Johnson Controls today participated in a signing ceremony in Tianjin, China to announce a planned $200 million automotive battery plant, pending final approval.
The state-of-the-art facility will supply automakers and the aftermarket in China with high quality maintenance-free lead-acid starter batteries and advanced batteries for start-stop vehicles.
"This plant demonstrates our long-term commitment to the rapidly growing automotive industry in China," said Alex Molinaroli, president, Johnson Controls Power Solutions. "We are forecasting 25 million in annual new car sales in China by 2015. This plant is a further indication of the strategic importance of this market for Johnson Controls."
The company plans to grow to 30 million in annual battery capacity in China by 2017. It recently launched production at its Changxing facility and its Chongqing plant is scheduled to launch later this year. The company also has an automotive battery plant in Shanghai that was part of an acquisition in 2005.
"The city of Tianjin offers excellent leadership in industry and economic development that will help us to achieve our long-term investment plan for growth in the China market," said Shu Yang, vice president and general manager for Johnson Controls Power Solutions Asia. "With the in-depth and highly collaborative support from local governments, we have built our plants in Changxing and Chongqing, and we look forward to establishing our footprint in the North here in Tianjin."
Construction for the Tianjin plant will begin between 2012 and the first half of 2013 with production expected to start in late 2014. The Tianjin Plant will produce more than six million batteries annually at full capacity.
