IAC's Rapid Success in Asia Fueled By Its Expanding Footprint in China

BEIJING, May 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Today's dedication ceremony of the new International Automotive Components (IAC) Beijing manufacturing facility marks the global tier-one supplier's rapid growth and continued success in the expanding Chinese automotive market.  IAC's Beijing facility is part of the IAC Songjiang joint venture and will generate up to 80 new manufacturing positions.

IAC Songjiang is a 50/50 joint venture formed between IAC Asia and Shanghai Car Carpet Plant (SCCP), an established supplier of vehicle carpeting products in the region.

"IAC will nearly double its book of business in Asia over the next two years with a significant portion of this growth coming from incremental customer and product penetration in China," said IAC Group Chairman Wilbur Ross.  "Our new Beijing plant provides the strategic manufacturing footprint that allows IAC to continue supporting its customers' needs in the rapidly growing Chinese market."    

According to James Kamsickas, President and CEO IAC Group North America and Asia, since the creation of IAC in 2006, the company has been committed to the Chinese market and supporting its customers throughout Asia. "Adding these top-caliber facilities and expanding our capabilities in locations nearest our customers has been a catalyst for our expansion in Asia and specifically our growth in China," he said.  "Our customers expect multinational, sophisticated suppliers to support their regional and global needs, and IAC is committed to fulfilling those needs in the automotive interiors segment."

IAC has 14 facilities in Asia, serving a growing list of OEM customers, such as Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Daimler, Mahindra, Volkswagen, Huatai, Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. (SAIC) and Shanghai General Motors.  

IAC will significantly expand its capabilities in China with the recent production launch of its new 4,300 square meter manufacturing facility in Beijing.  This facility will manufacture vehicle interior components and systems, including carpet and trunk trim for Beijing Benz-Daimler Automotive Co. Ltd. as well as carpet for Shanghai General Motors.  World-class manufacturing processes including compression molding, foaming and water-jet cutting technologies will be used for customer applications at this location.

IAC's Expanding China Footprint

This week's Beijing plant dedication is a continuation of what has been a rapid strategic expansion of IAC operations across Asia.  The company has launched several operations in China over the course of the past two years.

In April of 2008, IAC Group Company and Mitsuboshi Kaseihin Co., Ltd. (MBK) established a new manufacturing operation in Wuhan, China, to supply interior components to Dongfeng Nissan and Dongfeng Honda in China.

The IAC facility in Chongqing began production in October of 2008.  It manufactures and assembles vehicle interior components and systems, including Volvo instrument panels and door panel assemblies for Changan Ford Mazda Automobile Corporation (CFMA).  

Launched in January 2009, IAC established its Asia Headquarters and Engineering Center in Shanghai.  The facility is also home to IAC Asia's purchasing, human resources, finance, sales and marketing departments for IAC China activities.  The Engineering Center focuses primarily on IAC China activities and customers, but also lends development support to other IAC Asia operations.  

IAC's Fuzhou facility, launched in July 2009, assembles vehicle interior components and systems, including door panel and side wall trim assemblies for the Daimler Vito and Viano, a Fujian Daimler Automotive Co. van.  Additionally, the facility provides sequencing and delivery of door panels, side wall trim, flooring and headliners for the Chinese automaker.  

"We continue to build our company organically in Asia, including regional headquarters and technical centers in China, Japan and India," said Gajanan Gandhe, Vice President, IAC Asia.  "Our joint venture partner, Shanghai Car Carpet Plant (SCCP), continues to play a vital part in our mutual growth and success in this region."  

"The opening of the new Beijing plant further demonstrates the strong commitment of strategic partnership between IAC China and SCCP to rapidly expand in soft trim products across China," said Helen Xu, Vice President, IAC China.

"Our partner SCCP's extensive experience in flooring and acoustics manufacturing has been a key contributor to our success in our current JV operation in Shanghai and we fully intend to carry this success over to our new operation in Beijing."

ABOUT INTERNATIONAL AUTOMOTIVE COMPONENTS GROUP

International Automotive Components Group (IAC) is a leading global supplier of automotive components and systems, including interior and exterior trim and structural and functional applications. IAC operates manufacturing facilities in 17 countries with more than 24,000 employees and 2009 global annual sales of approximately $3.2 billion. For more information, visit www.iacgroup.com.

ABOUT IAC ASIA

IAC Asia encompasses manufacturing and engineering locations in Japan, India and China.  In Japan, IAC Asia is anchored by Mitsuboshi Kaseihin Co., Ltd. (MBK), led by President and CEO Satoshi Mashimo.  IAC Asia activities outside of Japan are led by James Kamsickas, President and CEO of North America and Asia with its headquarters location in Shanghai, China.  IAC's Asia footprint includes 14 facilities, including three technical centers.  

SOURCE International Automotive Components