The partnership, Wuhu Valeo Automobile Lighting Systems Co., will design, manufacture and sell lights. Its primary customer will be Chery.

In recent years, Chery has formed partnerships with suppliers such as ArvinMeritor, Robert Bosch GmbH and Siemens VDO, as well as Exxon Mobil and PPG Industries.

In China, Valeo has three technical centers and 18 factories that produce lighting products, climate control systems and other components.

Valeo aims to boost annual sales in China and India to 1 billion euros (8.6 billion yuan) by 2013 and 25.7 billion yuan by 2020.

Valeo SA, of Paris, ranks No. 21 on the Automotive News list of the top 100 global suppliers with worldwide parts sales to automakers of 50.6 billion yuan in 2010.