Chinese investment brings aviation tools to American auto industry

Global Business

Chinese investment in the U.S. has created hundreds of new business operations and thousands of new American jobs. One popular region is the American Midwest where business has long focused on the car.

But, Chinese investment is looking to the sky.

CGTN’s Hendrik Sybrandy reports.

These days, a trip down the highway is quieter than ever. In this age of hands-free phones and infotainment systems, drivers not only want to keep rain out of their vehicles, but noise as well.

“You want a quieter cockpit, our parts are the primary source of reducing cockpit noise,” Henniges Automotive C.E.O. Larry Williams said.

A company that manufactures rubber weather strips that fill the gaps in between a car’s sheet metal.

Two years ago, the Aviation Industry Corporation of China or AVIC bought this auto supplier, to put its money to work in North America and gain access to the huge U.S. car market.

“The Chinese companies and suppliers know that if they want to be taken seriously they have to be international conglomerates, global companies, like the United States companies are,” Walsh said.

Dustin Walsh is a reporter with Crain’s Detroit Business publication. He said Chinese investment in Midwestern U.S. auto suppliers was up $2 billion last year over the year before.

The welcome mat is out in Detroit, the place that gave birth to the automobile. The city’s Chinese Business Association actively works with companies looking to relocate here.

Henniges, with 17 plants around the world, including five in China and four in the U.S., was owned by a private equity firm before AVIC, with a more long-term vision and hands-off approach towards management, took over.


Zhihang Chi talks about the emerging investment trends

To discuss emerging investment trends between China and the U.S., CGTN’s Rachelle Akuffo spoke to Zhihang Chi, vice president & general manager, North America of Air China.