Michelin Sues Aeolus Over Infringement in Chinese Court
China’s SinoCast and Beijing Modern Business Daily reported yesterday that Groupe Michelin has filed an infringement suit against Aeolus Tyre Co. Ltd. and its agent Best Choice International trade Co. Ltd. in Beijing Chaoyang Court. According to the report, Michelin is seeking compensation of 1 million Chinese won (approximately $124,000).
Eaton Signs Joint Venture Agreement with Chinese Company to Make Switchgear Components
Eaton Corp. has signed an agreement to form a joint venture with ZhongShan MingYang Electrical Appliances Co., Ltd. (MingYang) to manufacture and market switchgear components in southern China. Eaton will have 51 percent ownership of the joint venture, which will be called Eaton Electrical (ZhongShan) Co., Ltd. The joint venture is expected to receive Chinese government approval in the next few months.
Chinese Automakers Urged Not to Copy Western Automotive Consumer Culture
Despite growing demand, Chinese automakers should be careful to promote the automotive industry and develop a related culture and not simply clone American or European automotive consumer cultural models, said an expert. Liu Gang, a doctor of scientific and technological philosophy at Northeast China University based in Shenyang, capital of Liaoning Province, said the automotive consumer cultural concepts now prevailing in the U.S. and Europe are characterized by stimulated consumption or forced waste at the automobile buyers’ expense.
Cooper Standard Automotive Forms Joint Venture in China
Cooper-Standard Automotive, an operating group of Cooper Tire & Rubber Co., has formed a joint venture company with Saiyang Sealing Products Co. of China. Through the joint venture, the two companies will manufacture and sell automobile sealing systems for under the name Cooper Saiyang Wuhu Automotive. The joint venture will manufacture sealing components for the C307 program for Changan Ford.
Michelin Plans to Expand Capacity at Two China Plants
France’s Michelin Group plans to boost output at its two plants in China in response to capacity expansion moves by rivals such as Bridgestone Corp, the Shanghai Youth Daily reported. The newspaper said Michelin would the boost output at its plant in Shenyang in northeastern China to two to three million units a year.
Johnson Controls to Expand Vehicle Component Plant in China
Since entering China’s emerging automotive market in 1997, vehicle-interior supplier Johnson Controls has invested millions of dollars, opened 12 facilities and won sourcing contracts for dozens of cars and trucks. Now, it’s gearing up for more growth with an $8 million expansion of a seat-component production plant near Shanghai.
American Axle & Manufacturing Elects New Board Members
American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings (AAM) has appointed two new members to its board of directors: Dr. Henry Yang, chancellor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and Thomas Martin, a retired DaimlerChrysler financial executive.