The Valeo Wuhan lighting plant in WEDZ. [Photo/WeChat account: whkfq]
The Valeo Wuhan lighting plant, located in Wuhan Economic & Technological Development Zone (WEDZ), stands as a beacon of advanced automation and precision. With a new car light produced every 36 seconds, the plant boasts an impressive annual output of 4 million units, distributed globally.
Valeo recently announced an ambitious strategic plan aiming for sales of up to 24 billion euros ($28.26 billion) by 2028. It has expanded four times since its establishment in WEDZ in 1995, creating a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, the company's largest global lighting R&D center, and an international software technology center.
The Wuhan plant is equipped with fully automated injection molding and painting lines, as well as automated module headlamp assembly lines, achieving 100 percent automation and full connectivity across all production equipment. The technical center is dedicated to pioneering areas such as autonomous driving, smart cockpits, and automotive lighting.
The seamless integration of R&D and manufacturing enables Valeo to lead the industry by reducing the time from headlamp design to mass production to just seven months.
Valeo has also launched its first CarLab in China at the Wuhan Technical Center, serving as a vital platform for fostering innovation. The company also plans further expansion with new production lines at its second Wuhan plant, focusing on high-end lighting products for new energy vehicles to meet increasing market demand.
WEDZ has made significant strides in developing new energy and intelligent connected vehicles, elevating automotive components to the level of complete vehicles. Under Valeo's leadership, 33 component companies have been attracted to the area, enhancing the automotive supply chain's resilience.
Zhou Song, president of Valeo China, highlighted the company’s commitment to expanding its investment in China and enhancing smart manufacturing and R&D capabilities, with more innovative technologies being developed and implemented in Wuhan.
