Federal-Mogul Powertrain, headquartered in Southfield, today announced it has partnered with Dong Feng Motor Parts and Components Group Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Dong Feng Motor Corp.
The two companies have signed an agreement to establish a new piston joint venture in Shiyan, China, with Federal-Mogul being the majority shareholder. The new joint venture will operate as a piston manufacturer for Dong Feng Motor Corp. and other customers; the current piston business under Dong Feng Pistons and Bearing Co., Ltd. will also be integrated into the new joint venture company.
“We have established over the years a significant partnership with Dong Feng,” says Felix Cheng, vice president and general manager, China and Korea, at Federal-Mogul Powertrain. “Today’s announcement will further strengthen that relationship as we work together to develop world-class piston solutions that support Dong Feng in meeting the increased demand for engine components that improve fuel economy and reduce emissions.”
The new joint venture operation will be located in Shiyan, part of Hubei Province, China. Federal-Mogul will design, engineer, and manufacture high-performance pistons for passenger vehicles and commercial vehicles under the Dong Feng Motor Corp., helping them to meet current and future emissions regulations in China.
“Dong Feng Parts and Components Group is a subsidiary and key parts supplier to Dong Feng Motor Corp. We have nearly 50 years’ experience in research and manufacturing,” says Chen Xinglin, general manager of Dong Feng Parts and Components Group. “Our cooperation with Federal-Mogul Powertrain in pistons is a win-win strategy and takes full advantage of each other’s strengths to drive rapid business growth for pistons and will bring innovative technologies and breakthrough products to Dong Feng vehicles. It also paves the foundation for both companies to further expand the business scope of the joint venture in the future.”
Federal-Mogul, which has 55,000 employees in 24 countries, established its first manufacturing operations in China in 1995. Today, the company operates 12 wholly-owned or joint venture companies, with the Shiyan facility marking the second piston manufacturing center there.
