Briefs: Automobile air conditioning in China

Germany-based Behr GmbH & Co., Shanghai Automotive Co. Ltd. in China and Sanden Corporation in Japan have set up a joint venture (called Shanghai Sanden Behr) to develop, manufacture and market refrigerant compressors for cars and trucks. Shanghai Sanden Behr predicts a sales level of 1.4 million compressors in 2004 and expects sales to rise to 3 million units in 2008. Behr has a workforce of 16 300 worldwide and 25 production facilities in Europe, North and South America, South Africa and Asia.