdu," said Joy Greenway, Visteon product group president. "This strategic location reinforces our ability to support domestic and global automakers in China, the largest automotive market."

The 39,800-square-foot facility in Sichuan province specializes in making mechanically assembled aluminum radiators.

Visteon expects the plant to have an annual production capacity of 500,000 units by 2013.

"Since the establishment of its first facility in Changchun in 1995, which was expanded in 2011, [FAWER Visteon Climate Control Systems] has grown into a leading automotive climate-components supplier in China," Visteon said in a news release.

"Drawing on its world-class manufacturing capability and localized design services, it now supplies state-of-the-art brazed and mechanical aluminum radiators, heating ventilation and air conditioning systems, and charge-air coolers to a wide range of automakers in China and for export markets."

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About the Author

Josh Cable | Former Senior Editor

Former Senior Editor Josh Cable covered innovation issues -- including trends and best practices in R&D, process improvement and product development. He also reported on the best practices of the most successful companies and executives in the world of transportation manufacturing, which encompasses the aerospace, automotive, rail and shipbuilding sectors.

Josh also led the IndustryWeek Manufacturing Hall of Fame, IW’s annual tribute to the most influential executives and thought leaders in U.S. manufacturing history.

Before joining IndustryWeek, Josh was the editor-in-chief of Penton Media’s Government Product News and Government Procurement. He also was an award-winning beat reporter for several small newspapers in Northeast Ohio.

Josh received his BFA in creative writing from Bowling Green University, and continued his professional development through course-work at Ohio University and Cuyahoga Community College.

A lifelong resident of the Buckeye State, Josh currently lives in the Tremont neighborhood of Cleveland. When the weather cooperates, you’ll find him riding his bike to work, exercising his green thumb in the backyard or playing ultimate Frisbee.