Chinese auto firm mulls NW investment
CHINESE automotive company Wanfeng Auto Wheel is eyeing expansion opportunities in the North West and West Midlands, a senior executive has revealed.
George Xia said the firm, which makes alloy wheels and supplies BMW, Vauxhall and Fiat in Europe as well as Chinese automotive companies, “has a plan and is looking for opportunities” to grow in the UK.
Mr Xia, pictured, said both the North West, where he lived for five years until joining
Wanfeng this year, and the Birmingham area, where the firm has a small sales operation, were in his thinking.
“I am in charge of looking at overseas investment, and we have got a relationship with UKTI and at this stage are looking at the options and opportunities.”
He said Wanfeng had enjoyed high growth levels in the last 15 years and is in a strong financial position, which give it confidence to look at international growth.
“We will be attracted by technical know-how and engineering capability – I know that both the North West and West Midlands have strong manufacturing sectors, which is obviously very important.”
Formerly an international advisor working with the UK Trading Consortium, Mr Xia – whose wife and child still live in Macclesfield – was attending an event on corporate and social responsibility organised by law firm DLA Piper in Shanghai.
He said the issue was of growing importance to both private businesses and the Chinese government.
