Ascend's China Automotive Tour

China – Ascend took its two automotive-focused portfolio companies, Canatu and TactoTek, on a multi-week trip around China to meet key decision-makers at a range of major automotive and consumer electronics companies.

The tour started with a visit to NIO, one of China’s most promising electric vehicle start-ups, where the delegation met the interiors divisional head.

The group was also able to grab some time with the Managing Director of SAIC Europe whilst he was in Shanghai for a short visit.

A visit to Haier’s Qingdao headquarters helped raise both Canatu and TactoTek’s brand profile in the consumer electronics and home appliances industries – Haier is the largest white goods manufacturer in the world – and both were able to attract significant praise and interest from its young team of designers and engineers.

The delegation also visited the Ningbo headquarters of NBHX, one of China’s largest automotive tier one suppliers, for a tour of their premises and sales discussions, meeting their CEO, R&D and manufacturing heads.

Finally, a visit to the Beijing Auto Show rounded up a productive and successful tour of China.

Both companies have subsequently signed deals, some with a multi-million Euro lifetime value, with Chinese customers following great exposure in China, and Ascend is very proud of this.