International Joint Venture Launches Construction of its First North American Facility for Light and Autonomous Vehicle Braking Systems

Autoliv-Nissin Brake Systems (ANBS) is building a new facility dedicated to the production of brake systems for the global light vehicle market in Findlay near Toledo. The company celebrated the project’s groundbreaking on November 14.

For years the automotive industry has been evolving to produce vehicles that are stronger, lighter, safer, more fuel efficient and better for the environment. ANBS is focused on creating “brake control and brake apply systems” for the light vehicle and autonomous markets across the globe, with a product focus on advanced antilock braking system (ABS) utilizing electronic stability control and master cylinder/booster.

ANBS’s decision to establish the facility in Ohio was ultimately motivated by the presence of a skilled and experienced workforce to run the production and facility operations for its cutting-edge products. Additionally, the proximity to Ohio’s automotive supply chain – Honda and Ford especially – the proximity to new clients, and access to new technology around electronic brake systems – such as autonomous vehicles – were major influences in the company’s decision.

JobsOhio, the Regional Growth Partnership, the city of Findlay and Hancock County Economic Development partnered on the project.

“The network of local, regional and state economic development partners was able to demonstrate to us that Findlay, Ohio, was in fact the right place for ANBS to locate this project,” said Stefan Kroenung, ANBS vice president of operations. “We appreciate the partnership and are pleased with the support of the community.”

Previously, ANBS leased a shared space within the existing Nissin Kogyo facility in Findlay. ANBS wanted to break out and create its own culture. The company is investing $61 million in this new location, which will serve as its first North American production facility. $40 million will be invested in equipment purchases for this new state-of-the-art facility. During this time, ANBS plans to make the majority of the purchases from Ohio suppliers.

“Ohio is thrilled to have been selected for ANBS’s first facility investment in the United States,” said Kristi Tanner, senior managing director of automotive for JobsOhio. “International investments are valuable to Ohio. Moreover, we appreciate their dedication to working with Ohio suppliers. ANBS is committed to making transportation safer. Braking technology is critical for today’s advanced driver-assist systems and even more important for future self-driving vehicles.”

Established in April 2016, ANBS is a joint venture between Sweden’s Autoliv, the world’s largest automotive safety supplier, and Japan’s Nissin Kogyo, a leading supplier of high-performance braking systems. ANBS’s vision is to save more lives by being innovative, improving operations, keeping its customers in mind and maintaining an eco-friendly mindset.