ContiTech previously owned 60 percent, while partner Ningbo Jiebao Group held 40 percent. ContiTech Power Transmissions Ninghai Co. is now the second wholly owned ContiTech Power Transmission Group facility in China.

ContiTech Power Transmission Group has two production plants in Ninghai – close to the seaport of Ningbo in eastern Zhejiang province – and Shanghai.

The Ninghai plant produces rubber timing belts. The plant produces 700,000 belts annually for automakers, plus 200,000 belts for non-automotive customers.

Werner Weitz, general manager of ContiTech Ninghai, says the company's Shanghai plant – which also makes timing belts – will be closed at the end of the year. The company will consolidate timing belt production in the Ninghai facility.

As China's automotive market continues to grow, the company expects to add capacity to meet increasing demand for its belts. 

The plant's  location near Ningbo is logistically convenient, says Weitz. "From here we have easy access to the port in Ningbo or Shanghai as well to the airports in both cities," he explained.

ContiTech's Power Transmission Group supplies Shanghai Volkswagen Automobile Co., FAW-Volkswagen Automobile Co., Shanghai General Motors Corp., Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen Automobile Co., and domestic automakers Zhejiang Geely Automotive Co. and BYD Auto Co.

ContiTech, which has ten plants in China, is a division of Continental AG. Aside from timing belts, ContiTech's China unit produces air springs, engine mounts and interior plastics for instrument panels and seats.

Last year, ContiTech's global sales totaled 2.4 billion euros ($3 billion), while Continental AG's global sales totaled 20 billion euros.