Visteon expands China footprint with new Wuhan investment to bolster AI-driven automotive R&D

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Visteon's Asia-Pacific division has announced plans to establish a new wholly foreign-owned entity in China after signing an investment agreement with the Wuhan Economic & Technological development Zone, according to a company WeChat post published on December 4. The move marks another step in the U.S. supplier's expansion across central China.

Headquartered in Van Buren Township, Michigan, Visteon operates in 18 countries with a network of global innovation hubs and manufacturing sites. The company reported roughly US$3.87 billion in sales in 2024 and secured US$6.1 billion in new business orders. Its latest investment is intended to strengthen its R&D footprint in China and deepen its regional presence.

The new Wuhan operation is expected to come online in 2026, with a mandate to advance next-generation AI technologies for automotive applications. Its engineering scope will center on cockpit electronics and electrification systems, positioning the site as a hub for cutting-edge research.

Local officials believe the project will inject fresh momentum into Wuhan's automotive value chain, strengthening supply-chain resilience and supporting the region's ambition to evolve from "China's Auto Valley" into a globally recognized automotive innovation cluster.

Wei Wei, Visteon's global vice president and president for China, said the development zone offers a strong industrial foundation, an ample innovation ecosystem, and a supportive business environment. He noted that the new investment will help the company integrate more deeply into Wuhan's industrial plans and expand the local technology center into a platform serving not only China but international markets as well.

Public records show that Visteon opened its Asia-Pacific Wuhan Technical Center in 2022 in the Wuhan Economic & Technological development Zone, making it the company's second R&D facility in the country after Shanghai. The establishment of a new legal entity marks a further milestone for the Wuhan site, expanding its remit beyond domestic programs to include global R&D and design responsibilities.

In recent years, the Wuhan Economic & Technological development Zone has prioritized innovation-led growth, with rapid advancements in new-energy and intelligent-connected vehicles. Analysts say Visteon's additional investment will reinforce the region's automotive electronics capabilities, accelerate collaboration across the supply chain, and support the broader push for high-quality growth in Wuhan's automotive sector.