Automation expert ABB and China’s leading automotive parts supplier, HASCO, have announced a joint venture to drive the next generation of smart manufacturing in China’s automotive industry.
The joint venture will build on the existing successful relationship between the two companies, leading to the crucial development of highly flexible and sustainable auto parts manufacturing within HASCO’s China-based operations.
As the automotive industry’s transition towards electric vehicles (EVs) gathers pace, parts manufacturers must increasingly invest in flexible facilities that can respond to rapidly changing demands and trends.
The partnership between ABB Robotics and HASCO, which includes a 40 percent stake by ABB in the joint venture, will expand the use of smart technologies and artificial intelligence within the industry.
Sami Atiya, ABB Robotics & Discrete Automation president, said: “With the automotive industry facing its greatest transformation since its inception and sales of electric vehicles set to overtake combustion vehicles in many parts of the world by 2035, there is a clear need to support the transition of the industry.
“This joint venture will enable us to further develop HASCO’s leading position with automated solutions that benefit customers in China which – as one of the largest automotive manufacturing marketplaces – will play a pivotal role in delivering a sustainable transport future.”
The new joint venture, expected to commence operation in the second quarter of 2022, will build on the expertise and manufacturing experience of both partners to realise the enormous potential for increasing efficiency within the auto parts industry.
Customers in a range of industries, from vehicle body to chassis systems, power and battery electronics to edrive systems, will benefit from new, highly efficient and environmentally sustainable manufacturing methods.
ABB was the first multinational robot supplier in China to localise its full value chain, from R&D, manufacturing, sales, engineering and system integration. In 2022, ABB will open the world’s most advanced robotics factory in Shanghai.
This new factory will host an onsite research and development centre, accelerating innovations in product development, Artificial Intelligence and customer collaboration on automation solutions.
ABB are at the forefront of helping to create a cleaner and more efficient future, especially in the motor industry. Last year they announced to reduce carbon emissions and will electrify its fleet of 10,000 vehicles by 2030. They also announced the move to an all-electric car fleet in the UK by 2025.
