Wärtsilä Yuchai Engine Co., Ltd, a joint venture between Wärtsilä and Yuchai Marine Power Co., Ltd., has inaugurated its new factory in Doumen District, Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province, China. The new factory covers a total area of 266,700 square meters and will be used for the assembly and testing of Wärtsilä 20, Wärtsilä 26 and Wärtsilä 32 medium speed engines. The assembly lines and test beds are in partial operation already, and the plant is expected to be in full production before the end of 2016. Wärtsilä and Yuchai Marine Power Co. Ltd. (YCMP), a subsidiary of Guangxi Yuchai Group, established the 50/50 joint venture in May 2013. The joint venture, for which the value of Wärtsilä's investment was approximately EUR 17 million, will strengthen Wärtsilä's competitiveness in the Asian markets and increase its focus on the offshore and special segments in China, the world's largest shipbuilding country.

"As China is the world's major supplier of newbuild ships, the Chinese market plays a central role in Wärtsilä's global growth strategy. By inaugurating another Wärtsilä joint venture in China, we not only demonstrate our strong commitment to this important market, but also take another significant step towards enhancing our presence in the region. Strengthening our local production capacity is an important part of this strategy. Through this partnership with Yuchai, China's leading high-speed engine manufacturer and market leader, we are convinced we can serve our customers in China in the best possible way and further reinforce our market leadership position for medium-speed engines," says Björn Rosengren, President and CEO of Wärtsilä Corporation.

Tags: Ltd, Wärtsilä Yuchai Engine Co.