An aerial view of Pinghu's urban area. [Photo/Tide News]

TMD Friction, a leading global supplier of automotive brake friction materials, signed an agreement on Jan 12 to establish its China headquarters and Asia R&D center in Pinghu Economic and Technological Development Zone, Jiaxing, East China's Zhejiang province.

Founded in 1878 and headquartered in Leverkusen, Germany, TMD Friction has grown into a leader in the global braking friction materials sector. Its products, all renowned for their high performance, reliability, and innovation, span passenger and commercial vehicles, racing cars, industrial applications, and trains.

The new project's main products include disc brake pads and drum brake shoes for passenger and commercial vehicles, racing brake pads, and industrial brake pads, with production set to begin in mid-2026 and expected annual output exceeding 1 billion yuan ($143 million) at full capacity.

With the addition of this global industry leader, Pinghu Economic and Technological Development Zone will further establish itself as a hub for high-end automotive manufacturing.