The world's largest power networks maker has moved its robotics headquarters from Detroit to Shanghai to take advantage of China's emergence as a major auto car market and introduce an Asian focus at executive level. ABB chief executive Fred Kindle told a press briefing that autos were the most important market for robotics. "China has more than 120 vehicle plants and investment of US$25.5 billion in new manufacturing by [next year] will bring the capacity to 15 million units." He said basing operations in China would help the company head off its competitors. "In China, we can gain market share before others," he said. "You cannot produce a modern car without a robot." China overtook Germany last year to become the world's second-biggest car market and was likely to overtake the United States in the future, Kindle said. ABB has invested US$700 million in China in 25 companies and 30 sales offices with 8,500 employees.
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