Marelli Holdings Co, a Japan-based multinational automotive parts manufacturer, will deepen its strategic presence in China in areas such as smart lighting, electronics, thermal management, and intelligent cockpit technologies to better serve Chinese automakers and support their overseas expansion, according to a senior executive.

Shen Kelei, the group’s executive vice-president and president of Marelli China, said the company will accelerate its “China for China, China for Global” strategy during the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) period, as the country evolves from a manufacturing base into a key global center for automotive innovation, research, and supply-chain collaboration.

“China is already far more than an important market for Marelli,” Shen said, adding that the country is increasingly becoming a hub for innovation, manufacturing, and global collaboration within the group’s worldwide operations.

Running eight research and development centers and 17 factories in China, the company currently employs about 4,500 people in the country, including more than 700 R&D engineers. The local team is increasingly participating in global vehicle programs and early-stage product development.

China’s highly mature supply chain ecosystem, rapid commercialization of new technologies, and strong engineering capabilities are reshaping the global automotive industry and creating new opportunities for multinational suppliers, he added.

As the world’s largest auto market, China saw vehicle sales reach 34.4 million units in 2025, data from the Beijing-based China Association of Automobile Manufacturers showed. The industry body forecasts total vehicle sales to rise to 34.75 million units in 2026, while new energy vehicle sales are projected to surpass 19 million units, up 15.2 percent year-on-year.

At the 2026 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition, running from April 24 to May 3, Marelli showcased a range of new technologies, including MicroLED (light-emitting diode) headlamps, pillar-to-pillar display systems, electromechanical active suspension technologies, and lightweight thermal management solutions for electric vehicles.

Shen said competition in the country’s automotive sector is increasingly shifting toward faster product iteration, intelligent features, and cost efficiency, requiring multinational suppliers to respond more quickly to demand for smarter user experiences and affordable innovation.

“China’s fast-moving market environment has also helped the company shorten development cycles significantly,” he said. “Lighting projects in China can now typically be completed within nine to 11 months, while development cycles for some electronic modules have been reduced by as much as 50 percent compared with global averages.”