Aluminum rolling and recycling company Novelis has opened its first plant in Changzhou National Hi-Tech District in China.
The Chinese plant will produce heat-treated aluminum automotive sheet and is expected to have production capacity of 120,000 tons per year.
The aluminum automotive sheets are used in lightweight vehicle structures and body panels including doors, fenders, hoods, and lift gates.
Changzhou plant is a part of the company's global expansion with $100m investment.
Novelis president Phil Martens said: "The opening of our Changzhou plant further solidifies Novelis' position as the aluminum partner-of-choice for automakers around the world.
"Global automakers seeking to drive fuel efficiency, higher performance and innovative design can now source locally-produced Novelis aluminum automotive sheet in every major region where they make vehicles."
Novelis senior vice president Shashi Maudgal said: "This new facility will be integrated with our existing operations in Korea, strengthening Novelis' leadership in the Asian market, the largest and fastest growing region in the world for aluminum."
