BASF sees huge potential in China's auto market

Shanghai, June 22 (Gasgoo.com) Amid the general market slowdown, BASF sees huge potential in China's fast-growing auto industry, and believes it can help Chinese carmakers upgrade quality and save cost with innovative engineering resin products, Plastics News reported, citing BASF's executive.

"We are actively contacting and staying in dialogue with Chinese carmakers - SAIC, FAW, Cherry, just to name a few - and their tier-1 suppliers," said Hermann Althoff, BASF's group vice-president for engineering plastics in the Asia Pacific, at the Chinaplas show in Guangzhou.

"Despite the crisis, penetration of sophisticated engineering plastics solutions into the Chinese automobile industry is increasing," he told Plastics News. Jianghuai Auto is using BASF's Ultramid glass-fiber-reinforced nylon to make the plastic air intake manifold for its 'Refine' MPV.

BASF also boasts China's first lower-bumper stiffener, which was developed with the aid of BASF's Integrative Simulation software. The series-built nylon component was recently introduced in the new 'Regal' model by Shanghai GM, a passenger car venture between General Motors and China's SAIC Motor.

Anthoff said the Chinese market potential can be illustrated by some plain facts: In Europe, cars use an average of 20 kilograms of nylon, while the number averages 5-6 kilograms in China. The global crisis is also strongly pushing Chinese companies to strive for innovation.