(Photo : Johnson Controls)

The largest US auto parts supplier, Johnson Controls Inc (JCI), has announced plans to put up 11 new manufacturing plants in China in the next five years to handle expected growth in the country, the company said in a press statement.

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JCI, a global giant in car seating, components, automotive electronics, and interiors, said it continues committed to its plans of increasing its production bases in China to 68 from the current 57 in the next five years.

The expansion plan was announced even as the auto industry in China has slowed significantly. JCI, however, stressed that China continues to offer the largest growth potential globally.

Expanding Footprints in China

Johannes Roters, the China general manager of the company, said the expansion plan will further establish Johnson Controls' footprints in China, where it now has 57 sites operated by its auto parts unit, Automotive Experience.

Roters also said that it will focus on innovative complete interior solutions in China as JCI anticipates demands to further growth in the next five years. Despite the economic slowdown in China the past months, JCI expressed confidence that the economy will recover and even predicted that its business will continue to grow in the mainland.

JCI began operations in China in 1997 and have continuously expanded. Its automotive unit is engaged in at least 30 joint ventures with 24 Chinese partners. It operates 57 production bases located in 27 cities around the country. It employs 25,000 workers in China.

10 Engineering Sites in China

The company also operates 10 engineering sites in eight cities in the country. The sites are manned by 1,150 engineers and 44 designers.

The company has a very wide customer based in China, which include all major international and national automakers that sell vehicles in the country. It expects to gain growth of at least two per cent over last year due to the growth in China and North America.

JCI also plans to expand in southern US and Mexico although company officials have not provided further details.