WUXI, Jiangsu, China, May 10, 2011 /PRNewswire-Aisa/ --
( Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/19990903/DANA )
Dana Holding Corporation (NYSE: DAN) broke ground today on a technical center in Wuxi, Jiangsu, China.
The new technical center will provide advanced product and applications engineering through research, design, development, and testing of off-highway axles, driveshafts, and transmissions; commercial vehicle driveshafts; light-duty axles and driveshafts; and sealing and thermal products, including electric vehicle battery coolers. The center is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2011.
"Dana is proud to be breaking ground on its 14th global technical center as we celebrate our 20th year in China," said Aziz Aghili, Dana's president of Asia Pacific. "We have already experienced considerable success in China and believe there is great opportunity for future growth here in the off-highway, commercial vehicle, and light-vehicle markets."
IHS Global Insight reports that China is the largest producer of heavy trucks globally. In addition, in 2009 China became the world's largest automotive market and will account for more than 25 percent of global light vehicle production by 2014.
To support this growth, the Dana China Technical Center will become the latest addition to Dana's global network of research and development centers. The new facility will encompass 130,000 square feet (12,000 square meters) of space and employ nearly 200 people.
The center will be adjacent to the Dana Wuxi Technologies Company, Ltd., facility, which was established in 2003 and assembles axles, driveshafts, and transmissions for the off-highway market, as well as thermal products.
"This investment in a state-of-the-art test laboratory and production space in China allows us to continue to bring innovative technologies to the global marketplace," said George Constand, Dana's chief technical and quality officer. "The center will support our global product development efforts and will enable Dana to continue designing products specifically for customers and consumers in the Asia-Pacific region."
Dana began manufacturing in China in 1991. Currently, Dana maintains an interest in seven China-based operations, serving the light vehicle, commercial-vehicle, and off-highway markets.
About Dana Holding Corporation
Dana is a world leader in the supply of driveline products (axles, driveshafts, and transmissions), power technologies (sealing and thermal-management products), and genuine service parts for light- and heavy-duty vehicle manufacturers. The company's customer base includes nearly every major vehicle manufacturer in the global automotive, commercial vehicle, and off-highway markets. Based in Maumee, Ohio, the company employs approximately 22,500 people in 26 countries and reported 2010 sales of $6.1 billion. For more information, please visit www.dana.com.
