In China, French automotive component supplier Plastic Omnium (PO, Levallois; www.plasticomnium.com) has recently launched a development centre for exterior parts in Anting, about 30 kms outside of Shanghai. The new facility is to support what the company calls its "fast growth" in the world's largest automobile market and currently has a staff of 300 engineers and technicians but is targeted to expand to an additional 150 employees by 2016. According to French management, they have seen the launch of 35 exterior parts programmes for 18 Chinese customers in 2013 alone and project the number to grow to 50 by 2015 and to include companies such as Volkswagen, GM, SAIC, BMW, PSA Peugeot Citroen and Jaguar Land Rover.

Through its YFPO joint venture with Chinese partner Yanfeng-SAIC, originally founded in 2007 with Yanfeng Visteon (see Plasteurope.com of 10.05.2007) Plastic Omnium has 13 production plants in the country producing exterior components along with five wholly owned production sites for the manufacture of fuel tanks and systems as well as for its composites business, generating more than EUR 500m in overall revenue. PO has recently opened a new development centre for OEM components in the Slovak Republic (see PIWeb of 17.10.2013)