China boosted by Japanese inflows

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Japanese auto parts maker starts Nantong project

Musashi Seimitsu Industry Co (Musashi), a Japanese auto parts manufacturer, launched a base construction project in the Nantong Economic and Technological Development Area (NETDA), Jiangsu province, on Feb 9 with the first-stage investment amounting to $90 million, zgnt.net reported.

As the first base of the company in East China, the Nantong venture will produce auto parts such as transmissions, gears and axles. Covering a total area of 150 mu (10 hectares), it will also set up a technology research center to facilitate the industrial transformation of NETDA.

The first-stage construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2015. The total sales volume is expected to reach 1 billion yuan ($160 million) by 2020.

Musashi, founded in 1938 in Toyohashi, Japan, is a manufacturer of key auto parts and components. Among its customers are well-known auto makers such as Honda, Suzuki and Mitsubishi. In addition to the six plants in Japan, the company has also set up more than 10 bases in various parts of the world, including Guangdong in China.

Infiniti lays foundations for ambitious local plans in China by Gong Zhengzheng, China Daily

The QX50 SUV is expected to shake up the market and boost sales significantly. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Japanese luxury carmaker Infiniti hopes its locally made lineup and brand-building campaign will lay solid foundations for its mid-term plan in the Chinese market this year.

Daniel Kirchert, president of Dongfeng Infiniti Motor Co, said that the brand's two locally made models - the Q50L sedan and QX50 SUV - would shake up the market and boost sales significantly, which is "critical" to the company's mid-term China plan for 2018.

According to the plan, Infiniti aims to sell 100,000 cars in China annually by 2018, with locally made models expected to account for more than half.