Fuyao Glass: A Resilient Supply Chain For Domestic Car Makers

It's probably one of the most successful Chinese transplant factories, and being close to its domestic customers make it a more resilient part of their supply chains. MORE FOR YOU. Jeff Liu, Fuyao Glass America's President and CEO, explained on a recent call that "We have officially become the number one auto glass supplier in America." As was the case for other automotive suppliers, the pandemic has been tough on Fuyao. 2021 looks to have been a record year, and as the big automakers concentrated their production on their most profitable vehicles like SUVs and pickup trucks, Fuyao has been able to sell more higher end glass. While there is a perception that he was sent from China by Fuyao to shape up its operations, perhaps fostered by American Factory, he actually grew up in Detroit and spent 30 years working in the U.S. including many years at General Motors working in procurement. Like others in the automotive supply chain, Fuyao is constantly squeezed by the big OEMs. But it's timing has been impeccable. Fuyao was able to establish a U.S. manufacturing footprint ahead of the U.S.-China trade war flare-up during the Trump administration, and critically it was able to get domestic supply lines up and running in advance of the chaos that has engulfed ocean container shipping over the last two years. For U.S. automobile factories who rely on Fuyao, that part of their supply chain is in good shape.