Gasgoo Munich- According to a report from Gasgoo citing the "Wuhan Economic & Technological Development Zone" WeChat account, officials from the zone recently visited Valeo Group's headquarters to advance cooperation on expanding the supplier's local headlight factory. Both sides agreed to ramp up investment in Wuhan and accelerate the rollout of new products and technologies.
Valeo, a century-old high-tech mobility player, holds significant sway in electrification, advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), intelligent lighting, and software-defined vehicles. Since establishing a lighting joint venture in the zone in 1995, the French supplier has expanded repeatedly, building a lighting system factory, a headlight R&D center, and a global software technology center. Serving both traditional automakers and emerging EV startups, the facility now ships nearly 4 million headlights annually to markets worldwide.
Image Source: Chugu Rongmei
Valeo's Wuhan R&D hub integrates smart systems, vision systems, and a global technology center, employing over 1,500 engineers—roughly one-third of the company's total R&D workforce in China. The local team has developed an ultra-thin high/low beam module standing just 15 millimeters tall, which has already been exported to European markets.
The Wuhan Economic & Technological Development Zone administration highlighted its focus on new energy and intelligent connected vehicles, noting that a "next-generation vehicle" ecosystem is taking shape. The zone pledged to support Valeo's growth through a superior business environment, facilitating the commercialization of innovations like autonomous driving.
Valeo Chief Executive Officer Christophe Périllat remarked that Wuhan has evolved from a manufacturing base into an innovation testbed, becoming one of the group's core innovation hubs. The group remains bullish on the Chinese market and plans to increase R&D investment in electrification and intelligent technologies, grounded in digitalization. By accelerating the layout of new projects, Valeo aims to strengthen Wuhan's automotive industrial cluster.
This collaboration marks a new chapter in the long-standing partnership between the two parties. It is set to further cement Wuhan's role in innovation and manufacturing within the global automotive supply chain, while deepening industrial cooperation between China and France.
