Marelli wants to bring “China Speed” to the rest of the world with a new development strategy that cuts three-year product lead-times to 12 months. In parallel, there is speculation swirls about the Italian Japanese supplier about a buyout bid from India’s Motherson.
Many opportunities arise from Chinese automakers’ rapid shift toward electrification and intelligence, especially in the form of SDV vehicles, which are setting new benchmarks for speed, scale and innovation.
“At Marelli, we see this not just as a trend, but as a strategic imperative. China ranks among our most important markets and serves as a strategic hub for innovation, talent and global collaboration,” said David Slump, the group’s president and CEO.
The country’s advanced supply chains also allow the company to localize core components, from electronics to lighting modules, with flexibility and cost-efficiency, he added.
Eager to seize more market share in China, Marelli further advanced its “China for China; China for Global” strategy by upgrading its R&D Center into the Asia Pacific Innovation Hub for Automotive Lighting in Shanghai in March, after relocating its global center for display R&D and production to Guangzhou, Guangdong province in late 2024.
