Anji-CEVA Automotive Logistics, founded as the first company of its kind in China in 2002, has become the biggest in its field. Automobile production in China has grown from 3.29 million units in 2002 to an estimated 19.85 million units this year. Anji-CEVA, which helps manage the supply chain for the industry, is set to generate CNY3.7 billion of sales at an annual compound growth rate of 52.7%. The company is a joint venture between Dutch-based CEVA Logistics and Chinese partner Anji Logistics based in Shanghai. It employs more than 10,000 people. “Ten years ago, when the company was first registered, it was hard for authorities to define who we were,” Xu Qiuhua, President of Anji-CEVA, said during ceremonies marking the company’s 10th anniversary. “At that time, China had warehouse and transport companies but no idea about third-party logistics.” Chinese automakers used to handle all the logistics themselves. But the increasing complexity of the supply chain forced them to outsource some of those management functions to professionals. Anji-CEVA provides logistics services to several vehicle manufacturers, more than 400 auto-parts suppliers and over 1,000 car dealers in China. The company also serves over 200 overseas auto parts suppliers in more than 20 countries. Investment bank Morgan Stanley has predicted that China will become the world’s third-largest market for contract logistics by 2016, worth CNY1.1 trillion. According to the 2012 State of Logistics China Survey, logistics costs are equal to about 18% of China’s gross domestic product (GDP), almost double the level in Western countries. Anji-CEVA is trying to address poor supply-chain efficiency by providing end-to-end logistics solutions for more customers, said Martin Thaysen, Executive Vice President of CEVA China, the Shanghai Daily reports.