DYING U.S. FIRMS SAVED BY CHINESE INVESTORS
Need a job? Chinese companies are hiring!
At 7:30 a.m., parking places are already difficult to find around the Michigan factory of A123 Systems, an advanced U.S. battery maker, as the morning work shifts have already begun.
Acquired by China's largest auto parts company Wanxiang Group in early 2013, A123, once a leading developer and manufacturer of advanced lithium-ion batteries, was saved from bankruptcy. Its laid-off employees returned to work and more workers were hired.
Wanxiang is not alone. Backed by a huge home market and U.S. thirst for capital to spur its recovery from the 2008 financial crisis, an army of Chinese companies have made a good fist of acquisition and investment in the United States, growing local brands and creating jobs.
More importantly, job creation is only one of the encouraging results from Chinese investment.
The tie-up of abundant Chinese funds and distribution channels with advanced U.S. technology and management expertise has also sharpened competitiveness of the merged groups, generating an effect of one plus one being bigger than two.