Boeing opens first 737 finishing plant in China 波音在中国首次开设737工厂

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Boeing Co delivers the first of its top-selling 737s completed at the facility in Zhoushan, Zhejiang Province on Saturday.

Boeing opened its first 737 completion plant in China over the weekend, a strategic investment aimed at building a sales lead over arch-rival Airbus in one of the world’s top travel markets.

The world’s largest plane maker also delivered the first of its top-selling 737s completed at the facility in Zhoushan, about 290 kilometers southeast of Shanghai, to state carrier Air China during a ceremony on Saturday with top executives from both companies.

The executives, alongside representatives from China’s state planner and aviation regulator, unveiled the plane at an event attended by hundreds of people.

737 MAX under construction

The 400,000 sqm completion site, where workers install interiors to 737s built in Seattle for sale in the Chinese market, is part of the US aerospace company’s plan to strengthen ties to what will soon be the world’s largest aviation market.

Boeing and Airbus have been expanding their footprint in China as they vie for orders in the fast-growing market.

Boeing invested US$33 million last year to take a majority stake in a joint venture with state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corp of China to build the completion center, which installs interiors and paint liveries.

The first Boeing 737 MAX finished at the company’s new “completion and deliver” center near Shanghai. Boeing China’s president, John Bruns, says the new center in Zhoushan will produce 100 jets a year and employ 300 people at full capacity.

Chicago-based Boeing calls itself the top US exporter and delivered more than one out of every four jetliners it made last year to customers in China, where it forecasts demand for 7,700 new airplanes over the next 20 years valued at US$1.2 trillion.

Boeing’s new Zhoushan facility is meant to show the company deserves its market-leading position in China.

Bruns said Boeing contributes around US$1 billion a year to the Chinese economy by sourcing jetliner parts here and through training programs.

Boeing aims eventually to hit a delivery target of 100 planes a year at Zhoushan, although Bruns did not say how quickly it would reach that level and said Boeing had no plans to expand work to other aircraft types.

Boeing also hopes the plant will relieve pressure at the Seattle-area facility where it plans to boost production next year of its best-selling 737.

波音在中国首次开设737工厂

15日，美国波音公司与中国商飞在浙江舟山共同设立的波音舟山737完工和交付中心正式交付首架飞机，中国国际航空公司接收了这架飞机。

据了解，这架交付的飞机为737MAX 8机型，首先在美国华盛顿州伦顿工厂进行组装，之后在舟山工厂进行完工。

波音舟山737完工和交付中心是波音公司首个在海外设立的此类工厂，占地40余公顷，由浙江省舟山市负责建设，目前已基本落成，从奠基到完成首架交付仅用时19个月。

波音方面表示，从该工厂交付的所有飞机均将为737MAX家族机型，工厂实现完全产能时员工人数将达到300人左右，飞机首先在位于美国华盛顿州的波音737伦顿工厂进行总装，然后飞往舟山进行内饰安装、喷漆、客户试飞和交付活动。

下一步完工中心的工作内容将逐步拓展，其中喷漆工作将在完工中心设施中的三个喷漆机库内完成。完工以后，飞机将被转交给毗邻的波音交付中心进行最后阶段试飞和客户接收活动。

波音最新的民机市场展望预测，中国将成为全球最大的民航市场，未来20年中国将需要7690架新飞机，价值1.2万亿美元。此外，中国还将需要超过1.5万亿美元的航空服务以支持机队的发展。舟山工厂的建成投产将更加贴近国内客户，预期交付能力将达到每年约100架737MAX。

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