Aptiv expedites localization strategy, debuts China solutions for vehicles

Aptiv, a global leader in automotive technologies, has reaffirmed its commitment to fully localizing its industrial chains in China, showcasing a range of innovative solutions for electric cars and intelligent driving at the 21st Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition, also known as Auto Shanghai.

The exhibition, which kicked off on April 23 and runs through May 2, has attracted nearly 1,000 participating enterprises from 26 countries and regions.

Simon Yang, president of Aptiv China and Asia Pacific, emphasized the company's dedication to advancing its localization strategy.

"We will continuously promote the integration, upgrade and popularization of automotive technologies for smart, electric vehicles in China," Yang said. "We are committed to assisting Chinese vehicle enterprises in entering overseas markets with highly localized products."

As part of its expansion plans, Aptiv is set to open two new factories in China in the latter half of 2025. One facility in Wuhan, Hubei province, will focus on producing automobile parts, while another automated factory in Shanghai will provide efficient and safe solutions for high-voltage conductors.

The products showcased at the exhibition include cutting-edge sensing technologies, software-defined networks, and 48V electrical architecture. Notably, Aptiv unveiled two locally developed products, Wind River's real-time operating system and Hypervisor solutions, leveraging visualization technologies to manage virtual machines, both with intellectual property owned by China.

Yang underscored the significance of fully localizing industrial chains, citing factors such as geopolitical uncertainties.

"We are not only talking about manufacturing in China but also ensuring that the intellectual property remains in our hands," he said.

Aptiv's statistics reveal that 12 out of the top 20 best-selling cars in China have utilized products from the company, highlighting its strong presence in the Chinese market and its role in integrating local suppliers into global supply chains.

Drawing on its experience in the European market, Yang shared how Aptiv has been training local enterprises to become suppliers in Europe, enabling them to adapt swiftly to the market's demands. This initiative not only facilitates manufacturing in Europe but also supports the deployment of corresponding services and talents overseas.

With Aptiv's extensive research and development teams and industrial chains worldwide, the company can offer a range of services, including overseas data processing and legal compliance.

Having been present in China for over 30 years, Aptiv remains committed to investing confidently in the country, driving innovation and collaboration in the automotive technology sector, Yang said.

Gu Yingjie contributed to this story.