Asahi Glass to Hike Capacity 33% in China

Japan's Asahi Glass Co. intends to increase its capacity in China by about one-third in 14 months, according to The Nikkei.

The company plans to retool a plant operated in Suzhou by its AGC Flat Glass subsidiary, which currently makes cover glass for photovoltaic cells, beginning next March.

Revamping the factory will cost 4.5 billion yen about 2 billion less than building an all-new facility, according to the Tokyo-based newspaper. It says the overhauled facility will be able by January 2015 to make glass for about 1.2 million vehicles per year.

Asahi Glass currently has annual capacity in China to make glass for 2.4 million vehicles. The company controls about 10% of China's auto glass market, The Nikkei says.