US-based Haartz Corporation (Acton, Massachusetts; www.haartz.com), a leading supplier of soft-trim materials for automotive interiors, has entered a joint venture with China’s Minth Group (Ningbo; www.minthgroup.com) to serve the country’s fast-growing market.

Haartz-Minth (Ningbo) Automotive will initially make thermoplastic olefin (TPO) foils and foam laminates based on Haartz extrusion technology. Haartz’s range of TPO-based products includes various interior components such as door and instrument panels as well as centre consoles.

The joint venture still requires support from the Chinese government but, assuming timely approval of all permits and registration, Haartz said production should be underway in the second half of 2017. Each party’s respective shareholding in the joint venture was not disclosed.

The company will be located near Ningbo, benefiting from existing resources of the Minth Group’s TaiYong facility.

John Fox, president of Haartz, said China is becoming an increasingly important market for US-based automotive makers and suppliers, and the alliance with Minth would help it meet customers’ demands quicker and more cost-effectively.

Haartz has manufacturing facilities in Acton, Massachusetts / USA, and Mannheim / Germany, and is also planning operations in Pune / India. The family-owned business has been present in China since 2011, with warehouses and offices in Shanghai and Chongqing.

The Minth Goup has 46 facilities in China and nine production plants around the world, including in the US, Mexico and Thailand.