China Auto Glass Maker Fuyao Opens New U.S. Plant, Eyes Smart Vehicles

Forbes

21 hours ago

Fuyao's new $300 million plant in Ohio has started production of auto glass.
Fuyao Glass Industry Group, one of the world's largest auto glass manufacturers, attracted wide attention in the U.S. in 2019 when it was the focus of an Oscar-winning documentary, 'American Factory,' backed by Barack and Michelle Obama's Higher Ground Productions. The film follows the China-headquartered company's purchase of a shuttered former GM plant in Moraine, Ohio, and the facility's return to life after its purchase by Fuyao.
Fuyao has factories in four U.S. states – Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, South Carolina. This year, Fuyao has started production at a newly finished plant built next door to its first one in Moraine, Ohio. The facility – a greenfield project – cost approximately $300 million and will eventually employ about 500 people.
First announced in 2022, it's part of a total investment in the U.S. of more than $1.5 billion that has created about 4,000 direct jobs.
A focus at the new site is glass for the emerging era of self-driving and increasingly energy efficient cars. 'We're seeing major shifts in the global auto glass industry,' said Fuyao Glass America Vice President Amy Lei in an interview at the new facility earlier this month.
'Glass is no longer just transparent—it's becoming safer, more comfortable, lighter and smarter.' The new plant is now operational, and aims to support emerging technologies for EVs, heads-up displays, advanced driver assistance systems, and other smart glass advances for next-generation vehicles.
Investors seem to like what they've been seeing from Fuyao. Last year, overseas sales increased by 18% to 17.5 billion yuan; domestic revenue in China rose by 19% to 21.6 billion yuan. Overall business continued to improve in the first quarter of 2025: total sales climbed by 12% from a year earlier to 9.9 billion yuan, according to a filing.
Business has been buoyed by China's world-leading auto market and Fuyao customers that include Honda, Bentley, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Volkswagen, Ford and Chrysler. The company's Hong Kong-traded shares have climbed a third in the past year and reached an all-time high in May. Fuyao, whose global rivals include Saint-Gobain, AGC and Nippon Sheet Glass, ranked No. 1,392 on the Forbes Global 2000 list of the world's top publicly traded companies released in June, up from 1,532 a year earlier.
Chairman Cho Tak Wong—also known as Cao Dewang—and Fuyao represent the clout of the private sector that grew out of China's economic reforms in the 1980s and helped to turn the nation of 1.4 billion people into the world's second-largest economy.
Fuyao Glass Industry Chairman Cho Tak Wong met with U.S. employees following the end of the ... More pandemic.
Cho, worth $4.4 billion today on the Forbes Real-Time Billionaires List, has made a big mark at home as a philanthropist by opening a university near Fuyao's headquarters in southern Fujian province.
Looking back on Fuyao's U.S. history, the opening of the first Ohio factory 'marked the beginning of what I call American Factory 1.0: the transformation of a shuttered facility into a fully operational auto glass plant,' as part of a strategy that emphasizes local production for local clients, Lei said.
'American Factory 2.0, from around 2018 to 2022, was about stabilization and performance. We became profitable, built internal trust, and strengthened our customer relationships. We invested heavily in workforce training, process improvements and operational excellence,' she said. 'Today, we're in American Factory 3.0, focused on innovation and the future.'
Lei, a graduate of Ohio State University, was the head of Asia business development at JobsOhio, the state's economic development organization before formally joining Fuyao. 'That gave me a front-row seat to Fuyao's growth in the U.S.—from just an idea to what it is today,' Lei said. 'So, for Fuyao, this (new) plant isn't just about adding capacity—it's a statement of purpose: to be future-ready, people-focused, and community-rooted.'
Fuyao Glass America and The Heren Foundation U.S.A. over the years have donated to approximately 30 U.S. non-profits in fields such as education and health, including The Dayton Regional STEM School, the Children's Hunger Alliance, United Rehabilitation Services of Greater Dayton.
It hasn't all been smooth going for the company of late, however. In July 2024, U.S. law enforcement conducted an on-site raid at Fuyao Glass America's plant in Moraine as well as other locations in the area as part of an investigation into a third-party labor service company. Fuyao Glass America believes it wasn't a target of the action. In April this year, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a related civil forfeiture complaint involving assets allegedly linked to an illegal staffing and money laundering scheme. Fuyao Glass America said it wasn't named as a defendant in the complaint and has said it is cooperating with authorities.
Changes in U.S. tariffs have been altering the landscape for businesses globally. 'We're mindful of the impact of evolving U.S. trade policy and tariffs. At Fuyao, we stay focused on what we can control—quality, reliability, and how well we serve our customers,' Lei said.
Fuyao Glass America Vice President Amy Lei spoke about the award-winning documentary "American ... More Factory" and Fuyao's expansion at the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce in 2023.
Looking down the road, Fuyao sees new opportunities in helping automakers adopt new technology. 'First, smart glass is in high demand. ADAS (advanced driver assistance systems) and HUD (heads-up display) systems require glass to integrate with sensors, cameras, and displays—driving the need for higher optical precision and more advanced engineering' that improves driver visibility and safety, Lei said.
In addition, 'Glass is getting larger in size and lighter in weight. Panoramic roofs and oversized windshields are especially popular in EVs and SUVs. These designs enhance the driving experience but add complexity in terms of weight, insulation, and strength,' she said. Finally, 'there's a growing emphasis on energy efficiency. Features like low-E coatings and lightweight glass help reduce cabin heat and improve EV range and passenger comfort.'
That focus on newer technology is key to future growth, Lei believes. 'We're not just adapting to trends—we're helping to define what the future of automotive glass can be.'