A few days ago Whirlpool started production in the first phase of Hisense Whirlpool Home Appliance Co., Ltd., a joint venture it set up with Chinese appliance maker Hisense Electric Co., Ltd.
The move came in the wake of Whirlpool’s shutdown of its washing machine plant in Shanghai and the transfer of related manufacturing to the city of Huzhou, Zhejiang Province
The first stage of the Zhejiang plant has a yearly production capacity of 1 million refrigeration units and 2 million washing machines.
The 50/50 joint venture is expected to receive a total investment of CNY 900 million. It is mainly engaged in the production of washing machines and refrigeration units under the three brands of Whirlpool and Hisense.
Whirlpool closed down its washing machine plant in Shanghai and dismissed 600 employees under a new round of business restructuring in China this April.