Chongqing’s Yubei District: A Hotbed for China’s ElectricVehicle Revolution
Chongqing’s Yubei District is rapidly becoming a hub forChina’s booming electric vehicle (EV) industry, boasting a staggering 1724.8% growth in EV production year-on-year inthe first seven months of 2024. This Yubei speed is driven by a combination of strategic government initiatives, a thriving ecosystem of automakersand tech companies, and a focus on building a robust charging infrastructure.
The district’s success is rooted in its strong automotive industry foundation. Yubei is home to five major car manufacturers, including Changan and Seres, which areproducing a range of high-end EVs that are driving demand for related components and intelligent connectivity solutions. This has led to a surge in the number of automotive parts suppliers and intelligent networking companies setting up shop in the area.
The automotive industry isthe backbone of the national economy, said Huang Xing, a reporter for Xinhua Daily Telegraph. Yubei, as a major industrial district in Chongqing, has leveraged its existing automotive industry base and focused on the electrification and intelligence trends in the automotive industry to build a strong intelligent connected new energy vehicle cluster.
The district’s government has played a crucial role in fostering this growth. Recognizing the potential of the EV market, Yubei established a dedicated automotive industry chain task force to support the development of car manufacturers. This includes streamlining government services and providing incentives to encourage companies to invest in the district.
A prime example of this commitment is theChangan Automobile Digital Factory, which was built on a 1200-acre plot of land and achieved a remarkable Yubei speed by completing construction and starting production within the same year. This factory is expected to produce over 280,000 EVs annually, generating a revenue of 500billion yuan.
The Seres Automobile Super Factory, which commenced operations in early February 2024, is another testament to Yubei’s ambition. This factory, equipped with over 3,000 robots, is dedicated to producing the high-end Avatr M9 model and is currentlyramping up production.
Yubei’s focus extends beyond traditional car manufacturing. Recognizing the growing importance of software in the automotive industry, the district is actively attracting and nurturing companies specializing in intelligent driving, smart cockpits, intelligent networking, and environmental sensing.
Software is defining the future of cars, said Liao Jiangshan,product planning manager at Beidou Zhilian Technology, a leading supplier of intelligent connected car core components. Our smart cockpit products integrate multiple technologies, including voice control, gesture recognition, lip reading, and eye tracking, allowing users to interact with their vehicles in a variety of ways.
Yubei is also home to thecountry’s first 10,000-person automotive software research and development base, which has attracted over 20 leading automotive intelligence companies. These companies are producing intelligent products that are being installed in over 20 million vehicles.
To further strengthen the EV ecosystem, Yubei is actively attracting companiesthat can fill gaps in the supply chain. The district’s Frontline Technology City, a hub for the automotive industry, has already signed agreements with over 30 companies, including Changan, Linamar, Daming Electronics, and Dayang Motor, to establish manufacturing facilities for both vehicles and core components.
Weare also accelerating the development of a supercharging network, said a representative from Yubei’s Economic and Information Technology Commission. We plan to build over 100 supercharging stations to create a smart, convenient, and safe charging infrastructure network that will support the development of the new energy vehicle industry cluster.
Yubei’s commitment to building a robust EV ecosystem is attracting significant investment and talent. The district’s Yubei speed is not just about rapid growth, but about building a sustainable and innovative future for the automotive industry in China.
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