China's most populous city returns to being the "first city for automobiles"
2024-08-20
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In the first half of this year, Chongqing went on a killing spree.
This city, which has the largest area and population in my country, not only ranks second in the country in terms of GDP growth rate, but also surpasses its competitors in automobile production, returning to the throne of "No. 1 Automobile City" after a lapse of 8 years.
Data shows that Chongqing's automobile production in the first half of the year was 1.214 million vehicles, ranking first among cities in China. After years of dormancy, Chongqing's automobile industry is once again in the spotlight.
As a major automobile manufacturing center in China, Chongqing's automobile production ranked first in the country for three consecutive years from 2014 to 2016. In 2016, the output reached 3.1562 million vehicles, making it the most popular city in the country.
However, with the surge of the blue ocean of new energy vehicles, Chongqing Automobile, which mainly produces fuel vehicles, has encountered a turning point. Its production has plummeted to 1.383 million vehicles in 2019, and its ranking has dropped to seventh in the country.
Under the impact of the new energy wave, Chongqing wants to return to being the "first city for automobiles". It is no longer sustainable to rely solely on traditional fuel vehicles, and changing lanes and overtaking has become inevitable.
Chongqing Automobile has decisively anchored itself on new energy vehicles, actively sought change, and embarked on the journey of transformation and upgrading.
In 2022, Chongqing issued the "Chongqing Development Plan for the Construction of a World-Class Intelligent Connected New Energy Vehicle Industry Cluster (2022-2030)", which clarified the overall roadmap for transformation and upgrading, and proposed "striving to build a world-class intelligent connected new energy vehicle industry cluster."
In 2023, Chongqing proposed to focus on building a "33618" modern manufacturing cluster system. The first "3" refers to three trillion-level leading industrial clusters, with intelligent connected new energy vehicles ranking first.
Chongqing not only has the determination but also the foundation to transform into new energy vehicles.
The industrial chain is complete. Chongqing is one of the major automobile production bases in the country. It has a good foundation for core supporting facilities such as "big and small three electrics" (electronic control system, drive motor, power battery, electric brake, electric steering, and electric air conditioning). It has the most complete intelligent networked new energy vehicle industrial chain in the western region. The three systems, 12 assemblies, and 56 components of intelligent networked new energy vehicle parts have achieved full coverage and cluster development.
Rich application scenarios. As an "8D Magic" mountain city, Chongqing has complex mountain terrain and traffic scenarios. The testing and application of intelligent networked new energy vehicles are at the leading level in the country, and it has been successfully selected as a pilot city for the application of "vehicle-road-cloud integration" of intelligent networked vehicles.
Innovation capabilities have been enhanced. Chongqing has cutting-edge technology routes such as pure electric, plug-in hybrid, battery swap, range extension, and hydrogen fuel. Many car companies have increased their layout of new energy products and launched a series of new energy vehicle models with market competitiveness.
These efforts have enabled Chongqing's new energy vehicle industry to flourish from "point" to "surface".
In the first half of the year, Chongqing's new energy vehicle production reached 391,000 units, a year-on-year increase of 1.5 times, far higher than the national average growth rate (30.1%), and ranked first among the top ten provinces and cities in terms of automobile production. In addition, the sales volume of Seres M9 ranked first among luxury models priced above 500,000 yuan.
Chongqing Statistics Bureau pointed out that the core of Chongqing's auto industry growth is still Seres. Its M9, which was launched in February, is in short supply, and the sales of M7 and the new M5 are also improving. The production level of enterprises continues to rise. Driven by Seres, supporting enterprises such as Jinkang New Energy, Qingshan Industry, and Huguang Electric have also achieved rapid growth.
These achievements are the result of Chongqing's systematic planning, overall promotion, and continuous efforts in the new track of intelligent connected new energy vehicles.
According to the goals set by Chongqing, by 2025, the embryonic form of a world-class intelligent connected new energy vehicle industry cluster will be initially formed, and the production and sales volume of intelligent connected new energy vehicles will account for more than 10% of the national total.
Chongqing has returned to being the "first city for automobiles" because of its perseverance and courage to innovate. Chongqing is demonstrating the strength and potential of China's automobile manufacturing with a new attitude.
