Asustek Computer is scheduled shift all of its production lines, including those for own-brand notebooks, consumer electronics-related devices and LCD monitors, to its new China plant in Nanhui, Shanghai, by the third quarter of 2006, according to company sources. By 2008, the company will only have its R&D departments located in Taiwan, along with marketing and sales units for domestic promotion, website DigiTimes.com reports.

Asustek is currently gauging whether some employees are willing to work in China, the company stated, adding that its production migration to China is proceeding slowly. However, the company declined to confirm when the migration will be complete.

The Taiwanese company is expected to kick off operations at its new Shanghai plant in the third quarter of next year, company sources estimate. The company has yet to announce when the operation will officially start, but it stated construction began in the fourth quarter of last year and is proceeding smoothly.

Asustek projects its own-brand notebook shipments worldwide will exceed 1.5 million units in 2005, up 50% from about one million units last year.

More information is available at DigiTimes.com reports.