Opening of the production plant in China
RAPA has reached another important milestone in its development in China: the opening of the eagerly awaited new plant. The plant, which is located in Changzhou, the oldest industrial city in the Yangtze River Delta and the capital of new energies, covers a total area of 13,000 square meters and comprises three main areas: Administration, production and warehouse and logistics areas.
The ground-breaking ceremony took place in September 2023 and commissioning is planned for the end of June this year. The first production line is expected to start series production in August, focusing on components and systems for air suspension, active chassis and camera and sensor cleaning.
“The speed with which the entire plant was built – a speed that is only possible in China – underlines the dynamism and efficiency of this project, but also demonstrates the requirements of the Chinese market,” explained Dr. Roman Pausch, CEO of the RAPA Group. He also emphasized that China is not only the largest automotive market in the world, but also an important market for electric vehicles. “The close connection between our active chassis components and e-mobility is the main driver for our entry into the Chinese market, in line with our ‘local for local’ principle. With the opening of this plant, we are opening a new chapter in RAPA’s growth plans for China and consistently implementing our commitment to local production.”
RAPA will continue to be firmly anchored in the Chinese market and meet the constantly changing requirements of the booming Chinese automotive market. The plant will strengthen RAPA’s market position and competitiveness in China by offering high-tech products and development services at competitive prices.
In addition, the Changzhou plant was designed according to the concept of green and sustainable development to create a low-carbon, resource-saving, intelligent and environmentally friendly green factory.
“As a German family-owned company with a history of over 100 years, maintaining future viability is of great importance to us. After a thorough examination of the industrial areas in the Yangtze River Basin, we are convinced that we can achieve our long-term development goals with the new plant in Changzhou,” said Dr. Zinan Wang, Managing Director of RAPA Automotive China.