At the end of March 2008, automotive supplier Peguform (Bötzingen / Germany; www.peguform.de) acquired a majority interest in the existing 50:50 joint venture Changchun Peguform Automotive Plastics Technology (CPAT, Changchun, Jilin / China). The company did not reveal exactly what stake it now owns, nor how much money it paid its partner Changshu Automotive Trim (CAIP, Changshu, Jiangsu / China). Peguform says that it regards this move as the first step towards participation in the Chinese market. The jv with China’s largest bumper producer, Jianyin Mould Plastic Group (JMP, Jianyin / China) – see Plasteurope.com of 20.07.2006 – is not affected by the purchase.

The first order for the jv, which has 260 employees and an annual capacity of 300,000 door trims, is for parts for the notchback version of the new Audi "A4." Talks regarding the supply of components to a jv involving Chinese car manufacturer Chery are ongoing.

CAIP owns five plants in China, where it manufactures parts including instrument panels, door liners, centre consoles and sun visors. It also has two jvs with the Magna subsidiary Intier Automotive (Europe: Munich / Germany; www.intier.com). Its consolidated sales in 2007 were EUR 190m.