Chongqing - On September 9, German industrial giant Liebherr Group opened its first machine tool production base in China, choosing Chongqing’s Yongchuan Comprehensive Bonded Zone to expand its global footprint.

At the launch ceremony, Feng Haitian, executive director of Liebherr Machine Tool Technology (Chongqing) Co., Ltd., called the project a fast-track success, noting it was signed, built, and put into operation within a single year. 

He said the plant will focus on advanced gear machining technology to serve automotive and aerospace customers, crediting strong support from local authorities for enabling the rapid rollout.

On September 9, German industrial giant Liebherr opened its first and only machine tool production base in China. (Photo/Chongqing's Yongchuan Comprehensive Bonded Zone)

Liebherr executives, including Patricia Ruef, board member of Liebherr Group, and Manfred Kaut, executive director of Liebherr Gear Technology Co., Ltd., spoke highly of the project. 

They described the new site as more than a production facility, framing it as a strategic platform to expand local partnerships and tap into China's vast industrial growth. They also highlighted its potential to accelerate the upgrade of China's machine tool sector, hailing it as a new milestone in Sino-German economic cooperation.

Founded in 1949, Liebherr now employs nearly 50,000 people worldwide and posted revenues of over 14.6 billion euros (about 15.8 billion USD) in 2024. Its new Chongqing facility is the company’s first wholly foreign-invested machine tool subsidiary in China, covering production, sales, and after-sales services.

Built to German standards, the 12,000-square-meter plant specializes in the LGG280 gear machining center—high-end hobbing, grinding, and shaping machines. The equipment is used in industries ranging from new energy vehicles—supplied to automakers like Toyota and Volkswagen—to wind power, tunneling, mining, and construction.

The plant currently employs around 30 staff and is designed to produce 80 units a year, generating more than 600 million yuan (about 83 million USD) in output. Annual tax revenues are projected to exceed 30 million yuan, placing the site among the most productive in its sector.

While initial sales will target the domestic market, Liebherr plans to export from Chongqing to Southeast Asia, Japan, South Korea, Europe, and North America. The company also intends to use the site as a springboard for broader expansion in China, with plans to extend into air-conditioning systems and construction machinery.