Automotive supplier Magna (Aurora, Ontario / Canada; www.magna.com) has created a jv with China’s Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC, Guangzhou, Guangdong; www.gagc.com.cn) to produce composite liftgates for crossover vehicles. The composite liftgates will be supplied to a global automaker, with production expected to begin in late 2018, Magna said. The jv, with GAC subsidiary GAC Component (GACC), will be located in a new 5,190 m² facility in Changsha, Hunan / China, and will initially have 116 employees.

Magna Exteriors president Grahame Burrow said the jv combines Magna’s expertise in advanced materials and manufacturing with GACC's knowledge of the world's largest automotive market. "We're seeing tremendous demand for advanced material innovations as manufacturers pursue all opportunities to take weight out of vehicles to meet emissions requirements," he said. The new jv "provides great opportunities for future growth in liftgates and other lightweight exterior products going forward," he added.

Magna said it created the jv in response to China’s growing market for crossovers and sport utility vehicles. Composite liftgates, which are lightweight and recyclable, can achieve up to 25% weight savings over steel versions and are delivered as complete assemblies to the customer, it said. Composite materials also allow for greater design flexibility with deeper draws and tighter radii, it added.

With the addition of the new jv facility, Magna now has 50 facilities in China. The Canadian company has more than 22,700 employees.