Maxion, Dongfeng Form China Aluminum Wheel JV

Germany’s Maxion Wheels is forming a joint venture in China with Dongfeng Motor Parts and Components Group to build aluminum wheels for the local market.

Financial details weren’t disclosed.

The new venture, dubbed Dongfeng Maxion Wheels, is constructing a manufacturing plant in China’s Hubei province. The partners aim to launch series production at the factory in the second half of 2020 with a projected annual capacity of 2 million wheels.

The plant will make low-pressure diecast aluminum wheels, including those with high-end finishes. Employment at the facility is expected to total 450 people.

Maxion, a division of Brazilian conglomerate Iochpe-Maxion SA, claims to be the world’s largest wheel manufacturer. The company produces nearly 60 million wheels per year for passenger and commercial vehicles, and off-road and agricultural applications. The unit was formed through Ichope-Maxion’s 2012 acquisition of Hayes-Lemmerz and earlier purchase of Meritor’s Fumagalli light vehicle wheel business.

Headquartered in Shiyan, Hubei, Dongfeng Motor Parts is a subsidiary of carmaker Dongfeng Motor Co. The supplier generates about 18 billion yen ($160 million) per year making chassis, cabin and body systems, electric drives and powertrain components.