Vibracoustic christens new plant in China, adds air spring production

CHONGQING, China—China's automotive market is growing and transitioning, moving toward new mobility in the process. As it does, Vibracoustic plans to be right there, doing what it says it's always done: Meet demand by manufacturing the highest-quality parts more sustainably than ever.

And with a brand new facility in Chongqing and newly launched production in Wuxi, Vibracoustic is positioning itself to better serve its clients and capture even more of the market share.

The company, July 18, brought online a 176,500-sq.-ft. manufacturing plant in Chongqing, dedicated to the production NVH products such as motor mounts, chassis mounts, and isolators and dampers. The facility—the capacity of which was not disclosed—primarily will serve China-based vehicle manufacturers. The facility represents an investment of about $25 million.

"With its vibrant automotive industry and remarkable growth, China has become an essential hub for innovation and advancement," Vibracoustic said in a statement. "By establishing (and investing in) this plant … Vibracoustic demonstrates its strong commitment to serve its customers in this dynamic region."

The Chongqing facility opens with 130 employees, but it expects to employ as many as 600 by the time it finishes with production ramp-ups.

Moreover, Vibracoustic noted, the facility is designed for sustainable manufacturing as it boasts a water-based bonding production line, which helps to reduce operational emissions and increases safety.

Vibracoustic's Chongqing plant is the company's fourth in China. It operates one in Yantai and two in Wuxi, where it recently added production of Vibracoustic air springs. This marks the start of locally produced Vibracoustic air springs for the Chinese market.

"This development," Vibracoustic said, "signifies the commitment to meet the unique needs of the Chinese market and Vibracoustic's determination to deliver tailored solutions to its customers, strengthening its position as a trusted partner for high-performance NVH solutions in the automotive industry."

Wuxi also is home to a regional technical center, which helps Vibracoustic drive engineering and development efforts for customers as they work to tackle some of the challenges that come with the automotive industry's transition toward sustainability, electrification and autonomy.