Philips Opens 2nd Automotive Lighting Factory in China

November 25, 2010, Shanghai, China—The global leading automotive lighting manufacturer, Philips Automotive Lighting, celebrated its new factory opening in Malu Town of Jiading District. The brand-new Malu facility is the second factory Philips Automotive Lighting has built in China. Mr. Dominiek Plancke, Global CEO of Philips Automotive Lighting, attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony to kick-off the new facility.

Over 200 guests including representatives of Philips Automotive Lighting’s partners and the press attended the grand opening ceremony. Some government officials of Jiading District were also present with congratulations and participate ribbon-cutting, together with Mr. Dominiek Plancke, Global CEO of Philips Automotive Lighting, Mr. Lin Liangqi, CEO of Greater China of Philips Lighting, and Mr. Lakatos, Operations Manager of Malu Factory.

Dominiek Plancke said, “The establishment of Philips Automotive Lighting's factory in Malu marks our long-term commitment to China. Malu Factory is a brand-new facility oriented toward the Asia Pacific and China market in particular. Its completion will optimize the supply chain of Philips Automotive Lighting to the local customers, and hence will further increase the customer service level and reinforce the leadership of Philips Automotive Lighting in the most growing region Asia Pacific.”

Dominiek Plancke added, “With the fast growth of China and other Asian auto markets, the demand for automotive lighting has been rising accordingly. With the growing market opportunities, Philips will continue to increase the investment in Asia and to provide the local consumers with green automotive lighting products made with leading technologies.”

Philips Automotive Lighting set up the first Chinese factory in Songzi, Hubei Province, which is dedicated to the production of halogen bulbs, conventional signal bulbs and motorcycle bulbs. As the second factory Philips Automotive Lighting has built in China, the Malu facility will specialize in manufacturing high-performance halogen bulbs with imported components.

The production lines are imported from Europe using the latest high technologies. All the staff of the Malu factory has received the most rigorous technological trainings in Europe. Furthermore, Philips Automotive Lighting arranges the employees to study on a regular basis. In this way, they can keep abreast of the technological developments and achievements overseas, ensuring that the Malu Factory is at the cutting edge of global leading technologies. By means of hardware devices and staff training, the Malu facility of Philips Automotive Lighting can guarantee its products according to the Philips quality standards of products imported from its overseas branch.

Based on its expertise in automotive lighting sector for over 100 years, Philips has consistently strived for achieving innovations and breakthroughs of lighting technologies and developing the optimum solutions for traffic safety and drivers’ comfort. Consequently, the Malu facility is more than a new factory, but also brand-new technological innovations and a brand-new beginning of Philips Automotive Lighting.