American automotive battery supplier Johnson Controls has opened a new battery manufacturing plant in Chongqing City, China.
The facility is expected to produce six million automotive batteries per year. Johnson Controls invested $154m in the plant with a size of 133,000m². “This facility will not only enable us to meet increasing demand from our customers in China, but will also allow us to demonstrate our global leadership in technology and sustainability”, said Kenneth Yeng, vice president and general manager of Johnson Control Power Solutions in China. The manufacturer will supply China’s rapidly growing demands with its battery technology and services.
The new facility deepens the company’s long-term commitment to China. Johnson Controls entered the Chinese market with batteries in 2005. The new facility is estimated to create jobs for more than 500 people. Yeng stated that China is a key strategic market for the company.
Some 22m vehicles are produced annually in China, the biggest vehicle market of the world. A new headquarters of Johnson Controls is planned in Shanghai. Two members of the global executive team will be located there.
“We appreciate the support from the Chongqing and Fuling governments, and we look forward to contributing more to the development of the local economy as well as to the local community,” said Yeng. At the opening in Chongqing City, Johnson Controls welcomed the representatives from local governments.