Westport Announces Plan to Invest Up to $10 Million USD in Global Manufacturing Facility in Changzhou Hydrogen Valley, China
February 27 2023 - 06:00AM
GlobeNewswire Inc.
Westport Fuel Systems Inc. (“Westport” or the “Company”) (TSX:
WPRT / Nasdaq:
WPRT), a global
leader in low-emissions alternative fuel transportation
technologies, announced plans today to expand its global
manufacturing footprint in China in support of future growth of
Westport’s hydrogen componentry business and other alternative fuel
system technologies. Westport is focusing on China for this
manufacturing expansion as China leads the world in hydrogen
investment and infrastructure development. The investment agreement
provides for the City of Changzhou to build the new hydrogen
innovation center and manufacturing facility in the Changzhou
Hydrogen Valley.
“Westport’s GFI-branded hydrogen fuel system components have had
a strong presence in the Chinese marketplace for over ten years,
these components support both fuel cell and internal combustion
engine applications that use hydrogen fuel,” said David M. Johnson,
chief executive officer of Westport Fuel Systems. “The city of
Changzhou is dedicated to becoming the capital of new energy
industries, making them an ideal partner for growth and providing
the opportunity to establish manufacturing excellence on a regional
basis, which in turn supports our global customers accelerating
hydrogen as a prevailing low-emission transportation solution.”
“We are excited to be partnering with Westport to develop a
state-of-the-art hydrogen innovation center and manufacturing
facility,” said Huan Heng, deputy mayor of Changzhou. “Changzhou
Hydrogen Valley is an important hub in advancing hydrogen-fueled
vehicles for China and the world at large. We are pleased to
partner and support Westport, a global leader in hydrogen and
alternative-fuel solutions, in joining our growing community of
innovative technology companies, and we look forward to our shared
future growth.”
Under the terms of the investment agreement, Westport and
Changzhou will design and construct an ultra-modern manufacturing
facility for hydrogen fuel systems, and office space specifically
to meet Westport’s advanced manufacturing requirements. The
Changzhou site is expected to also include a contemporary
innovation center that will provide continued focus on hydrogen
solutions in support of Westport’s mission to develop innovative,
specialized, and market-ready emission-reduction solutions.
Westport’s plan to invest up to $10 million USD over the next ten
years is intended to enable production of established hydrogen
componentry to support the fast-growing hydrogen-fueled vehicles
targeted to be on the road in China.
The new Westport facility is planned to be in operation in 2024
supporting Westport’s current and growing customer base with key
hydrogen components for a variety of applications including
commercial vehicles, buses, high-speed trains, material
handling, stationary power generation and more. Westport’s
investment in Changzhou is a steppingstone to continued hydrogen
technology advancement around the world.
About Westport Fuel Systems At Westport
Fuel Systems, we are driving innovation to power a cleaner
tomorrow. We are a leading supplier of advanced fuel delivery
components and systems for clean, low-carbon fuels such as natural
gas, renewable natural gas, propane, and hydrogen to the
global transportation industry. Our technology delivers the
performance and fuel efficiency required by transportation
applications and the environmental benefits that address climate
change and urban air quality challenges. Headquartered in
Vancouver, Canada, with operations in Europe, Asia, North America,
and South America, we serve our customers in more than 70 countries
with leading global transportation brands. At Westport Fuel
Systems, we think ahead. For more information, visit
www.wfsinc.com.
About Changzhou
City Changzhou city is located in the center of the
Yangtze River Delta. It covers an area of 4,385 square kilometers
and has a population of 5.37 million. In 2022, Changzhou's gross
domestic product (GDP) reached 955 billion yuan, and its per capita
GDP exceeded 26,000 US dollars. Changzhou is also a famous cultural
tourism city with history and culture. It was awarded the happiest
city in China in 2022. Changzhou is an important city and advanced
manufacturing base in Shanghai metropolitan area, Suzhou, Wuxi and
Changzhou metropolitan area, ranking 16th among the national
advanced manufacturing cities.
Forward-Looking
Information This press release contains
"forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable
securities laws ("forward looking statements").
Forward looking statements are frequently characterized by words
such as "expect", "intend", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed"
and other similar words, or statements that certain events or
conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements made
in this press release include statements regarding the
characteristics and capabilities of, and timing for completion of,
the hydrogen innovation center and manufacturing facility. These
forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees but
involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on
both the views of management and assumptions that may cause
Westport's actual results, levels of activity, performance or
achievements to be materially different from any future results,
levels of activities, performance or achievements expressed in or
implied by these forward looking statements. These risks,
uncertainties and assumptions include those related to the success,
costs and completion of the hydrogen innovation center and
manufacturing facility, our ability to address technological,
design and construction challenges, the general economy, solvency,
governmental policies and regulation, fluctuations in foreign
exchange rates, as well as other risk factors and assumptions that
may affect our actual results, performance or achievements or
financial position that are described in Westport's continuous
disclosure filings available under Westport's SEDAR profile at
www.sedar.com and under Westport's EDGAR profile at www.sec.gov. In
addition, the effects and the impact of supply chain disruptions
are difficult to predict at this time and could cause actual
results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements
contained herein. Readers should not place undue reliance on any
such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date
they were made. Westport disclaims any obligation to publicly
update or revise such statements to reflect any change in its
expectations or in events, conditions or circumstances on which any
such statements may be based, or that may affect the likelihood
that actual results will differ from those set forth in these
forward-looking statements except as required by law.
Contacts: |
|
|
|
Westport Media Relations |
Westport Investor Relations |
T: +1 947-339-8097 |
T: +1 604-718-2046 |
E: media@wfsinc.com |
E: invest@wfsinc.com |
|
|
Changzhou City Wujin District Communications |
|
T: +86 51-98-636-2905 |
|
E: chendl@jswenz.com |
|
A photo accompanying this announcement is available
at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/97061ec7-7061-4428-8a68-c5e04867b1b0
Westport Fuel Systems (TSX:WPRT)
Historical Stock Chart
From May 2023 to Jun 2023
Westport Fuel Systems (TSX:WPRT)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jun 2022 to Jun 2023