With Asian countries now taking centre stage when it comes to vehicle production, filter and component maker MAHLE has announced plans to expand its production and R&D facilities in the Far East.

The company’s research and development centre in Shanghai is to be expanded to reflect growing Chinese car production, with 30 million vehicle expected to be produced annually by 2017. This will allow for improved research and test facilities and closer links to the car production plants.

Meanwhile MAHLE is building a new production plant in Northern Japan close to the major Japanese car manufacturing facilities and expanding two plants in Thailand, where many Japanese vehicle manufacturers now have significant capacity.

The MAHLE Group is in the top 30 companies in the automotive supply industry worldwide. These latest developments will further strengthen OE links and aftermarket product development.