Corning is to invest almost USD1 billion in China in the TV, automotive and life science markets. About USD800 million will go to the building of a new LCD glass substrate factory in Beijing for the booming domestic LCD market, which is set to surpass the U.S. to become the world’s No. 1 by 2012. The manufacturing plant will have the latest glass-melting and finishing capabilities. Production is expected to start in the first half of 2012. The company will also expand the Corning Shanghai Co automotive substrate facility with an investment of about USD125 million and build a new manufacturing and distribution facility for Corning Life Sciences in the Yangtze River Delta with a investment of about USD40 million. As a sponsor of the USA Pavilion, Corning also displayed future technologies for “intelligent house, healthy community and low carbon cities” during the World Expo.