During a significant announcement at the 2024 Valeo China Media Open Day on Tuesday, Zhou Song, president of Valeo China, revealed the company's unwavering optimism about development prospects in Shenzhen.
The multinational automotive parts giant has seen its sales surge from 1 billion yuan (US$138.1 million) to 10 billion yuan over the past decade, fueling its commitment to increasing investments in the city, Shenzhen Economic Daily reported.
Zhou highlighted that Valeo's Shenzhen factory has become a cornerstone in the company's global operations, not only as one of its largest production bases but also as a key electronic research and development (R&D) center for intelligent systems.
Headquartered in Paris, Valeo is renowned for being among the world's top 10 automotive parts suppliers, with a significant footprint in the advanced driving assistance system business. Valeo China's total sales reached 30 billion yuan in 2023, constituting 17% of Valeo's global sales.
The Valeo journey in Shenzhen began in 2005. In 2007, it established its first driving assistance R&D center within China in Shenzhen. Starting with a modest facility in Bao'an District, the firm has rapidly expanded. In 2013, sales revenue of Valeo's Shenzhen company surpassed 1 billion yuan, and by 2023, it had exceeded the 10 billion yuan mark.
A notable milestone was the completion of the Valeo (Shenzhen) Intelligent Manufacturing Center in Bao'an in 2023. The facility specializes in producing key components for intelligent driving, such as remote communication modules, 5G communication modules, and LiDAR systems.
According to Zhou, the center has already achieved National Intelligent Manufacturing Capability Level 4 certification. He emphasized Valeo's dedication to enhancing its investment in Shenzhen, aiming to refine its level of intelligent manufacturing and digitalization.
Zhou commended Shenzhen's business environment, which he says enables foreign enterprises to thrive. He pointed to the swift construction of the Valeo (Shenzhen) Intelligent Manufacturing Center as an example of "Shenzhen speed."
Celebrating Valeo's 30th anniversary in China, Zhou reflected on the transformation of Valeo's Shenzhen operations from a small-scale production plant to a leading R&D and intelligent manufacturing center. This evolution, he noted, is symbolic of Valeo's transition from "Made in China" to "Created in China."
Zhou confirmed that the company will increase its investment in intelligent manufacturing and R&D in China, with more than 20% of Valeo's global advanced researchers based in the country, catering to both Chinese and international markets.