ArvinMeritor and Chery Form China Joint Venture

(Akron/Tire Review) ArvinMeritor and Chinese carmaker Chery have entered into a joint venture partnership to design and manufacture chassis systems and components. The new joint venture, ArvinMeritor Chassis Systems Wuhu Co., will become a $150-million full-systems chassis supplier by 2010. Production of shocks and struts will begin as early as 2008.

According to Rakesh Sachdev, president of ArvinMeritor’s Asia Pacific operation, the new chassis systems joint venture plant in Wuhu will be one of several China-based facilities ArvinMeritor will add to its network over the next 18 months in support of new business with customers in the region.

“ArvinMeritor’s alliance with Chery is a great example of the company attaining strategic growth from three key focus areas; increasing business with Asian customers, expanding in emerging markets and growing our light vehicle chassis business,” said Phil Martens, president of ArvinMeritor’s Light Vehicle Systems business group. “This new business, which is quickly ramping up, comes on the heels of several other new Chery contracts with ArvinMeritor for its door systems technologies.”