Koito streamlines China operations citing weak Japanese car sales
29/07/2025 07:40
TOKYO, July 29 (Reuters) - Japanese auto parts maker Koito Manufacturing 7276.T said on Tuesday it would further streamline its operations in China due to a sharp fall in sales by Japanese automakers, its main customers, given the rapid rise of local Chinese EV makers. Koito said in a statement it would transfer signal lamp production from its Hubei factory to plants in Guangzhou and southern Japan. The Hubei plant would be dedicated to producing headlamps from next year, it said, improving operating rates at the two Chinese plants to 70%-80% from about 50% now. The announcement follows its decision in April to liquidate operations at Fuzhou Koito. The restructuring will have no significant impact on its consolidated financial results for the current fiscal year, the company said. (Reporting by Tokyo Newsroom Editing by Chang-Ran Kim)