Automotive components supplier Hella and Chinese molding specialist Minth Group have launched a 50:50 JV to promote the development and production of radomes for automotive AD and ADAS applications, called Hella Minth Jiaxing Automotive Parts Co. Ltd.
“With the increasing market penetration of radar-based driver assistance systems, the demand for radomes will also continue to rise,” explained Dr Frank Huber, managing director responsible for the lighting division at Hella. “Radomes offer vehicle manufacturers a wide range of possibilities for differentiation, as they can be staged in different ways, just like logos. As a technology leader, Hella has been active in this field for many years. By cooperating with Minth, we want to further expand our business internationally.”
Binbo Chen, CEO of Minth Group, commented that the two companies’ capabilities were well matched. “Minth’s existing technology in radomes has been recognized by many original equipment manufacturers and has received orders from a number of international customers, and Hella has a high level of technological expertise in the industry. The partnership will therefore promote the development in the field of radomes and illuminated logos in the best possible way. The joint venture therefore represents an important milestone for us.”
To this end, Minth says it will contribute its existing production capacities (including already existing series productions) to the new joint venture. The joint venture will be based in Jiaxing, China, at one of Minth’s existing production facilities and will initially employ around 80 people. The group says that current production capacities are to be continuously expanded within the next year in order to meet the expected growth of the radome business.