ST. PAUL, Brazil—China's Anhui Zhongding Rubber-plastic Products Co. Ltd., one of the world's largest non-tire rubber makers, started up an automotive noise, vibration and harshness damping parts plant in St. Paul in August.
This is the company's first overseas plant, and it was set up to meet the requirement for local manufacturing by its client General Motors' Global Emerging Markets platform, according to Zhongding's website.
The GEM platform is designed to support the company's ninemodels of entry-level passenger cars and crossover utility vehicles for developing markets with a 9-year life cycle. Mass production of the models is slated to start in March.
Zhongding has developed five liner bushing products for the platform in joint effort with General Motors, and will provide about $88 million worth of products during the life cycle, according to the company's website.
The plant is expected to spearhead Zhongding's expansion into the South America damping parts market.