With growing worldwide demand for innovative lighting products, Osram established a second LED plant in Kunshan, China on Sep. 10 to further expand its production capacity in the district. The new LED plant will hire 500 employees in Kunshan City, Jiangsu Province, mainly to manufacture automotive lighting and display lighting products.

“The operation of the new plant not only meets China’s rapidly growing demand for innovative lighting technology, but also increases our presence in the world’s largest lighting market,” said Shengbo Wu, chairman and CEO of Osram Asia Pacific.

According to a report released by National Bureau of Statistics of China, by the end of 2014, car owners rose to 154 million, reflecting 12.4% growth year on year (YoY). The significant number surely will bring huge development opportunities for the automotive components market.

Osram opened its first LED plant in China in 2005, focusing on lighting projector components R&D and production. The new plant will also receive support from Osram’s Wusih-based LED package plant. The new plant will play an influential role in Osram’s global manufacturing network thus continuingly provide the area with innovative lighting products to meet clients growing demands. “Kunshan’s Optronics has a solid industry foundation. The opening of Osram’s new specialty LED lighting plant will enhance the completeness of Kunshan’s optronic supply chain, making the city’s leading optronic base of East China or even the whole nation,” said Jiankang Pan, Vice Chairman of Kunshan Economic and Technological Development Management Committee.

“The launch of the new specialty lighting plant realizes the long-term commitment that Osram serves Chinese market with domestic manufactured products,” said Gunnar Eberhardt, CEO of Osram’s Specialty Lighting, Asia Pacific Region. “With China’s continuingly growing automotive market, we strive to provide innovative lighting technology and products to our Chinese clients.”