China's Baosteel, Baowu Aluminum sign auto JV with Japan's Kobe Steel

China's Baoshan Iron & Steel (Baosteel), Baowu Aluminum Technology Co, and Japan's Kobe Steel have agreed to form a joint venture (JV) producing automotive aluminum panels in China, according to the latest release from Baowu Aluminum.

The JV, provisionally named Kobelco Baosteel Automotive Aluminum Rolled Products Co, will produce and sell aluminum panels for automotive use, by integrating Kobe Steel's wholly owned subsidiary Kobelco Automotive Aluminum Rolled Products (China) Co in North China's Tianjin, with Baowu Aluminum's continuous heat treatment and finishing operation for aluminum