Royal Philips Electronics in the Netherlands, one of Europe's largest electronics companies, is turning its focus to the auto sector, a fast growing industry of China.

Philips recently launched a series of highly integrated one-chip wireless devices to be used on automobiles in China. Fit for front lighting, security, entertainment and comfort, the devices will be a great impetus for the development of auto electronics, said Drue Freeman, vice marketing president of Philips' semiconductors global auto market.

With the rapid development of China's auto industry, auto electronic products have gained a giant market in China.

According to statistics of the CCID Consulting Company Ltd., in2003, the auto electronic products market of China is over 60 billion yuan (7.2 billion US dollars).

Philips has ascended to the top three producers of auto electronic semiconductor products in the world, said Freeman.

Philips has invested a total of 3.4 billion US dollars in China.

"But the investment is mainly in consuming electronic products or communications. The development of auto electronic products is still comparatively lagging," said Freeman.

China is the third largest auto market and the fourth largest auto manufacture in the world. Because of this, Philips hopes thatChina will become the largest market of Philips' auto electronics in the next three to five years, said Freeman.

In the future, Philips will bring its products and technology to China and cooperate with world auto giants Viseton and Delphi. It also plans to establish research and development centers in East China's Shanghai Municipality or South China, said Freeman.

Source: Xinhua