Zhongxing Auto to make cars in Changchun plant

Shanghai, August 8 (Gasgoo.com) The construction of Chinese carmaker Hebei Zhongxing Auto's Changchun facility in northeast China has recently topped off and will start operation in October, with an annual output of 200,000 vehicles and auto parts, said sina.com.cn today.

This project is a joint venture between Hebei Zhongxing Automobile Company Ltd. and Changchun Zhongxing Changling Auto Parts Manufacturing Corp, with a total investment of 1.937 billion yuan ($283 million) and an initial area of 300,000 square meters. The facility has three production lines for stamping, wielding, and KD assembling. It will be start operation in October after equipment is fixed. The facility is expected to produce 200,000 pickups, SUVs, crossovers and MPVs and their components.

Based on its several decades of pickup-making experience, Zhongxing Auto has built up its capabilities of developing and producing SUVs, CUV (crossover utility vehicles) and MPVs, especially their bodies and components. The company is reportedly planning to shift parts of its operations to sedans in future by starting with MPV manufacturing.

Zhongxing Auto will export its vehicles to be made in this Changchun plant to overseas markets. Changchun, an "auto city" in northeast China, is home to FAW, the second largest Chinese carmaker and a Chinese partner of Volkswagen and Toyota.