PIA in the center of the "automotive powerhouse"

Over the past 10 years, both automobile production and the number of new car registrations have quadrupled in China. During this growth phase, China has been setting the global pace, focused on foreign technologies and products, with an enormous push in the field of e-mobility. PIA Automation is in the center of this new "automotive powerhouse", with branches in the vibrant cities of Ningbo and Suzhou.

The automation business, especially within the automotive industry, is a global growth market and offers the PIA group great opportunities within Europe, North America, and China. China continues to be a primary focus as the largest global automotive market with roughly 30 % of global automotive production taking place there. "Through our global group structure and our sites in Ningbo and Suzhou, we have ideal access to the booming Chinese market", reports Franz Reiter, Managing Director of about 300 employees at PIA Ningbo.

PIA Austria, located in Grambach south from Graz, is one of the market leaders within the production of powertrain component manufacturing equipment in Europe and North America. As part of the PIA group, this 400-strong company is the global powertrain competence center and has already completed successful projects in China. PIA Austria develops and produces highly innovative assembly and test systems for projects in the powertrain, e-mobility, and hybrid drive engineering sectors. Customers include well-known companies such as AAM, BMW, Continental, Daimler, GKN, Magna, VW as well as ZF.

PIA is a one-stop solution provider that leverages the strengths and capabilities of all its branches. "We develop automation solutions, tailor-made for the products and requirements of the customer. Organized in Strategic Business Units, synergy effects are ideally utilized within the global PIA network and the know-how of all locations is shared", explains Johannes Linden, CEO of the PIA group. PIA now has been awarded an order to manufacture a rear-axle transmissions production line for the Chinese market from one of the world's largest Tier 1 automotive suppliers. "Our unique footprint and powertrain knowledge made this large-scale order possible", reports Franz Reiter. The prerequisites for this opportunity are exceeded due to synergies between Europe and China within the PIA group and can be beneficially utilized as the project positively demonstrates. Technological knowledge for this innovative production line comes from Austria while the installation and commissioning of the assembly system takes place in Ningbo, in close proximity to the customer.

Further automotive projects are being implemented between PIA Ningbo and other sites in Europe as well as North America. PIA Ningbo and Suzhou are also in close contact with Chinese OEMs to launch new local projects in the near future. All of these partnerships are PIAs starting point for the expansion of its addressable market within China.